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Christiane Amanpour, CNN’s chief international anchor, is leaving the network in June 2027 after 43 years of reporting major global conflicts and political upheavals.
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Her flagship CNN International programme, Amanpour, will be reduced to a weekly show in January 2027 before ending in May.
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The veteran journalist is also ending her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, in December 2026, but will continue her podcast, The Ex Files.
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Amanpour’s exit comes as CNN enters a new era under Skydance ownership, with the veteran journalist warning colleagues to remain committed to truthful and independent journalism.
October 20, (THEWILL) – Veteran journalist and CNN chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, is leaving the network after 43 years, bringing to an end one of the longest and most distinguished careers in the history of international television journalism.
Amanpour, 68, announced her decision on Monday, October 19, saying she had spent months reflecting on her future before deciding to end her association with the network.
“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 in a statement shared by the network.
Her departure will take place in stages, with her daily CNN International programme, Amanpour, moving to a weekly schedule at the beginning of 2027 before ending in May. She will leave CNN the following month, after completing her remaining assignments and transition period.
Amanpour will also end her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, at the end of 2026.
However, she plans to remain active in journalism through The Ex Files, the podcast she co-hosts with her former husband, Jamie Rubin, a former United States diplomat. She also indicated that she has other projects in the works.
“I look forward to interesting new projects down the line”, she said.
End Of A Defining CNN Era
Amanpour’s exit closes a remarkable chapter in CNN’s history. She joined the network in 1983 as an assistant on its international assignment desk and rose through the ranks to become one of the world’s most recognisable foreign correspondents and eventually its chief international anchor.
Her career was shaped by frontline coverage of some of the world’s most consequential conflicts and crises, including the First Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Rwandan genocide, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Iran.
Her reporting from conflict zones, often from the front lines, helped establish her reputation for pursuing powerful political leaders and other influential figures while placing global crises in a human context.
Reflecting on her career, Amanpour credited the journalists, producers, camera crews and other colleagues with whom she worked over the decades.
She said their collective efforts were focused on seeking facts, evidence and humanity so that CNN could tell the truth about events around the world “without fear nor favour.”
CNN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mark Thompson, said he had discussed Amanpour’s departure with her for several months and described her as one of the network’s most trusted and recognised journalists. He said her decision was made after careful consideration and that, while he was sorry to see her leave, he accepted that the time was right for her personally and professionally.
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‘Always Be Truthful, Not Neutral’
In her farewell message, Amanpour reaffirmed her commitment to independent journalism and urged journalists to remain steadfast in their pursuit of truth.
She said she would continue to support CNN and its tradition of independent journalism, adding a message that has become closely associated with her approach to reporting: “always be truthful, not neutral.”
Her departure comes at a major turning point for CNN. The network has recently entered a new ownership era following Skydance’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, bringing CNN and CBS News under the same corporate umbrella. The transaction was completed on October 6, 2026, after a lengthy corporate process.
The ownership change has generated questions about the future direction of CNN and the broader editorial landscape within its new corporate structure.
Amanpour had previously voiced concerns about developments at CBS News and the possibility of an ideological shift in the organisation. However, in announcing her departure, she did not directly attribute her decision to the ownership change. CNN has also not indicated that the exit was caused by the new ownership.
Health Battle
Amanpour’s departure also follows years in which she has spoken publicly about her battle with ovarian cancer.
She disclosed in 2021 that she had been diagnosed with the disease and later revealed that it had returned, describing ovarian cancer as an “invisible killer.”
She has used her public platform to encourage women to take their health seriously and undergo appropriate screening and medical checks.
Despite the personal and professional challenges, Amanpour has continued working at the highest levels of international journalism.
Her final months at CNN will therefore mark not only the winding down of her flagship programme but also the closing of a 43-year association with an organisation whose global identity she helped shape.
From a junior newsroom assistant to one of the most influential international correspondents in television journalism, Amanpour’s career has spanned wars, revolutions, political transitions, humanitarian crises and some of the defining events of the modern era.
Her departure leaves CNN without one of the most recognisable figures associated with its international reporting tradition and marks the end of an era for the network as it begins another chapter under new ownership.
Background
Amanpour began her CNN career in 1983, when the network itself was still a relatively young broadcaster. She subsequently became a foreign correspondent and rose to international prominence through her coverage of wars and humanitarian crises.
Her reporting from the Gulf War and the Balkans established her as a formidable international correspondent, while later assignments took her to some of the world’s most dangerous and politically significant regions.
She has interviewed numerous world leaders and prominent public figures and has become closely identified with CNN’s international news operation.
Her CNN programme, Amanpour, has served as a platform for interviews and discussions on international politics and global affairs, while Amanpour & Company extended that work to PBS audiences.
With both programmes now approaching their final broadcasts, Amanpour is preparing to close her television career at CNN while leaving the door open to new journalism projects beyond the network.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
