Brooke Baldwin announces CNN departure in mid-April – Deadline

UPDATE with tweet and video: Long duration CNN Newsroom Presenter Brooke Baldwin announced her surprise resignation from the on-air cable news network today, telling viewers she would be leaving in April to focus on “amplifying the lives of extraordinary Americans and taking advantage of my passion for storytelling ”.

“Before I begin, I want to start with some personal news,” Baldwin said at the start of his 3 p.m. ET show. “I will be leaving CNN in April.”

She continued, “Let me go back. After most of my 20 years working in local news, I came to this network in 2008 – in the midst of the Great Recession as a freelance writer. I remember scribbling my name on a post-it note and pasting it outside that temporary desk, determined to make my dream of becoming a full-time CNN correspondent come true.

The Peabody Prize winner joined CNN in 2008 and is also the creator and host of the CNN digital series. American woman, which focuses on the stories of pioneering women who broke barriers in their respective fields and who are now helping other women to do the same.

Watch his announcement here and read his full statement below.

1. I want to start with some personal news I’m going to leave @CNN in April. I came to this network as a freelance writer in 2008. I scribbled my name on a message and pasted it in front of a temporary office determined to fulfill my dream of becoming a full-time correspondent at CNN. pic.twitter.com/v4zeG5XMQX

– Brooke Baldwin (@BrookeBaldwin) February 16, 2021

Thanking CNN President Jeff Zucker and the “very big CNN family,” Baldwin said, “I don’t have a job I’m getting into, and yes, I feel very vulnerable.”

She continued, “For a decade, I never took for granted the enormous responsibility and privilege I had to work with some of the most talented producers and photojournalists, as well as correspondents and presenters, so that we have covered the most urgent and important of our time. stories, conflicts, terrorism, environmental and natural disasters, the wrath of gun violence, royal weddings, my American woman series, the social justice movement that defines our culture and a pandemic that changed the world.

“I wanted to be among the best of the best in cable news and journalism, and as a native Atlantan that would be my hometown dream. I had no idea, not only would I go only one to make this dream come true, I would thrive in this environment and land my own two o’clock afternoon show at the age of 31.

Baldwin said that in two years she had been writing her first book titled Huddle: How women unleash their collective power. HarperCollins will release it in April.

“You know, I still have a lot to do,” she said, “I have to do more outside of this place, outside the walls of this place, a place that I have the privilege to call home. me now for 13 years. “

Baldwin joined CNN after serving as a senior reporter for the 10 p.m. TV news for WTTG Washington, DC. Prior to that, she worked at WOWK Charleston / Huntington, WV, and began her career in news broadcasting at WVIR Charlottesville, VA.

Here is the full text of Baldwin’s on-air announcement today:

“Before I begin, I want to start with some personal news.” With a deep sigh, she said, “I will be leaving CNN in April. Let me go back. After most of my 20 years working in local news, I came to this network in 2008 – in the midst of the Great Recession as a freelance writer. I remember scribbling my name on a sticky note and pasting it outside that temporary office, determined to make my dream of becoming a full-time CNN correspondent come true.

“I wanted to be some of the best of the best in cable news and journalism, and as a native Atlantan that would be my hometown dream. I didn’t know much, not only would I go one to make this dream come true, I would thrive in this environment and land my own two hour afternoon show at the age of 31.

“For a decade, I never took for granted the enormous responsibility and privilege I have had to work with some of the most talented producers and photojournalists, as well as correspondents and anchors, as we covered the most pressing and important stories and conflicts of our time. , terrorism, environmental and natural disasters, the wrath of gun violence, royal weddings, my American woman series, the social justice movements that define our culture and a pandemic that changed the world and politics – a lot of politics.

“You have been with me every step of the way – never more than when I was incredibly ill with Covid last year. I am very grateful for your loyalty and your passion for the world we cover. I am so grateful to my show crew – you know who you are. You know who you are. To Jeff Zucker, to my very large CNN family and to you. Yours.

“The next chapter of my life will be focused on what I love most about my job: amplifying the lives of amazing Americans and harnessing my passion for storytelling. For two years, I have been working on my first book; it’s called Huddle: How women unleash their collective power, and, you know, there’s just more I have to do – more than I have to do outside of this place, outside the walls of this place, a place that I have been privileged to call home now for 13 years .

“And, yes, we’re still in a pandemic, and no, I don’t have a job I’m getting myself into, and yes – yes, I feel very vulnerable. But what does Brene Brown say? “Vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change,” and I’m so excited for what’s to come. So there you have it: I really hope you join me, and in the meantime, I’ll be here with you, until mid-April. Now to the news.

Erik Pedersen contributed to this report.