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 February 24, 1956) is an American journalist and newscaster. She has been a news anchor for major networks like ABC News, CBS News, Fox News, and CNN. Currently, Paula Zahn produces and hosts On the Case with Paula Zahn. This show is a true crime documentary series on the Investigation Discovery channel.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Paula Zahn was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Her mother was a schoolteacher and artist, and her father worked in sales for IBM. Paula grew up in Canton, Ohio, with her parents and three siblings. Her family moved often because of her father's job. She even joked that "IBM" really meant "I've Been Moved."
She went to Washington Junior High School and later graduated from Naperville Central High School in 1974. Paula also took part in beauty pageants. She was a semi-finalist in the 1973 Miss Teenage America Pageant.
College and First Jobs
Paula Zahn continued her education at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. She attended college on a scholarship for playing the cello. While studying, she gained experience in the news business. She worked as an intern at WBBM-TV in Chicago.
In 1978, she earned her bachelor's degree in journalism. For the next 10 years, Paula worked at local TV stations across the country. These stations 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 became a well-known face on national television. She worked for several major news networks.
Working at ABC News
In 1987, Paula Zahn joined ABC News. She started by anchoring The Health Show. This was a weekend program about health and medical topics.
Within a few months, she began co-anchoring World News This Morning. This was ABC'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
In 1990, Paula Zahn moved to CBS News. She started on February 26, 1990. She co-anchored CBS This Morning with Harry Smith.
During her time at CBS, she helped cover important events. She reported on the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, and the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway. She also covered the Waco siege. Both Paula and Harry left the morning show in 1996. Their last day was June 14, 1996.
After that, Zahn anchored the Saturday edition of the CBS Evening News. She also filled in for Dan Rather during the week. She contributed reports to shows like 48 Hours and CBS News Sunday Morning.
Moving to Fox News Channel
In 1999, after nine years at CBS News, Paula Zahn joined Fox News Channel (FNC). She anchored Fox Report, which was the network's nightly newscast.
A few months later, she helped launch her own prime-time news program. It was called The Edge with Paula Zahn.
Reporting for CNN
Paula Zahn started working at CNN on September 11, 2001. She joined anchor Aaron Brown to cover the terrorist attacks that day. Even though she wasn't scheduled to be on air, she began a regular morning news shift the next day.
By January, she launched her own CNN morning news program. It was called American Morning with Paula Zahn.
In 2003, during the Iraq War, Zahn moved back to prime time. She hosted a two-hour program called Live from the Headlines. This show provided ongoing coverage of the war and other events. Later, Anderson Cooper took over the first hour of the show. By September, her new show, Paula Zahn Now, premiered.
On July 24, 2007, Paula Zahn announced she was leaving CNN. The final broadcast of Paula Zahn Now aired on August 2, 2007. She said she planned to take a break before her next job.
Other Projects
On November 9, 2008, Zahn became a new co-host for SundayArts. This show aired on New York City PBS stations WNET and WLIW. The program covers the fine arts scene in New York City. It is now called NYC-ARTS and airs on Thursday evenings.
On January 9, 2009, Discovery Communications announced a new project with Paula Zahn. She teamed up with producers Scott Weinberger and Scott Sternberg. They developed a true crime documentary series. On the Case with Paula Zahn premiered on October 18, 2009. It airs on the Investigation Discovery cable channel.
On New Year's Day 2011, Paula Zahn hosted the annual "From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration". This was an episode of the Great Performances series on PBS.
Personal Life
Paula Zahn has three children: Austin, Jared, and Haley. Their father is Richard Cohen, a real estate developer from New York City. The couple raised their children in the Jewish faith.
Paula Zahn and Richard Cohen divorced in April 2007 after 20 years of marriage.
Paula Zahn is also an honorary board member of the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation. She actively supports cancer awareness, especially for breast cancer. In May 1992, she played the cello at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops orchestra. In May 2003, she received an honorary degree from Dowling College in Oakdale, New York.
Images for kids
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Paula Zahn in April 2011
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Paula Zahn in 2002
See also
In Spanish: Paula Zahn para niños
