CNN “Starting Point” anchor Soledad O’Brien signed off from the morning show today. “Starting Point” launched at the beginning of 2012, part of a revamp of CNN’s morning hours. While O’Brien drew praise from critics, the show was unable to catch up to MSNBC or Fox News in the mornings. This also marks O’Brien’s departure from CNN as a staff anchor/reporter. She has entered into a new deal in which her production company will offer specials and documentaries to CNN.
O’Brien has been an anchor and reporter for CNN since 2003. Her most memorable reporting — as it was for many in the business — was the coverage during and after Hurricane Katrina. At the end of today’s show O’Brien recalled the reaction she got at the Baton Rouge airport, returning from one reporting trip, as she and her crew wore CNN baseball caps.
“We walked into the airport and everyone gave us a standing ovation, because we had covered the storm so well,” O’Brien said. “Facts matter, and we shouldn’t be afraid to have tough and honest conversations, and maybe even argue a little bit when there is a lot at stake.”
CNN announced yesterday that it will launch a new morning show anchored by Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan and Michaela Pereira later this Spring. Last evening, Cuomo phoned in to “The Situation Room,” where Bolduan has been co-anchoring recently.