Famous American Journalists

As one of the leading television journalists for the past 10 years, Anderson Cooper has played a prominent role in influencing several important events in the United States of America. An openly gay man, Anderson Cooper has also served as an inspiration to the entire LGBTQ community.

Megyn Kelly is a well-known American journalist and political commentator. She had a successful career at Fox News and NBC News, where she did reporting and anchored many shows. She quit television and launched her media production company in 2020. She hosts the The Megyn Kelly Show podcast. She has also written an autobiography titled Settle for More.

Peabody-winner Chris Cuomo, best known for hosting the CNN morning show, has also been associated with Fox and the show 20/20. His work on the ABC show Good Morning America won him an Emmy. He has covered sensitive issues such as heroin addiction and the war on terror, with finesse. 

Famous American journalist, Maria Shriver, is recognised for her long association with NBC. Her documentary series The Alzheimer’s Project earned rave reviews and she later founded the nonprofit organization, 'The Women's Alzheimer's Movement'. As the former First Lady of California– she was married to Arnold Schwarzenegger when he was the governor of California– she involved herself in numerous charity works.

Hunter S. Thompson was an American author and journalist. He is credited with creating his own subgenre of New Journalism called the gonzo journalism. The author of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, which was later adapted into a film, Thompson was famous for his lifelong use of drugs and alcohol. His books have had a major impact on counterculture.

The daughter of popular American politician John McCain, Meghan McCain has established herself as a noted columnist and TV personality, working for TV channels like Fox News, ABC News, and MSNBC. As an author, she has had a major impact upon the release of books, such as Dirty Sexy Politics and My Dad, John McCain. She also supports gay rights.

Hailing from a humble background, Gloria Steinem went on to become a celebrated journalist and an iconic feminist. Founder of the New York magazine and Ms Magazine, her life has been dedicated to writing, talking and fighting for women’s rights, gender equality, legalisation of abortion, among other things. She brought issues like female genital mutilation to the forefront in America.

Known for her stints on Fox News and CBS News, TV journalist Gretchen Carlson made headlines when she accused Fox CEO Roger Ailes of having sexually harassed her earlier, eventually causing him to resign. The former Miss America is also a skilled classical violinist and a Juilliard alumna.

Bill O'Reilly is an American author, journalist, and former TV host. The host of Fox News Channel's The O'Reilly Factor, O'Reilly played a major role in the success of Fox News Channel during his time at the channel. He is also credited with founding the No Spin News podcast, which he has been hosting since 2017.

William Randolph Hearst was an American newspaper publisher, businessman, and politician. He is credited with developing America's largest newspaper chain, Hearst Communications. Today, Hearst Communications has grown into a multinational business information and mass media conglomerate. William Randolph Hearst’s life and work inspired the creation of Charles Foster Kane, the main character in the 1941 drama film, Citizen Kane.

Erin Andrews is an American television personality and sportscaster. She is the lead sideline reporter for Fox Sports' NFL broadcasting team. Also known for her charitable work, Andrews played a key role in the Huddle to Fight Hunger campaign, which aimed to raise funds for Feeding America, a non-profit organization. She also serves as an inspiration to those fighting cancer.

George Stephanopoulos is an American political commentator and TV host. Currently serving as the chief anchor for ABC News, Stephanopoulos plays an important role in deciding the format of shows like Good Morning America. A well-known figure in popular culture, Stephanopoulos inspired the character of Henry Burton in the novel Primary Colors, which was later adapted into a film.

Barbara Walters is an American retired television personality and broadcast journalist. Renowned for her popularity with viewers, Walters appeared as the host of several popular TV shows. A pioneer for women in broadcasting, Walters became the first woman to co-host shows like Today and ABC Evening News. In 1996, she was named in TV Guide’s 50 Greatest TV Stars list.

Journalist, Chris Wallace ,is best known for his stint as the TV news anchor of the Fox News program Fox News Sunday. As an ambitious young man, he graduated from Harvard University and became a broadcast journalist. Over the years, he gained fame for his tough and wide-ranging interviews. He is the recipient of a Paul White lifetime achievement award.

