Veteran international journalist Christiane Amanpour is set to leave CNN in June, bringing an end to a remarkable 43-year association with the global news network.
Amanpour, who rose from a news assistant on CNN’s foreign desk to become one of its most recognisable international correspondents, announced her decision on Monday, describing her time at the network as “43 fantastic years.”
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN,” she said in a statement, adding that she looked forward to new projects while continuing to support the network’s commitment to independent journalism.
“Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she added.
Her departure comes as CNN navigates a change in ownership under Skydance, amid concerns over the future direction of its news operations and editorial independence.
Amanpour had previously expressed concern about Skydance’s management of CBS News, particularly following the appointment of Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief.
Speaking at an event in May, Amanpour said she was concerned about the corporate developments, although she offered limited comment on the ongoing changes.
The 68-year-old journalist has hosted an international programme for CNN since 2009 and has presented the PBS public affairs programme Amanpour & Company since 2017. She briefly left CNN for ABC News in 2010, where she was appointed moderator of the Sunday programme This Week, before returning to CNN in 2012.
CNN chief executive Mark Thompson said Amanpour had carefully considered her decision and that the pair had discussed it for several months.
“Like so many CNNers who will hear the news today, I’m very sorry to see her go, but I’ve come to accept that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally,” Thompson said.
Amanpour has been a defining figure in CNN’s international coverage, earning recognition for her reporting from conflict zones, including Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. After securing a role in Eastern Europe in 1986, she built a reputation for frontline reporting and served as CNN’s chief international correspondent from 1992 to 2010.
Under her departure plan, Amanpour will end her daily programmes on CNN and PBS at the end of the year. She will continue hosting a weekly CNN programme through May and assist with the transition until June.
She is also expected to continue working on Ex-Files, an independent podcast she co-hosts with her former husband, Jamie Rubin, a former US State Department official.
Her exit marks the end of a significant chapter in CNN’s international journalism, as the network prepares for a new phase under its changing corporate leadership.
Source: Variety
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