Paula Ann Zahn(/zɑːn/;born February 24, 1956) is an Americanjournalistandnewscasterwho has been an anchor atABC News,CBS News,Fox News,andCNN.She currently produces and hosts thetrue crimedocumentary seriesOn the Case with Paula Zahnon theInvestigation Discoverychannel.[1][2]
Paula Zahn | |
|---|---|
 Zahn in April 2011 | |
| Born | Paula Ann Zahn February 24, 1956 Omaha, Nebraska,U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Newscaster, journalist |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Spouse |
Richard Cohen
(m.1987;div.2007) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and career
editZahn was born inOmaha, Nebraska,to a schoolteacher/artist mother and anIBMsales executive father.[3]She initially grew up inCanton, Ohio,with her parents and three siblings. The family relocated toNaperville, Illinois,as her father's job required them to move frequently. She once joked that "IBM" really stood for "I've been moved"[citation needed].She attended Washington Junior High School in Naperville and later graduated fromNaperville Central High Schoolin 1974. Zahn also competed in several beauty pageants, making the semi-finals of the 1973Miss Teenage AmericaPageant.[4][5]She continued her education atStephens CollegeinColumbia, Missouri,on a cello scholarship, and received firsthand knowledge of the news business by working as an intern atWBBM-TVinChicago.She graduated in 1978 with a bachelor's degree in journalism. Zahn then spent the next 10 years working at local stations around the country, includingWFAA-TVinDallas,KFMB-TVinSan Diego,KPRC-TVinHouston,WHDH-TV(then WNEV) inBoston,andKCBS-TVinLos Angeles.
National career
editABC
editIn 1987, Zahn accepted an offer to work atABC News,initially anchoringThe Health Show,a weekend program on health and medical issues. Within a few months she was co-anchoringWorld News This Morning,the network's early morning newscast, and anchoring news segments onGood Morning Americaas well as substituting for co-hostJoan Lunden.
CBS
editIn 1990, Zahn was offered a job atCBS News,which she took beginning on February 26, 1990, co-anchoringCBS This MorningwithHarry Smith.During this time, she helped cover the1992 Winter OlympicsinAlbertville, FrancewithTim McCarverand the1994 Winter OlympicsinLillehammer, Norway,as well as covering theWaco siege.Both she and Smith left after changes were made at the morning show in 1996 with their last day being on June 14, 1996. Zahn then went on to work as anchor of the Saturday edition of theCBS Evening News,as well as substituting forDan Ratherduring the week, and contributing reports to48 Hours,Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel,andCBS News Sunday Morning.
Fox News Channel
editIn 1999, after nine years at CBS News, Zahn moved to the world of cable news, joiningFox News Channel(FNC), where she anchoredFox Report,the network's nightly newscast. Months later, she helped launch her own prime time news program,The Edge with Paula Zahn.
CNN
editZahn began her work at CNN on September 11, 2001, joining anchorAaron Brownin the coverage of that day'sterrorist attacksas her reaction to the events she witnessed. Although not scheduled to appear on a CNN program, which was still in development, she began a regular morning news shift the next day. By January, she launched her CNN morning news program,American Morningwith Paula Zahn.
In 2003, during theIraq War,Zahn moved back to prime time, hosting a two-hour program labeledLive from the Headlineswhich offered continuing coverage of the war and other events.Anderson Coopertook over the first of the two hours by early summer, and by September, her show,Paula Zahn Now,premiered.
On July 24, 2007, she announced her resignation from CNN. The final broadcast ofPaula Zahn Nowaired August 2, 2007.[6]The announcement came less than a day after CNN hiredCampbell Brown,the former co-host ofWeekend Today.Initially, guest hosts essentially continued Zahn's program under the titleOut in the Open.[7]This was later replaced by election campaign coverage and ultimately Brown's program,Campbell Brown: No Bias, No Bull.
According to Zahn's goodbye letter penned to CNN staff, she stated "I plan to take a break between jobs and catch my breath before I take on my next role."[6]In aNew York Timesinterview, which was conducted right after the announcement of her resignation broke, Zahn toldJacques Steinbergthat "she had no idea what she would be doing next".[8]
WNET
editOn November 9, 2008, Zahn became the new co-host ofSundayArtson New York City PBS stationsWNETandWLIW.The program, which covers the fine arts scene in New York City, is now calledNYC-ARTSand airs Thursday evenings.
