Christiane Amanpour has worked in CNN for 43 years as the most famous foreign correspondent and now will be losing her highest profile on the news channel next year in June. According to The Hollywood Reporter, it is unclear the reason Amanpour is leaving but this announcement came weeks after Skydance completed its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery with CNN collapsing.
Amanpour expresses her concern at an event, saying that “Clearly I’m concerned, and I’m not sure how much I’m allowed to say about a corporate thing that’s under way, but I am obviously, as a person, as a journalist with a record, concerned, and I’m concerned based on what’s happened to the other things that Ellison has taken over already, like CBS News.”
CNN CEO Mark Thompson shares the news to the staff on Monday morning with his note saying:
“Dear all, I’m writing today with news about CNN icon – and our dear friend and colleague —Christiane Amanpour. After more than 43 years at CNN, Christiane has decided that the time is right to begin a new chapter. Early in 2027, she will scale back her CNN International show, Amanpour, to once a week. The program will conclude in May, and she will leave CNN at the end of June. Christiane has thought carefully about this decision, and she and I have been discussing it for some 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.
“Christiane has been a household name around the world for decades. Yet she began more than 40 years ago not as one of the biggest stars in CNN’s history, but as a news desk assistant in our Atlanta newsroom. Famously, one of her bosses told her back then that she didn’t have what it took to become a foreign correspondent – or to hold any on-air role at all. Boy, did she prove him wrong! It would be impossible to list all of her reporting triumphs, exclusive interviews, awards and broadcasting firsts, or the many other accomplishments that have made her one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere. We will make sure to share and celebrate them all before she departs next year. In the meantime, on behalf of the entire CNN leadership team, I want to thank Christiane for 43 extraordinary years of remarkable journalism, loyalty and friendship.”
Marcus will lead CNN for the time being as Amanpour will pull back on CNN International show this year the end of next May.
Amanpour continues: “I want to thank all the amazingly talented people I’ve worked with throughout this incredible journey. Especially my beloved show teams and field crews. From my first big exciting assignment covering the First Gulf War, to the horrors of the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran and all the points in between, it’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much, as we together battled to seek the facts, the evidence and the humanity, so that CNN could always broadcast the truth about the world and to the world, without fear nor favor.”