Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour, one of the most recognisable faces in global television news, is leaving CNN after 43 years.
In a statement on Monday, Amanpour said her programme, Amanpour, will end in May, and that she will leave the network at the end of June.
“A few sleepless nights”
Amanpour said she had decided to “separate” from CNN “after many months of thought and a few sleepless nights.” She did not give a specific reason for her departure.
Looking back on her career, she recalled covering some of the biggest stories of the last four decades: the first Gulf War, the war in Bosnia, the Rwandan genocide, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran.
“It’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much,” she said.
She also left her colleagues with a parting message that has become her trademark: “Remember: always be truthful, not neutral.” She added that she would “always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism.”
From the assignment desk to chief international anchor
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international assignment desk in Atlanta. She rose to become the network’s chief international correspondent and later its chief international anchor.
Her reporting from war zones, often in a flak jacket on the front line, made her one of the most respected war correspondents in the world. Over the years she has won many of journalism’s top honours, including Peabody and Emmy awards.
For many African viewers, Amanpour was also a familiar voice on stories from the continent, from the Rwandan genocide to interviews with African heads of state.
Health battle
Amanpour has spoken openly about her treatment for ovarian cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2021. She has called it “the invisible killer” and urged viewers, especially women, to “get all the scans that you can.”
A changing CNN
Her exit comes at a time of big change at CNN. The network is now part of Skydance, the company run by David Ellison and backed by his father, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison. Amanpour did not directly link her decision to these changes.
She has not yet said what she will do next. Whatever it is, her departure marks the end of an era in international television journalism.
Source: Premium Times.