5 Female Pioneers Who Led the Way for Female CNN Anchors: Looking for inspiring stories of five influential female CNN anchors? Find out how these pioneers broke through the male-dominated TV news industry and opened up a world of possibilities for young women everywhere.
RELATED: List of female CNN anchors that you should watch in 2023
From Christiane Amanpour to Ashleigh Banfield and Anderson Cooper, five of the most influential female CNN anchors have set the bar high in the male-dominated world of television news. Discover their inspiring stories of success and learn how they paved the way for young women everywhere to enter and thrive in this field.
Table of Contents
1. Christiane Amanpour – CNN International
A pioneering and inspirational figure, Christiane Amanpour has been CNN’s Chief International Correspondent since 1989. Over the years, her fearless journalism and powerful storytelling have earned her numerous awards, including 11 Emmy Awards.
With a global reach of viewers and major contributions to foreign affairs reporting over the past three decades, she has become an inspiring symbol of strength and courage for women everywhere.
2. Alina Cho – CNN America
A journalist and writer who has made a name for herself through her stunning ability to craft engaging stories, Alina Cho started at CNN as a producer in 2002. She worked her way up, becoming the anchor of CNN America’s current affairs program before launching her own show, Open House with Alina Cho, in 2012.
Her pioneering style has broken the mold for female anchors everywhere and created an important space for women in the TV news industry.
3. Vikki Viels – CNN/USA
Vikki Viels is another prominent female force in the world of CNN. She is widely known for her on-air reporting of major news events such as the Olympics, Bush’s inauguration and NATO summit.
She also served as a correspondent for CNN’s newsmagazine program CNN World Report, before being promoted to fill the anchor position at CNN/USA in 2001. Her unique sense of style and approach to reporting has made her an inspiration to young women everywhere looking to have their voices heard.
4. Carol Costello – CNN Newsroom
Carol Costello was a key figure in CNN Newsroom and is considered as one of the first female CNN anchors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication from Kent State University, and worked in radio before becoming an anchor and reporter for Channel One news.
She then went to CNN’s Headline News (HLN) Network in 2001 where she has reported on various news events such as the Iraq war and presidential elections.
Her unique reporting style made her a prominent voice among many viewers, and she hosted her own morning show until she moved over to be the lead anchor for CNN Newsroom in 2011.
5. Brooke Baldwin – Special Projects Anchor
Brooke Baldwin is one of CNN’s top female anchors. She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from the University of North Carolina, and later an M.A. in journalism from the University of Georgia.
After working for various local and national outlets, including CBS Radio News, she joined CNN as a reporter and anchor for their weekend show.
In 2008, she was promoted to Special Projects Anchor, becoming one of the first women to have such a role at the network. She currently hosts her own talk show called “CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin” and is known for her direct yet relatable style of reporting the news.