Paula Zahn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paula Zahn
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Zahn in April 2011
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| Born |
Paula Ann Zahn
February 24, 1956 Omaha, Nebraska, U.S.
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| Occupation | Newscaster, journalist |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Richard Cohen
(m. 1987; div. 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
Paula Ann Zahn, born on February 24, 1956, is a well-known American journalist and newscaster. She has worked as an anchor for major news channels like ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, and CNN. Currently, she produces and hosts a true crime show called On the Case with Paula Zahn on the Investigation Discovery channel.
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Early Life and Start in Journalism
Paula Zahn was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her mother was a teacher and artist, and her father worked for IBM. She grew up in Canton, Ohio, with her parents and three siblings. Her family moved often because of her father's job, eventually settling in Naperville, Illinois.
Paula went to Washington Junior High School and graduated from Naperville Central High School in 1974. She also took part in beauty pageants, reaching the semi-finals of the 1973 Miss Teenage America Pageant.
College and First Jobs
Paula attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, on a cello scholarship. She gained early experience in the news world by interning at WBBM-TV in Chicago. In 1978, she earned a bachelor's degree in journalism. For the next 10 years, Paula worked at local TV stations across the country. These included WFAA-TV in Dallas, KFMB-TV in San Diego, KPRC-TV in Houston, WHDH-TV in Boston, and KCBS-TV in Los Angeles.
National News Career
Paula Zahn's career grew, and she began working for national news networks.
Working at ABC News
In 1987, Paula joined ABC News. She started by anchoring The Health Show, a weekend program about health topics. Soon after, she became a co-anchor for World News This Morning, which was the network's early morning newscast. She also anchored news segments on Good Morning America and filled in for co-host Joan Lunden.
Time at CBS News
Paula moved to CBS News in 1990, starting on February 26. She co-anchored CBS This Morning with Harry Smith. During this time, she helped cover the 1992 Winter Olympics in France and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway. She also reported on the Waco siege. Both Paula and Harry left the morning show in 1996. After that, Paula anchored the Saturday edition of the CBS Evening News. She also filled in for Dan Rather during the week and contributed reports to shows like 48 Hours.
Joining Fox News Channel
In 1999, after nine years at CBS News, Paula Zahn moved to cable news. She joined Fox News Channel (FNC) and anchored Fox Report, their nightly newscast. A few months later, she launched her own prime-time news program, The Edge with Paula Zahn.
Reporting for CNN
Paula Zahn began working at CNN on September 11, 2001. She joined anchor Aaron Brown to cover the terrorist attacks that day. Even though her own CNN program was still being planned, she started a regular morning news shift the very next day. In January, she launched her morning news program, American Morning with Paula Zahn.
In 2003, during the Iraq War, Paula moved back to prime time. She hosted a two-hour program called Live from the Headlines, which provided ongoing coverage of the war and other events. Later, her show, Paula Zahn Now, premiered in September.
On July 24, 2007, Paula announced she was leaving CNN. The final broadcast of Paula Zahn Now aired on August 2, 2007. She stated that she planned to take a break before her next role.
Work with WNET and PBS
On November 9, 2008, Paula became a new co-host for SundayArts on New York City PBS stations WNET and WLIW. This program covers the fine arts scene in New York City. It is now called NYC-ARTS and airs on Thursday evenings.
On New Year's Day 2011, Paula hosted the annual "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration" episode. This was part of the Great Performances series on PBS.
Hosting On the Case with Paula Zahn
On January 9, 2009, Discovery Communications announced that Paula Zahn would be developing a true crime documentary series. This show, On the Case with Paula Zahn, premiered on October 18, 2009. It airs on the Investigation Discovery cable channel and continues to be a popular program.
Personal Life and Interests
Paula Zahn has three children: Austin, Jared, and Haley. She was married to Richard Cohen, a real estate developer, from 1987 to 2007. They raised their children in his faith.
Paula is also a talented cellist. She played the cello at Carnegie Hall in May 1992 with the New York Pops orchestra. She is an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. Paula has also actively supported cancer awareness, especially breast cancer.
In May 2003, Paula Zahn received an honorary degree from Dowling College in Oakdale, New York.
See also
In Spanish: Paula Zahn para niños
