CNN's Amanpour Negotiating New Deal

Tuesday, December 5th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) â€” Christiane Amanpour, the international correspondent who is one of CNN's most visible personalities, is working without a contract but hopes to negotiate a new deal with the cable network.

TV Guide reported that she was ``shopping her services elsewhere,'' but her lawyer on Tuesday downplayed the chances Amanpour will be switching networks.

``We are in negotiations with CNN for a new contract,'' said Robert Barnett. ``It is no surprise that others have interest in Ms. Amanpour. Our hope is to make a deal with CNN.''

The London-based Amanpour has been on maternity leave for much of the year after giving birth to a boy in March. Her husband, James Rubin, is the former chief spokesman and adviser to Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.

CNN has told its staff to expect ``aggressive'' changes, which may include job cuts, as the network prepares for the merger of parent company Time Warner and America Online. But Amanpour is one of the world's best-known foreign correspondents and is not expected to be affected by the turmoil.

``We think the world of Christiane and are in the midst of advanced discussions for keeping her at CNN for years to come,'' said network spokeswoman Christa Robinson.

While CNN's rivals respect her work, she is generally thought to be too expensive at a time American networks are spending less time on overseas news.

Amanpour also does occasional stories for CBS' ''60 Minutes,'' an arrangement that is expected to continue.

Reached on her cell phone as she was shopping for holiday decorations on Tuesday, Amanpour said she felt uncomfortable discussing negotiations.

``I think it's unseemly for me to talk,'' she said. ``As far as I'm concerned, there's much ado about not very much in those published accounts.''