New Delhi: Christiane Amanpour the chief international anchor for CNN will leave the network in 2027 after 43 years. Her departure will mark the end of a long and influential career in international television journalism.
Amanpour will conclude her daily programmes on CNN International and PBS by the end of 2026. However, she is expected to continue hosting a weekly show on CNN until May 2027 before completing her transition out of the network in June.
“After many months of thought and a few sleepless nights, I have decided to separate from CNN, my partner of 43 fantastic years,” Amanpour, 68, said in a statement.
She further discussed CNN’s future and reaffirmed the importance of independent journalism. Reflecting on her decades-long career, Amanpour recalled her first major assignment covering the First Gulf War (1990-1991) and her subsequent reporting from conflict zones around the world.
“From my very first big exciting assignment covering the First Gulf War, to the horrors of the Bosnian War, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran and all the points in between, it’s the teams and the camaraderie that counted so much,” she said.
She added that their collective efforts were driven by a commitment to uncovering facts, evidence and humanity, ensuring CNN could report the truth without fear nor favour.
“Looks forward to interesting new projects down the line, and will always be rooting for CNN and maintaining its history of independent journalism. Remember: always be truthful, not neutral,” she added.
Newsroom assistant to global journalism icon
Amanpour began her career at CNN in 1983 as an assistant on the international assignment desk at the network’s headquarters in Atlanta, United States.
She gained international recognition for her coverage of major conflicts, including the 1991 Gulf War and the Bosnian War (1992-1995). While reporting from Sarajevo during the Bosnian conflict, she highlighted the suffering of civilians and exposed human rights abuses.
Her reporting was fearless and questioned those in positions of power.
Born in London in 1958 to an English mother and an Iranian father, Amanpour spent part of her childhood in Tehran. She later studied journalism at the University of Rhode Island.
“Amanpour’s fearless and uncompromising approach made her popular with audiences, and a force to be reckoned with by global influencers – in 1996, Newsweek said that her reporting from conflict hotspots in the Gulf and the Balkans had helped make CNN ‘must-see TV for world leaders’”, reads her bio published by CNN news.
Amanpour is renowned for her reporting from conflicts, including the Iraq War 2003 and the Syrian crisis. She also covered humanitarian disasters, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and the Haiti earthquake (2010).
She has also interviewed several world leaders, including British Prime Minister Tony Blair after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, as well as Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi during the Arab Spring in 2011, and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in 2013. Her interviews have focused on global politics, conflict and human rights.
In 2009, she launched her self-titled CNN programme, Amanpour, featuring interviews with influential figures on international affairs.
Beyond reporting, she has advocated for press freedom, women’s rights and journalists’ safety, serving on the boards of organisations including the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Women’s Media Foundation.
Amanpour’s PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, will also end in December 2026. However, she plans to continue hosting her podcast, The Ex Files, with her former husband, Jamie Rubin, which is produced by Global.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)