Amara Walker, who co-anchored “CNN This Morning Weekend,” surprised the television news industry with her sudden resignation on Thursday, February 6, 2025. Her departure comes shortly after she won an Emmy Award for her breaking news coverage of the Israel-Hamas war.
In her resignation statement, Walker expressed her decision to take a break from TV news amid this period of industry change. She mentioned having other professional ambitions that could not be pursued due to her full-time commitment to a TV news schedule and conveyed her excitement about future opportunities.
Walker’s unexpected exit comes after a decade-long stint at CNN, where she served as the co-anchor of “CNN This Morning Weekend” with Victor Blackwell and hosted “CNN Newsroom” on CNN Max on Mondays and Tuesdays at 8 a.m. Her career at CNN International started in 2013, and she gained early recognition for covering the Manchester Arena bombing at an Ariana Grande concert in 2017, which earned her an Emmy nomination.
During her ten-year career at CNN, Walker reported on several major international incidents, including the Venezuelan crisis and the Hong Kong protests. She also delivered live coverage of the Notre Dame fire in Paris and reported on the Ottawa shootings. Domestically, she extensively covered the Atlanta spa massacre, the 2020 U.S. presidential election, and Donald Trump’s allegations of election fraud in Georgia.
Reflecting on her journey, Walker stated she had the privilege of working on nearly all of CNN’s platforms during her ten years there. She considered her recent Emmy Award the pinnacle of her career and felt it was the right time to transition.
Walker’s departure coincides with significant changes at CNN under CEO Mark Thompson, who took over in 2023 and recently announced a reduction of 200 employees on the TV side. This follows about 100 cuts made during the summer as the network shifts towards digital media. The network has experienced several high-profile exits, including Jim Acosta after 18 years, Chris Wallace after a reduced salary offer, and Julia Chatterley, who anchored “First Move” on CNN International.
Professor Jeff McCall of DePauw University offered a critical assessment of a network’s deteriorating reputation in his comments to the LA Times. Highlighting multiple challenges, including staff reductions and legal setbacks from libel cases, McCall frames these issues as symptoms of a broader decline in the network’s brand strength. His observation, “Right now, you think of their brand as in decline,” directly connects these operational and legal difficulties to the network’s diminishing public image.
A spokesperson from CNN recognized Amara Walker’s accomplished career and unexpected exit, praising her more than a decade-long contributions. Walker has been instrumental in covering major breaking news events, both as an anchor and a field reporter. The network lauded her dedication, professionalism, and journalistic expertise, describing her as a highly valued and respected colleague who made a significant impact at CNN.
No immediate successor has been announced for Walker’s roles on “CNN This Morning Weekend” or “CNN Newsroom,” although Victor Blackwell will continue with the network. The ongoing reshuffling is part of Thompson’s strategy to reorient CNN’s focus towards digital platforms, marking a major shift in the network’s news delivery approach.