Brittany Shammas Joins CNN After Departure from Washington Post
A seasoned journalist previously let go during a significant restructuring at the Washington Post earlier this year is now joining CNN as a national news reporter.
CNN made the announcement on Thursday, confirming Brittany Shammas’s new role.
She will work out of the Washington, D.C. office and concentrate on national reporting aimed at CNN’s digital audience. According to the network, her focus will be on “unique national reporting and storytelling that transcends the headlines, developing fresh perspectives and producing well-researched stories that offer deeper insights into the people, places, and forces shaping current events.”
“Brittany is an award-winning reporter known for her ability to uncover stories that others overlook, presenting them with depth and clarity,” CNN stated.
“Her curiosity, thoroughness, and keen storytelling instincts will undoubtedly enhance CNN’s coverage of crucial national news, whether it’s breaking stories or field reporting.”
Shammas is transitioning to CNN after spending seven years at the Washington Post, where she reported on local business and accountability stories primarily in the D.C. area.
In February, as owner Jeff Bezos aimed to counteract the paper’s financial struggles, Shammas was among around 300 journalists who were laid off.
Reflecting on her departure, she expressed her feelings on social media, noting, “I struggled to find the words to tell you this, but yesterday I was fired by the Washington Post.” She shared her enjoyment of her time at the paper, particularly the experiences she had with a new team focused on narrative and accountability stories.
Before her time at WaPo, Shammas spent eight years covering education and public safety in Florida for the Naples Daily News and South Florida Sun Sentinel, eventually becoming a staff writer at the Miami New Times. Her work there on fatalities linked to for-profit correctional healthcare gained her recognition, winning a Sigma Delta Chi Award.
Originally from Western Michigan, Shammas is a graduate of Michigan State University.
