CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Announces Departure in June 2027

Veteran international journalist Christiane Amanpour has announced that she will leave CNN in June 2027 after 43 years with the broadcaster, ending a career that made her one of the most recognisable figures in international television news.

Amanpour, 68, announced her decision on Monday, October 19, saying she had spent months considering the move. She will continue reporting for CNN until her departure, although her regular programmes will be phased out in the months leading up to her exit.

The journalist, who serves as CNN’s chief international anchor, began working at the network in 1983 as an entry-level assistant on its international assignment desk in Atlanta, Georgia. She subsequently moved into reporting and rose to prominence through coverage of major international conflicts, including the 1991 Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Rwandan genocide and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Her reporting has also covered developments in Ukraine, Iran and other regions experiencing political instability and conflict.

In announcing her departure, Amanpour expressed gratitude to the colleagues and production teams who had worked alongside her over four decades. She said she looked forward to pursuing new projects and would continue supporting CNN’s tradition of independent journalism. She also urged journalists to remain committed to truth, using the phrase “always be truthful, not neutral” to describe the principle she believes should guide their work.

CNN chairman and chief executive Mark Thompson acknowledged her decision in a message to staff, saying the two had discussed her departure over several months. Thompson praised her contribution to the broadcaster and said he was sorry to see her leave, while recognising that the timing was right for her personally and professionally.

Amanpour’s departure will take place in stages. Her daily programmes across CNN and the US public broadcaster PBS are scheduled to end in December 2026. Her CNN International programme, Amanpour, will move to a weekly format in January 2027 and conclude in May, with her remaining reporting duties and transition work continuing until June. Her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, is also due to end at the close of 2026. She has indicated that she intends to continue her podcast, The Ex Files, and explore other professional opportunities.

Her announcement comes as CNN enters a period of corporate change following the takeover of its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, by Paramount Skydance. The transaction has renewed public discussion about media ownership, editorial independence and the relationship between corporate leadership and news coverage. Amanpour has previously expressed concern about changes at CBS News under the new ownership structure, but she did not identify the corporate transition as the reason for her decision to leave CNN.

Her career has been closely associated with the expansion of international television reporting, particularly during conflicts that placed journalists in dangerous and politically sensitive environments. Her coverage of the Bosnian War in the 1990s brought international attention to civilian suffering and the consequences of ethnic violence, while her reporting from the Middle East and other conflict zones helped establish her reputation as a prominent correspondent on global affairs. Over the years, she has interviewed political leaders and influential public figures while reporting on war, diplomacy, human rights and international relations.

Amanpour also built a significant presence beyond CNN. Her PBS programme, Amanpour & Company, became a platform for extended interviews with policymakers, journalists, academics and other prominent voices. Her work across both networks allowed her to combine frontline reporting with discussions examining the political and social forces shaping international events.

Her exit marks the end of a long chapter for CNN, where she progressed from an entry-level newsroom position to one of its most senior international journalism roles. As the broadcaster adjusts its programming and ownership structure, her departure also highlights the importance of experienced international correspondents in helping audiences understand conflicts and political developments that cross national borders. For viewers who have followed her reporting for decades, the transition will mean the loss of a familiar presence in global news coverage, even as Amanpour prepares to pursue work beyond the network.