Ashleigh Banfield

Ashleigh Banfield is a journalist recognized for her extensive career in American television news. Over nearly four decades in broadcast journalism, Banfield has worked at major television networks, including NBC, ABC, CNN, HLN, and Court TV. She gained national attention for her coverage of the September 11 attacks and international conflicts while at MSNBC, anchoring legal and breaking news programs across multiple networks. Her work in broadcast journalism has been honored with Emmy, Telly, Iris, Gracie, and National Headliner awards.

Banfield reported on the September 11 terrorist attacks for NBC News, delivering live coverage from the World Trade Center in New York City, which earned her Emmy Award recognition. Following her reporting at Ground Zero, Banfield covered the War on Terror from locations including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, England, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. This period included intensive reporting from conflict zones and contributed to her team's National Headliner Award. As a correspondent for NBC News, Banfield contributed to "The Today Show," "NBC Nightly News with Tom Brokaw," and "Dateline." Her interviews have included world leaders such as Yasser Arafat and U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton, as well as public figures like Martha Stewart.

Before joining ABC News, Banfield anchored and hosted three programs on TruTV, including the daily legal news program "Banfield and Ford: Courtside," the weekly show "Hollywood Heat," and the prime-time special series "Disorder in the Court." The Gracie Allen Awards recognized her as Outstanding Anchor for her work at Court TV. As an Emmy Award-winning correspondent for ABC News, Banfield reported for "Good Morning America," "20/20," and "Nightline." She has also hosted the A&E prime-time series "Live Rescue," "Primetime Justice with Ashleigh Banfield" on HLN, and anchored "Legal View with Ashleigh Banfield" on CNN.

Banfield is known for reporting on high-profile criminal cases, including the Casey Anthony murder trial and national investigations that have drawn significant public interest. She has reported from the scenes of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and covered the trials of George Zimmerman, Jodi Arias, and Casey Anthony. Banfield has served as a legal analyst and host for Court TV and contributed to Investigation Discovery's "Murder Mystery" series.

Banfield leads NewsNation's true crime digital vertical, where content from her podcast, "Drop Dead Serious with Ashleigh Banfield," is featured. "Drop Dead Serious" has ranked in the top 10 on Apple Podcasts and has accumulated millions of views and hundreds of thousands of subscribers. Banfield continues to provide legal analysis and commentary for NewsNation, focusing on significant trials, criminal investigations, and breaking true crime news.