Stephen A. Smith is an American sports journalist, sports radio host, and sports television personality. Known for his use of popular catchphrases, such as stay off the weed and blasphemous, Smith has been playing a major role in the success of ESPN's First Take. He also appears on SportsCenter and hosts his own radio show, The Stephen A. Smith Show.

NBC News anchor and broadcast journalist Savannah Guthrie is best known for co-anchoring the show Today. She appeared in the series finale of 30 Rock. She has penned two children’s books, too. She is also a practicing lawyer and has worked with domestic abuse victims.

Jack London was an American novelist, social activist, and journalist. A pioneer of American magazines and commercial fiction, London was one of the first authors from the US to become an international celebrity. His life and work inspired several films, such as the 1943 movie Jack London and 1980 film Klondike Fever. He was also portrayed in several TV series.

Regarded as “America’s Sweetheart”, Katherine Couric has been a familiar face on top US television networks for decades. The journalist and presenter had a long stint with NBC News before she switched over to CBS News and then to ABC News. She is also known for co-hosting programmes on Today. She co-founded multimedia news and production company Katie Couric Media.

Born to Indian-origin parents in the U.S., Sanjay Gupta is an acclaimed neurosurgeon and medical writer. He has also had a successful stint as a medical reporter for CNN, covering medical issues at wars and disasters. He has played himself in the movie Contagion and is a skilled accordion player.

Kaitlan Collins is one of the most popular and influential American journalists of the current generation. As a White House correspondent for CNN, Collins traveled to at least six different countries with Donald Trump. She made headlines when she questioned Trump about Vladimir Putin, for which she was forbidden from attending a Trump administration press conference in 2018.

Broadcast journalist and television talk show host Tamron Hall is best known for her eponymous award-winning syndicated daytime talk show. She has previously worked for NBC News and MSNBC. An alumnus of Temple University, she is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She is actively involved in anti-domestic violence campaigns.

Brooke Baldwin is an American television host and journalist. Since 2008, Brooke Baldwin has been an important member of CNN. She has been hosting CNN Newsroom with Brooke Baldwin, which has gained popularity over the years. Also a public speaker, Brooke Baldwin speaks at important events and venues.

Dana Bash is an American journalist. Currently working as a chief political correspondent for CNN, Dana Bash has played a major role in the success of the TV channel. She became one of the few women to be honored in a 2014 event called Women in Washington Power List, which was organized by Elle magazine.

Jake Tapper is an American author, cartoonist, and journalist. Over the years, Jake Tapper's work as a journalist, which includes the coverage of President Barack Obama's inauguration, has been praised by many critics. As the Chief Washington Correspondent for CNN, Jake Tapper plays a vital role in the TV channel's coverage of political matters.

Author and journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates gained international prominence while serving as the national correspondent at The Atlantic. His writings on socio-political issues related to African Americans and white supremacy garnered him much appreciation. He is a recipient of the Harriet Beecher Stowe Center Prize for Writing to Advance Social Justice. He also writes fiction and comics.

Erin Burnett is an American news anchor. Dubbed the International Superstar, Burnett has hosted her own show Erin Burnett OutFront from the borders of Afghanistan, Israel, and the United Arab Emirates; she has also worked on a number of documentaries filmed inside India, Nigeria, Russia, and Libya. She has also reported from countries like Pakistan and China.

Jesse Watters is best known for his aggressive ambush journalism and for his vox pop interviews featured in the "Watters' World” segment of the show The O'Reilly Factor on Fox News. A seasoned political commentator, he has also hosted the talk shows The Five and Outnumbered.

Gayle King is an American author and TV personality. Since 2012, King has been co-hosting CBS News' popular program, CBS This Morning. She has also been serving as CBS News' broadcast journalist. Also an editor-at-large for the famous O, The Oprah Magazine, King was included in Time magazine's list of 100 Most Influential People in 2019.