Since its launch in 1980, CNN has built a reputation for employing top-tier journalists, including a remarkable roster of female anchors, correspondents, and reporters. Many have served the network for over a decade, bringing expertise and authority to breaking news, political coverage, and international reporting. This list highlights 25 of the most notable women currently shaping CNN's journalism.
Who Are CNN's Leading Women in News?
CNN was the first 24-hour news channel in the United States and remains a dominant force, now owned by Warner Bros Discovery (WBD). The following women are among its most prominent on-air talents, covering everything from White House politics to global conflicts.
1. Kate Bolduan
Kate Bolduan, born 28 July 1983 in Goshen, Indiana, is co-anchor of CNN News Central and former host of State of America. She joined CNN as a national correspondent for CNN Newsource and has also co-anchored New Day and The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer.
2. Kaitlan Collins
Kaitlan Collins, born 7 April 1992 in Prattville, Alabama, hosts The Source with Kaitlan Collins. She previously served as CNN's Chief White House Correspondent and co-anchor of CNN This Morning.
3. Becky Anderson
Becky Anderson, born 15 November 1967 in England, anchors Connect the World with Becky Anderson on CNN International. She is also a board member for Young Arab Leaders and an ambassador for the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers community.
4. Erin Burnett
Erin Burnett, born 2 July 1976 in Mardela Springs, Maryland, anchors Erin Burnett OutFront. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and a board member of the Women's Initiative at the United Nations. Burnett extensively covered the war in Ukraine, reporting from Kyiv during the Russian invasion.
5. Christiane Amanpour
Christiane Amanpour, born 12 January 1958 in Ealing, England, is CNN's chief international anchor and host of Amanpour. A Member of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), she was inducted into the Cable News Hall of Fame in 2014 and has been with CNN since 1983.
6. Audie Cornish
Audie Cornish, born 9 October 1979 in Randolph, Massachusetts, hosts the CNN Audio podcast The Assignment with Audie Cornish and contributes to CNN's national and political coverage.
7. Randi Kaye
Randi Kaye, born 19 November 1967 in New York City, is an investigative reporter for Anderson Cooper 360°. She anchored from Ground Zero on the day Osama bin Laden was killed.
8. Amanda Davies
Amanda Davies, born 24 March 1980 in Manchester, England, is a sports anchor and correspondent for CNN International. She has interviewed top athletes including Serena Williams, David Beckham, and Usain Bolt.
9. Nia-Malika Henderson
Nia-Malika Henderson, born 7 July 1974 in Hopkins, South Carolina, is a senior political reporter focusing on identity politics, demographics, race, and religion in elections.
10. Abby Phillip
Abby Phillip, born 25 November 1988 in Virginia, anchors CNN NewsNight with Abby Phillip. She previously worked at The Washington Post, ABC News, and Politico, and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority.
11. Laura Coates
Laura Coates, born 11 July 1980 in Saint Paul, Minnesota, is a legal analyst for CNN and a former federal prosecutor at the U.S. Department of Justice.
12. Erica Hill
Erica Hill, born 20 July 1976 in Clinton, Connecticut, is an anchor and national correspondent contributing to CNN, CNN International, and CNN Max. She previously co-anchored NBC's Weekend TODAY and worked at CBS News.
13. Eleni Giokos
Eleni Giokos, born 1981 in Greece, is an anchor and correspondent based in the UAE. She hosts Connecting Africa and Marketplace Middle East and joined CNN in 2015 with over 15 years of experience.
14. Zain Asher
Zain Asher, born 27 August 1983 in London, anchors One World with Zain Asher on CNN International. Her memoir Where The Children Take Us was published by HarperCollins in April 2022.
15. Julia Chatterley
Julia Chatterley, born 1982 in London, anchors First Move with Julia Chatterley on CNN International, covering global payments, blockchain, and digital assets.
16. Rosemary Church
Rosemary Church, born 10 November 1962 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has been a CNN anchor and correspondent since 1998, anchoring CNN Newsroom for Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
17. Pamela Brown
Pamela Brown, born 29 November 1983 in Lexington, Kentucky, is a senior chief investigative correspondent and anchors The Bulletin with Pamela Brown. She previously served as a senior White House correspondent.
18. Bianna Golodryga
Bianna Golodryga, born 15 June 1978 in Căușeni, Moldova, anchors One World with Zain Asher and Bianna Golodryga and is a senior global affairs analyst. She is fluent in Russian and has received the Keystone Policy Centre Leadership Award.
19. Meena Duerson
Meena Duerson, a CNN correspondent based in New York, covers domestic stories on children, families, health insurance, and wellness influencers. Prior to CNN, she reported for VICE News and earned three Emmy Awards for her work on George Floyd protests and investigations into sexual abuse and school surveillance.
20. Jessica Dean
Jessica Dean, born 22 August 1985 in Little Rock, Arkansas, hosts weekend primetime CNN Newsroom and serves as a political correspondent. She was previously a congressional correspondent on Capitol Hill.
21. Dana Bash
Dana Bash, born 15 June 1971 in New York City, is CNN's chief political correspondent and moderated the network's first debate of the 2020 election cycle in Detroit.
22. Vanessa Yurkevich
Vanessa Yurkevich, born 29 November 1985 in Montclair, New Jersey, is a business and politics correspondent who has interviewed executives including Jim Farley, Mary Barra, and Richard Branson.
23. Sara Sidner
Sara Sidner, born 31 May 1972 in Miami Lakes, Florida, is co-anchor of CNN News Central (weekdays 7–10 a.m. ET). She joined CNN in 2008 after local news reporting.
24. Brianna Keilar
Brianna Keilar, born 21 September 1980 in Canberra, Australia, is a CNN correspondent and anchor who served as a White House correspondent. She joined the network in 2006.
25. Clarissa Ward
Clarissa Ward, born 31 January 1980 in London, is CNN's chief international correspondent and host of the award-winning podcast Tug of War. She began her career as a freelance writer for Fox News, CBS News, and ABC News.
Notable Former CNN Female Anchors
Several prominent women have left CNN, including Brooke Baldwin (anchored CNN Newsroom 2008–2014), Alisyn Camerota (former co-anchor of CNN This Morning), and Gloria Borger (longtime chief political analyst).
Current CNN Anchors
Today's CNN anchor lineup includes John Berman, Kate Bolduan, Sara Sidner, Kasie Hunt, Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, and Laura Coates. These journalists, along with the women listed above, continue to uphold CNN's standard of excellence in news reporting.
