Christiane Amanpour to Leave CNN
From CNNObservations.com:
After more than twenty-five years at CNN, eighteen of those as an International Correspondent, Christiane Amanpour is leaving CNN at the end of April to head to a post as host of This Week on ABC beginning in August.
Amanpour joined CNN in 1983 as an entry-level assistant on the CNN international assignment desk at the network's World Headquarters in Atlanta, GA. She worked from there to become a correspondent in the New York bureau before becoming an International Correspondent in 1990. Her weekday interview program, Amanpour, on CNN International premiered in September 2009.
In 2007, Amanpour earned the title of Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for her "“highly distinguished, innovative contribution” to journalism.
Since joining CNN, Amanpour has earned an inaugural Television Academy Honor, nine News and Documentary Emmys, four George Foster Peabody Awards, two George Polk Awards, three duPont-Columbia Awards, the Courage in Journalism Award, an Edward R. Murrow award and other major journalism awards as well as honorary degrees from The American University of Paris, Georgetown University, New York University, Smith College, Emory University and the University of Michigan.
In a statement released today, Amanpour said “I’m thrilled to be joining the incredible team at ABC News. Being asked to anchor “This Week” and the superb tradition started by David Brinkley, is a tremendous and rare honor and I look forward to discussing the great domestic and international issues of the day, I leave CNN with the UTMOST respect, love and admiration for the company and everyone who works here. This has been my family and shared endeavor for the past 27 years and I am forever grateful and proud of all that we have accomplished.”
Amanpour graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rhode Island with a bachelor of arts in journalism.
Look for CNN International to announce a new prime time schedule in the next few weeks.
Below, you will find a statement from CNN Worldwide president Jim Walton:
"I have some news for you about Christiane Amanpour. ABC News will announce today that she is joining that organization to headline one of its programs. You may have seen media speculation concerning this move; out of respect for Christiane, we have reserved comment until now, when we all agree that the time is right to share her plans.
Over the years, Christiane and I have talked about her professional goals and personal interests, and more recently about the excitement of a new opportunity at this point in her career. While I don’t presume to speak for her, as her colleague and friend for more than 25 years I know that this decision has not been an easy one. Since 1990 when Christiane became a CNN international correspondent, she has covered the defining news events of our time. Her work burnished our news brand and gave it authority. In turn, the CNN imprimatur opened doors for her around the world and provided a global platform for the intelligent, courageous, principled reporting that is her signature. CNN and Christiane helped make each other great.
She will depart her CNN International show at the end of April. We’ll announce changes to the CNNI programming schedule in the coming weeks; today is about honoring our friend. For her hard work these many years on behalf of CNN; for going where the story was, wherever in the world that might be; for her passion, character and generosity; and most of all, for her extraordinary journalism, Christiane has our gratitude, respect and sincere best wishes."
Statement from Wolf Blitzer, anchor The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer (via Twitter):
I want to wish Christiane Amanpour all the best as she gets ready to leave CNN for ABC News. She'll host "This Week."
Don Riddell, anchor World Report (via Twitter):
Good luck in the new gig Christiane!
With this, numerous reactions from CNN fans worldwide posted their sentiments of Christiane leaving the network:
So it's official that Amanpour is leaving for ABC.
To be honest, I'm having mixed emotions on her leaving. I am saddened that she has decided to part ways with CNN because of the field work she has done for the network. I'm no fan of her show, but she has left a legacy that made her a brand name for CNN.
At the same time, I am also happy that she has moved away from an incompetent CNN management. If anyone deserves the blame for her departure, it's the people running CNN right now. -AExAVF
How ironic that she leaves CNN less than a year after she got her show.
Anyway, not bad news, for years now she hasn't been doing anything special and even when she was in the field in the 90's she presented a very one sided view on the story she covered.
Good luck though, it will be strange not seeing her promo every second and her cameos in all other promos. -ginnyfan
I wish Christiane all the very best for the future. It's a shame to see her leave CNN. A lot of experience and authority will be walking out that door when she does. 25 years has been served well, though. -NellyJoin this discussion in ASL via the new Disqus feature! Comment now!
KENNETH
