After 34-plus years at CNN, longtime director Roger Strauss will work on his final show tomorrow. Strauss is one of only nine original CNN employees still with the company, but that number will dwindle to eight by the weekend as Strauss heads into retirement.
Strauss accepted the voluntary buyout that was offered to all Turner Employees over the age of 55 with 10 years of tenure. While Strauss’ job was reportedly safe, he decided the severance offer made this the right time to walk away.
Strauss has directed over 19,000 live shows on CNN and roughly 100,000 interviews and live shots. He has directed debates, town halls, conventions, election nights and coverage of countless historical events. From 1985 to 2001, Strauss directed “Showbiz Today” and was instrumental in bringing Twitter to life on CNN.
In 2011 the Grady College of Journalism at The University of Georgia recognized Roger by awarding him the John Holliman Jr. Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement.