Amara Walker

Amara Walker is an anchor and correspondent at CNN's global headquarters in Atlanta, anchoring CNN Newsroom and frequently appearing across the network’s programming. Walker began her career at CNN as an anchor for CNN International, establishing herself as a lead breaking news anchor and covering major international news events live and unscripted for extended periods.

Walker was part of the election night team that covered the U.S. presidential election and the Georgia Senate runoff, reporting on President Donald Trump’s public statements regarding the Georgia Secretary of State and subsequent investigations into Trump’s phone call concerning the election results.

She has anchored coverage of the humanitarian and political crisis in Venezuela, demonstrations against the extradition bill in Hong Kong, and was live on air during the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris. Other major live events she has anchored include the truck attacks in Nice and Berlin, the La Rambla van attack in Barcelona, the attempted coup in Turkey, the deaths of Lee Kuan Yew and King Abdullah, the South Korea Sewol ferry disaster, the double canonization of John XXIII and John Paul II, the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, and the Crimean referendum. Walker led the network’s initial coverage of the Ottawa shootings at the Canadian Parliament, which was simulcast on CNN and CNN International, and was nominated for an Emmy Award for her breaking news coverage of the Manchester Arena bombing attack. She also provides updates on Anderson Cooper's AC360's "360 Bulletin."

Walker has reported on anti-Asian hate crimes and has spoken publicly about her experiences as an Asian American journalist, moderating and participating in panels addressing racism and representation in media. She has contributed to CNN’s coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on its impact on minority communities and the rise in hate incidents.

Before joining CNN, Walker served as a news anchor and general assignment reporter at WFLD in Chicago, reporting from President Barack Obama's re-election campaign headquarters during the U.S. presidential election and covering the Chicago teachers' strike. Prior to her time in Chicago, she spent seven years at WTVJ in Miami, reporting on major stories including the capture and killing of Osama bin Laden, the Florida Republican primary, the NBA championship, the Florida governor's race, Hurricane Katrina, and the Haiti earthquake.

Walker graduated magna cum laude with a dual degree in political science and broadcast journalism from the University of Southern California. She speaks conversational Korean and Spanish.