Christiane Amanpour to leave CNN after four decades as Ellison era begins

CNN's chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour, will depart the network next year after a four-decade-long career with the organization, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters. The news channel has been recently acquired by Skydance, whose CEO, David Ellison, has faced scrutiny over his leadership at CBS News.

Amanpour will conclude her daily broadcasts on CNN and PBS by the end of the current year. She will maintain a weekly show on the network until May, and will work on a transition through June. Amanpour, who embarked on her journalistic journey by covering the first Gulf War, has since reported on numerous conflicts, including those in Bosnia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Iran.

Skydance, originally known as Paramount Skydance, finalized its $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros Discovery earlier this month, which unites CNN and CBS News under a single corporate entity. CNN chief Mark Thompson and CBS News Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss will retain their positions, with both reporting to Ellison and co-CEO Ynon Kreiz.

Ellison has come under criticism from lawmakers for potentially manipulating news coverage at CBS News to align with the perspectives of former President Donald Trump.