Why is Chris Wallace Leaving CNN After 3 Years?

Why is Chris Wallace Leaving CNN?

Chris Wallace is a well-known American broadcast journalist who has anchored numerous programs across different networks. Most recently, he hosted Who's Talking to Chris Wallace? on CNN.

CNN announced on Monday evening that Wallace would be leaving the network. While it's common for journalists and anchors to pursue new opportunities when their contracts end, it seems Wallace may have other plans, such as exploring new media opportunities.

Over the course of his career, Wallace has hosted major programs, including NBC Nightly News anchor (1982–1987), Meet the Press moderator (1987–1988), ABC Primetime correspondent (1989–2003), and Fox News Sunday anchor (2003–2021), before joining CNN.

Who is Chris Wallace?

Christopher Wallace, born on October 12, 1947, is a renowned American broadcast journalist, best known for his rigorous and insightful interviews. He has had a distinguished 60-year career in journalism, working across major networks such as CBS, ABC, NBC, Fox News, and CNN.

Wallace is often compared to his father, Mike Wallace, a legendary journalist known for his work on 60 Minutes, due to his similar interviewing style, which is both tough and comprehensive.

Throughout his career, Wallace has held key roles such as correspondent, anchor, and moderator, further solidifying his place in the journalistic world. Notably, in 2018, he was ranked as one of America's most trusted television news anchors.

Wallace's work has earned him several prestigious accolades, including three Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, a George Polk Award, and the duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton Award, reflecting his commitment to excellence in journalism.

Chris Wallace's Personal Life

Chris Wallace has had a complex and evolving personal life. His relationship with his father developed more deeply in his teens, following the tragic death of his older brother Peter in 1962, who died while climbing a mountain in Greece.

Wallace has been married twice. His first marriage was in 1973 to Elizabeth Farrell, and they have four children together: Peter, Megan, Catherine, and Andrew. Peter has three children: William, Caroline, and James; Megan has two daughters: Sabine and Livia; and Andrew has two sons: Jack and Luke.

In 1997, Wallace married Lorraine Smothers, the former wife of comedian Dick Smothers. Lorraine has two children from her previous marriage: Sarah and Remick Smothers.

Additionally, Wallace's daughter-in-law, Jennifer Breheny Wallace, who is married to his son Peter, is a journalist and bestselling author. She wrote the 2023 book Never Enough.

Awards and Achievement

Christopher Wallace has received numerous prestigious awards over the years for his exceptional work in journalism. Notably, in 1992, he won the George Polk Award in Foreign Reporting for his work on ABC News's Primetime Live. The following year, in 1993, he earned the Alfred I. duPont–Columbia Silver Baton Award for Excellence in Television Journalism.

Wallace's career continued to be recognized with several key honors, such as the National Press Foundation Award for Broadcast Excellence in 2011, and the Sol Taishoff Award for Excellence in Broadcast Journalism from the National Press Foundation in 2012. He also received the Paul White Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 from the Radio Television Digital News Association.

In 2014, Wallace was honored with the Golden Plate Award from the American Academy of Achievement, presented by Dr. Ben Carson.

Other notable awards include the Founders Award for Excellence in Journalism in 2017 from the International Center for Journalists, and the Tex McCrary Journalism Award from the Congressional Medal of Honor Society in 2018.

That same year, he received The Freedom of Speech Award from the Culture and Media Institute. In 2020, Wallace was awarded the Poynter Medal for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism.