Carol Costello
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Carol Costello (born October 11, 1961) is an American television anchor and former host of ''
CNN Newsroom ''CNN Newsroom'' (also simply known as ''Newsroom'') is the branding used for blocks of rolling news programming carried by the American cable network CNN. The program debuted on September 4, 2006, consolidating most of CNN's existing rolling n ...
''. In 2017, she left CNN to join sister network HLN, based in Los Angeles. In October 2018, HLN announced that Costello would be let go, with the final broadcast of her show taking place on October 26.


Early life and education

Costello is a graduate of Minerva High School, a public high school in
Minerva, Ohio Minerva is a village primarily in Stark and Carroll counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, with a small district in Columbiana County. The population was 3,684 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Canton–Massillon metropolitan area. History ...
, and
Kent State University Kent State University (KSU) is a Public university, public research university in Kent, Ohio, United States. The university includes seven regional campuses in Northeast Ohio located in Kent State University at Ashtabula, Ashtabula, Kent State ...
where she earned a B.A. in journalism. After attending Kent State University, Costello worked at
Akron, Ohio Akron () is a city in Summit County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is the List of municipalities in Ohio, fifth-most populous city in Ohio, with a population of 190,469 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. The Akron metr ...
's WAKR-TV as an award-winning police and court reporter. Following that Costello was an Emmy Award-winning anchor/reporter for WSYX, the ABC affiliate, and WBNS 10-TV, the CBS affiliate in
Columbus, Ohio Columbus (, ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities in Ohio, most populous city of the U.S. state of Ohio. With a 2020 United States census, 2020 census population of 905,748, it is the List of United States ...
. She also worked as the 6 and 11pm news anchor for WBAL-TV in
Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
between 1992 and 1995.


Career


CNN

Costello worked as an anchor at CNN Headline News (now called HLN) and was also the anchor of ''Good Morning Washington'' and an investigative reporter at WJLA-TV, the ABC affiliate in Washington, D.C., during the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, also known as 9/11, were four coordinated Islamist terrorist suicide attacks by al-Qaeda against the United States in 2001. Nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercial airliners, crashing the first two into ...
. She previously worked out of the network's New York City bureau. She was part of CNN's Peabody-winning coverage of
Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina was a powerful, devastating and historic tropical cyclone that caused 1,392 fatalities and damages estimated at $125 billion in late August 2005, particularly in the city of New Orleans and its surrounding area. ...
and the 2008 presidential election, and also covered the Virginia Tech massacre, the inauguration of Barack Obama and the Casey Anthony trial. Costello has done in-depth reporting on bullying, coal ash, and women's issues. After a CNN viewer nominated her, Costello ran with the Olympic torch through the streets of Atlanta prior to the Atlanta Olympics. As a reporter and anchor, Costello has interviewed
Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...
,
Bill Clinton William Jefferson Clinton (né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician and lawyer who was the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party, ...
,
Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton ( Rodham; born October 26, 1947) is an American politician, lawyer and diplomat. She was the 67th United States secretary of state in the administration of Barack Obama from 2009 to 2013, a U.S. senator represent ...
and
George H. W. Bush George Herbert Walker BushBefore the outcome of the 2000 United States presidential election, he was usually referred to simply as "George Bush" but became more commonly known as "George H. W. Bush", "Bush Senior," "Bush 41," and even "Bush th ...
. Previously, Costello anchored the CNN early morning program '' CNN Daybreak'' and also was news reader and correspondent on '' American Morning''. She was the anchor of '' CNN Daybreak'', then a New York-based correspondent, and subsequently a contributor to '' The Situation Room''. Costello hosted the 9 am–11 am slot of ''
CNN Newsroom ''CNN Newsroom'' (also simply known as ''Newsroom'') is the branding used for blocks of rolling news programming carried by the American cable network CNN. The program debuted on September 4, 2006, consolidating most of CNN's existing rolling n ...
'', based out of CNN's New York news bureau. Costello elicited criticism when she referred to audio of
Bristol Palin Bristol Sheeran Marie Palin (born October 18, 1990) is an American public speaker and reality television personality. She is the oldest daughter and second of five children of Todd Palin, Todd and Sarah Palin. Palin competed in the fall 2010 se ...
describing an assault on her to police as "quite possibly the best minute and a half of audio we've ever come across." Paul Bedard called Costello's "rude and crude enjoyment" an easy slap by a prominent female media star on a young woman. Costello later stated that "in retrospect, I deserve such criticism and would like to apologize." On January 30, 2017, Costello announced that she would return to HLN to host a new program from Los Angeles. On August 21, 2017, her new show ''Across America with Carol Costello'' debuted. On October 16, 2018, it was announced by HLN that Costello was to be laid off, along with Michaela Pereira and Ashleigh Banfield, as part of the network's decision to scale back their live news programming. The final broadcasts for their programs took place on Friday, October 26, 2018. Although both Ashleigh Banfield and Michaela Pereira stayed to host their shows until their last days, Costello did not appear on air after October 16, 2018, with CNN correspondent Dianne Gallagher hosting the final broadcast. Since then, Costello has taken a more active role at Loyola Marymount University where she serves as first lady. She is a professor in the newly established journalism major and now also hosts a podcast developed by the university. According to Costello herself, she had been wanting to start a new venture for a while, even back on her days at CNN.


Personal life

A former resident of
Atlanta Atlanta ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of municipalities in Georgia (U.S. state), most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia (U.S. state), Georgia. It is the county seat, seat of Fulton County, Georg ...
,
Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the South Caucasus * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the southeastern United States Georgia may also refer to: People and fictional characters * Georgia (name), a list of pe ...
, Costello moved to the New York area after marrying Timothy Law Snyder in 2004. She and Snyder later moved to
Baltimore Baltimore is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the 30th-most populous U.S. city. The Baltimore metropolitan area is the 20th-large ...
,
Maryland Maryland ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It borders the states of Virginia to its south, West Virginia to its west, Pennsylvania to its north, and Delaware to its east ...
. In October 2015, Snyder was named president of Loyola Marymount University in
Los Angeles Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
. In January 2017, Costello cited her husband's relocation as a primary factor in her decision to leave CNN for HLN and move to Los Angeles. In April 2015, Costello wrote that she became a "lapsed Catholic" after losing her younger brother Jimmy to cancer when she was 25. However, she stated that
Pope Francis Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio; 17 December 1936 – 21 April 2025) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 13 March 2013 until Death and funeral of Pope Francis, his death in 2025. He was the fi ...
"reawakened my faith".


References


External links


Profile at CNN website
* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Costello, Carol 1961 births American television news anchors Kent State University alumni Living people People from Minerva, Ohio American women television journalists CNN people Journalists from Ohio 21st-century American women