Sierra Leonian-born British journalist, Isha Sesay, has quit CNN after 13 years with the news network.
The 42-year-old, who most recently served as the co-anchor of CNN Newsroom: Los Angeles, announced her decision in a Twitter message on Wednesday.
“It’s really happening, folks!! After more than a decade behind the desk with those three red letters… I HAVE LEFT CNN,” she wrote.
It’s really happening, folks!! After more than a decade behind the desk with those three red letters… I HAVE LEFT CNN. https://t.co/DzSQ3P9p2u
— Isha Sesay (@IamIshaSesay) August 1, 2018
“I’ve been at CNN for 13 years, it’s the end of a huge chapter,” Sesay explained in an interview with What We See.
“It’s been such a tremendous time, such an eventful 13 years — I feel like I grew up working there. I showed up as a 30-year-old in 2005, with two suitcases and a one-year contract — I’ve managed to make that last 13 years! It’s been amazing, I’ve been married when I was there, divorced when I was there, it’s all happened.”
She blamed her decision in part on the media obsession with American President Donald Trump.
“It’s all so Trump-focused,” she explained. “He sucked all of the oxygen out of the room. The media is following that lead to the exclusion of almost everything else, in a meaningful way. For me, personally, it’s not what I want to spend all my time doing.”
“After a while, I want to do more coverage of the Ebola outbreak, of the elections in Liberia, or any number of things that are happening. I’m ready to take control of what I’m talking about.”
Sesay, who covered the abduction of the Chibok girls in 2014 said she is writing a book on the subject.
“I’m writing a book about the Chibok girls, it’s being released in May 2019. It really speaks to where my head is at, currently — a lot more coverage about Africa, a lot more work on the continent, and a lot more focus on young girls. That’s what I’m about right now,” she said.
