Veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour is leaving CNN after 43 years at the network, bringing an end to a long career as one of its most prominent international correspondents.
Amanpour, 68, announced her decision in a statement shared by CNN, saying she had spent months considering her future before deciding to leave.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years!” she said.
Under the transition plan, her daily programme, Amanpour, on CNN International will become a weekly show at the beginning of 2027 before ending in May. She will leave the network the following month.
Amanpour said she was looking forward to “interesting new projects down the line.”
She will also end her PBS programme, Amanpour and Company, at the end of this year. However, she plans to continue her podcast, The Ex Files, with her former husband, Jamie Rubin, a former US diplomat.
In her farewell message, Amanpour reaffirmed her commitment to independent journalism and urged journalists to uphold truth in their reporting.
“I would ‘always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,’” she said.
Her departure comes as CNN enters a new phase under Skydance ownership. Paramount, which is owned by Skydance, completed its $81 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery on 6 October, bringing CNN and CBS under the same corporate umbrella.
Amanpour has also spoken publicly about her health, revealing in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. She later disclosed that the cancer had returned and described the disease as “the invisible killer”.
She has encouraged women to prioritise screening, urging them to “get all the scans that you can.”
Amanpour’s exit marks the end of a 43-year association with CNN, where she built a reputation for international reporting and interviews with political leaders during major global events.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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