Journalist Christiane Amanpour announced her departure from CNN after dedicating 43 years to the network. She began her career as a junior assistant and rose to become one of the most prominent correspondents and anchors, covering critical events and conflict zones over decades.
Amanpour stated that she will reduce her daily program, 'Amanpour,' on CNN International to just one weekly broadcast at the beginning of 2027, with a definitive end in May, followed by her exit from television the following month. In a statement released by CNN, she also mentioned that she will conclude her program on PBS, 'Amanpour & Co,' at the end of this year.
Despite leaving CNN, Amanpour will maintain her podcast, 'The Ex Files,' in partnership with her ex-husband, Jamie Rubin, who is a former United States diplomat. The journalist expressed enthusiasm for 'exciting new projects in the future' and declared that, after much reflection, she decided to step away from her 'fantastic 43-year partner!'
Although she did not specify reasons for her departure or changes at the network, her exit comes at a time of transition for CNN, which is moving to a new owner, Skydance. This move is part of an acquisition completed on October 6, where Paramount, the owner of Skydance, acquired Warner Bros. Discovery for US$81 billion, uniting two major television journalism conglomerates, CBS and CNN.
On a personal level, Amanpour has been open about her diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2021 and two subsequent recurrences, a term she calls the 'invisible killer,' encouraging others to undergo complete medical check-ups.
The journalist joined CNN as an assistant in Atlanta in 1983. Mark Thompson, CNN's CEO, recalled that at that time, her potential was not fully recognized, citing that one of her superiors had said she 'didn't have what it took to become a foreign correspondent or hold any live position.'
However, Amanpour evolved into a reporter and, seven years later, an international correspondent, gaining notoriety in the early 90s while covering the Gulf War, Middle East conflicts, and other hotspots of tension. She described war reporting as 'a sense of mission, it is a sense of purpose, it is the ability to tell a story.'
Her goal has always been to bring international news, including complex narratives, to the American public. In 2023, she told the Associated Press that she never believed that issues were too intricate to be covered on American television, emphasizing that she never approached the audience condescendingly.
Amanpour also highlighted how her background, being half Iranian and half British, provided her with the privilege of observing the world from two distinct perspectives. She consistently emphasized the importance of reducing divisions, believing it is possible to live in a world that is not '100% tribalized.'
In her final remarks, she thanked the reporting and production teams. She recalled everything from her first notable assignment in the Gulf War to the tragic events in Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran, stating that it was the teams and camaraderie that made the difference. She concluded that, working together, they fought to find facts, evidence, and humanity, allowing CNN to transmit the truth about the world, without fear or favoritism.