Investigation Discovery
editOn January 9, 2009,Discovery Communicationsannounced that Zahn, along with producing partners Scott Weinberger and Scott Sternberg, had entered into a development deal for atrue crimedocumentary series.On the Case with Paula Zahnpremiered October 18, 2009 on theInvestigation Discoverycable channel.[9]
PBS
editOnNew Year's Day2011, Zahn hosted the annual "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration"episode of the anthology seriesGreat PerformancesonPBS.[10]
Personal life
editZahn has three children, Austin, Jared, and Haley, with Richard Cohen, a New York City real estate developer.[11]Cohen isJewishand they are raising the children in his faith.[12]
The couple was in the news in 2004 when the nest of the well-publicizedred-tailed hawkPale Malewas removed from their Manhattan co-op building. Cohen, president of the co-op board, supported the removal; in 2001 Zahn had spoken approvingly of the hawk and its habit of feeding on rats and pigeons.[13]
In April 2007, Zahn announced she was divorcing Cohen after 20 years of marriage.[11]That same year, Zahn filed a lawsuit against Cohen alleging he had mismanaged 20 years' worth of her career earnings. The lawsuit was dismissed by the New York state court, ruling it "is not a commercial case, rather, it is a matrimonial dispute masquerading as a commercial dispute."[14]
Zahn played cello atCarnegie Hallin May 1992 with theNew York Popsorchestra.[15]She is also an honorary board member of theMultiple Myeloma Research Foundation,[16]and has been an active advocate for issues of cancer awareness in general, and breast cancer in particular.
In May 2003, Zahn received an honorary degree fromDowling CollegeofOakdale, New York.[17]
References
edit- ^"Paula Zahn, Women of Achievement speaker, talks Barbara Walters, journalism and solving cold cases".Staten Island Advance.May 2, 2019.
- ^Nordyke, Kimberly (2024-02-29)."'On the Case With Paula Zahn' Renewed for 27th Season by Investigation Discovery (Exclusive) ".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2024-04-01.
- ^"Paula Zahn Biography (1956-)".Filmreference.com.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^"Teenage America".Pageantopolis.com. 1964-05-19. Archived from the original on 2012-10-09.Retrieved2012-10-06.
{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^Wolf, Buck (2005-09-20)."Would America Miss Miss America? - ABC News".Abcnews.go.com.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^ab"Paula Zahn Resigns - TVNewser".Mediabistro.com. 2007-07-24. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-07-24.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^"CNN.com - Transcripts".Transcripts.cnn.com.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^Steinberg, Jacques (July 24, 2007)."Paula Zahn Will Leave CNN".The New York Times.RetrievedMay 22,2010.
- ^"Investigation Discovery's Paula Zahn Lends Support to Department of Justice's 15th..."Reuters. 2009-10-15. Archived fromthe originalon 2010-01-23.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^kpbs.org Great Performances: From Vienna: The New Year’s Celebration 2011
- ^abSilverman, Stephen M."CNN Newswoman Paula Zahn to Divorce - Divorced, Paula Zahn".People.com.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^West Hartford News: Paula Zahn speaks at Women's Annual CampaignMay 14, 2004
- ^Lueck, Thomas J.; Lee, Jennifer 8. (11 December 2004)."No Fighting the Co-op Board, Even With Talons]".The New York Times.Retrieved2012-10-06.
{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^Lattman, Peter (2 October 2007)."Peter Lattman, October 2, 2007 - 'Law Blog Matrimonial Law Roundup' The Wall Street Journal".Wall Street Journal.Retrieved 2013-09-10
- ^"Onstage at Carnegie Hall"(PDF).Newyorkpops.org. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2009-03-25.Retrieved2012-10-06.
- ^[1]ArchivedDecember 4, 2006, at theWayback Machine
- ^"Zahn Tapped For Commencement Address".SuffolkJournal.com.19 February 2003.Retrieved20 February2010.
External links
edit- Paula ZahnatIMDb
- Paula Zahncollected news and commentary atThe New York Times
- CNN interview December 23, 2005 with Shane Sellers
- Video of Zahn as co-host of public media's NYC-ARTS