CNN Anchor Christiane Amanpour to Leave Network After 43 Years

Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, announced on Monday that she will leave the network next June, ending a 43-year tenure. The 68-year-old journalist confirmed her decision in a statement, noting that she has decided to "separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!"

Timeline of Departure

According to a letter to newsroom employees obtained by NBC News, CNN chief executive Mark Thompson stated that Amanpour plans to "scale back" her eponymous CNN International show to once a week early in 2027. "The program will conclude in May," Thompson said, adding that "she will leave CNN at the end of June."

Amanpour’s PBS talk show, "Amanpour & Company," will also conclude at the end of this year. She noted that she will continue to host her podcast, "The Ex Files," and looks forward to "interesting new projects down the line."

Statements from Amanpour and CNN Leadership

In her statement, Amanpour reflected on her career, citing assignments ranging from the First Gulf War to the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran. "It's the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much," she said. "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."

She also offered advice to her colleagues: "Remember: always be truthful, not neutral."

Mark Thompson, who will remain head of CNN under new ownership, described Amanpour as "one of the most trusted and beloved journalists anywhere." He stated, "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."

Context of Ownership Changes

Amanpour’s announcement comes weeks after David Ellison’s media corporation, Paramount Skydance, formally took over Warner Bros. Discovery, CNN’s parent company. The Guardian reported that her exit is not thought to be specifically tied to the network’s new ownership, though the acquisition has been viewed skeptically by some CNN journalists due to perceived closeness to the Trump administration.

Amanpour stated she will "always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism." She has been open about her ongoing treatment for ovarian cancer, for which she was diagnosed in 2021.

Why it matters

Amanpour’s departure marks the end of an era for CNN, where she began as an assistant on the international news desk in 1983. She has covered nearly every major international conflict of the last four decades and interviewed numerous world leaders, including former President Bill Clinton and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Her exit occurs during a period of significant structural change for the network following its acquisition by Paramount Skydance.

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Sources

• nbcnews.com: CNN’s Christiane Amanpour to depart from network after 43 years
• bbc.com: Christiane Amanpour: CNN reporter and anchor to leave network after 43 years
• theguardian.com: Christiane Amanpour announces she’s leaving CNN after 43 years | CNN | The Guardian
• ew.com: Christiane Amanpour to exit CNN after 43 years

This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.