CNN’s Brooke Baldwin said an emotional goodbye on Friday during her final appearance as a host on the CNN Newsroom.
The veteran host, who has anchored the show for more than a decade, detailed how she received the top spot and thanked her fans and colleagues at CNN for helping push it over the years.
“Let me give you a little secret: this job, my CNN show, wasn’t originally supposed to be mine,” Baldwin said. “More than a decade ago there was an anchor – CNN left abruptly, leaving this hole gaping in the afternoon. The bosses then quickly turned to me and were like ‘Brooke, we’re going to need you for keep the chair warm., just for a week, until we actually find the person who will take over this show. ‘OK, guess what? I’ve kept this chair warm for almost 11 years.’
Baldwin recounted some of the moments of history he witnessed during the anchoring for CNN, from the coronavirus pandemic to the mass shootings that shook the country.
“This job, using my voice for over a decade, has been a profound privilege,” Baldwin continued, taking a deep breath. “So at home, thank you. Thank you for trusting me. Thanks for holding me accountable. And thank you for all the love. I’m telling you I’m reading each of your DMs, well, send them on. “
In the end, she thanked the viewers and the CNN team for holding her accountable and pushing her to be better, saying that she managed to leave “this place better than I found it”.
She highlighted the recent rise of female journalists serving as White House correspondents as the latest indicator of change and progress.
“Let me tell you something when I saw all those women recently,” she said. “We were standing, applauding them. So many women, black, white, brown. Progress. We need different voices to tell us the stories in front of the chamber and the executive suites. We’re making progress. So any industry you are in, my parting words: be a little uncomfortable. Speak up and keep pushing. “
Baldwin announced plans to leave CNN in February. She will release her book, “Huddle: How Women Unlock Your Collective Power,” later this month.