Christiane Amanpour, a prominent and well-known journalist, announced on Monday that she will be leaving CNN after 43 years of service. Amanpour, who gained fame through her reporting from war zones during her career, stated in a statement: "After careful thought for several months and several sleepless nights, I have decided to part ways with CNN."
Amanpour's Daily Program Ending
Amanpour, 68, said that her daily program on CNN and PBS will conclude by the end of this year. She also noted that the network and she have planned a smooth transition that will allow her to continue the weekly program "Amanpour" until June. This news comes as CNN has recently come under new ownership.
Amanpour's Background and Impact on Journalism
Throughout her career, Amanpour has interviewed many world leaders and reported from crisis hotspots such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda, and the Balkans. In her statement, she expressed hope to engage in new and exciting projects in the future while always supporting CNN and its history of independent journalism. Amanpour emphasized: "You must always be truthful, not neutral." This departure comes as just weeks ago, CNN's parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), officially came under the ownership of Paramount SkyDance. After a year-long process, Paramount merged with WBD on October 6, bringing the two news giants, CBS and CNN, under one roof.
This merger has raised concerns about the independence of CNN's newsroom, as the new owners, the Ellison family, are known to be close allies of former U.S. President Donald Trump. Amanpour remarked: "You know I have always been fiercely independent, and I will maintain that independence as long as I am here and beyond. This is especially important in the current climate where we are facing unprecedented pressures from all sides."
Mark Thompson, CNN's CEO, praised Amanpour in a note for her 43 years of remarkable journalism, loyalty, and friendship, stating: "Like many of the CNN staff who will hear this news today, I am very sorry to see her go, but I have come to the conclusion that this is the right time for her, both personally and professionally."
