Alisyn Camerota, a key figure of CNN during the Trump administration’s first term, has announced her departure from the news outlet backed by Warner Bros. Discovery. The news came directly from Camerota, who took to social media on Sunday to share her decision.
“Attention All! — Today marks my final day at CNN. Join me at 4:50p (et) for my farewell. Stay tuned for more updates!” she declared on Instagram.
Camerota’s journey with CNN began in 2014 after a lengthy tenure at Fox News Channel. For over six years, she served as the co-anchor of “New Day,” a popular morning show which ex-CNN head Jeff Zucker and his team hoped to make a strong competitor against MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” as well as longstanding morning news programs on broadcast television like NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Good Morning America.”
Alisyn’s departure comes at a time when CNN and its parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, are reportedly considering further job cuts as they grapple with the shift of resources towards digital content under the current CEO, Mark Thompson.
During her tenure at CNN, Camerota worked alongside Chris Cuomo, who cultivated a combative yet affable on-screen persona that drew attention as CNN reported on Trump. Camerota was recognized for her ability to conduct challenging interviews with key figures and show compassion on air when necessary.
“Our audience tunes in to see accountability,” Camerota shared with Variety in 2019 about her time on “New Day.” “They appreciate it when we hold people responsible. At times we need to interrupt when they ramble on with their talking points, even then, our viewers expect us to step in and halt the nonsense. I don’t fret over it.”
Over the course of her time at CNN, she also authored two books. Her debut novel, “Amanda Wakes Up,” was based in a large TV-news operation, and her 2024 memoir, “Combat Love,” narrated a troubling tale of an unstable upbringing.
Camerota has been notably absent from the screen in recent months. Her husband, Tim Lewis, passed away in July following a battle with pancreatic cancer. In September, Camerota revealed that she had taken a break to care for him during his final days.
However, since her departure from “New Day” in 2021, it seemed that CNN was unsure of how to utilize her talents. Since then, Camerota has co-anchored afternoon slots, fronted shows in primetime as CNN attempted to refresh its programming schedule, and worked on special reports for the weekend series “The Whole Story.”
Credit: variety.com
