Christiane Amanpour is a CNN Chief International Correspondent and is one of the most honored TV journalists in the United States. She's also said to be the world's highest-paid correspondent. An Amanpour report validates a story's importance. She's often given entree where other reporters are neither welcomed nor allowed. She's an authority on Islam with extensive Middle East connections. Bill Clinton calls her the voice of humanity; critics in the Pentagon tag her as overly emotional and even biased. On June 17, 2007, Amanpour was named by Queen Elizabeth as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, which is only one step shy of knighthood.
Amanpour was in the Baghdad courtroom on October 19, 2005 when Saddam Hussein made his first trial appearance. She was also at Hussein's initial hearing in 2004. Amanpour was the broadcast host of the September 2005 gathering of world leaders for President Clinton's Global Initiative Summit, which raised $1.25 billion in commitments. Time magazine called her the most influential foreign correspondent since Edward R. Murrow. Amanpour was elevated to CNN foreign correspondent in 1989, where she reported on democratic revolutions in Eastern Europe. She first attained widespread acclaim for her riveting coverage of the Persian Gulf War in 1990, followed by award-winning reporting of the conflicts in Bosnia and Rwanda. Based in London, she's reported from war zones in Iraq, Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, Rwanda and beyond. She's also secured numerous exclusive interviews with world leaders.
She is loved and trusted by her viewers because she seems very genuine and professional. As you watch her you really feel as if she is striving to find the truth for all of us not just for a good story. She goes to the source to get the story and interviews people that seem intimidating and frightening at times. Amanpour remains confident and asks the right questions and the tough questions that others might be afraid to ask at times. When you compare your average journalist to Amanpour you than can truly appreciate the lengths she goes to so that we may be able to get news that is factual and not watered down. You can also get a great sense of the emotions that are taking place during her interviews.