What happened to Carl Azuz? Here is where the ex-CNN 10 host is now

What happened to Carl Azuz? Here is where the ex-CNN 10 host is now

'What happened to Carl Azuz?' went viral in September 2022 when he abruptly left CNN 10. To the delight of his young fan base, he continues to present news to students. Azuz became known for his non-partisan reporting, and his work has been widely viewed in classrooms across the world.

My goal is to have a program that emphasises critical thinking.
Veteran journalist Carl Azuz
Former CNN 10 host Carl Azuz. Photo: @carlazuz on X (modified by author)
Source: Twitter

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Key takeaways

  • Carl Azuz was a CNN anchor for about 15 years and became the face of CNN Student News and later CNN 10. 
  • Azuz was not fired from CNN 10 but left the program due to personal reasons, and former NFL star Coy Wire took over the show.
  • The new Carl Azuz online show, The World from A to Z, launched in late 2023 to help students understand the world around them by providing balanced, fact-checked news with no political agenda.

Carl Azuz's profile summary

Birth name Carl Azuz
Place of birthGeorgia, United States
Current residenceMetro Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Marital statusMarried
EducationThe University of Georgia (Telecommunication Arts Production)
ProfessionJournalist, writer, executive producer
Social mediaX (Twitter)TikTokLinkedIn

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How Carl Azuz gained popularity on CNN 10

Azuz joined CNN in the late 1990s after graduating from the University of Georgia, with roles in writing and production. In 2007, he was made the anchor of CNN Student News, which later evolved into CNN 10 in 2017.

CNN 10 is an educational daily news program tailored for students and classrooms. It has a mix of hard news stories, human interest segments, puns, and fun facts. During his time on the show, Carl covered topics like the war in Iraq, the US debt, and climate change.

The program airs every weekday during the school year, and teachers across the United States often play the 10-minute videos in classrooms. In his 2022 interview with BuzzFeed News, Carl Azuz said that his authenticity is what made him relatable to Gen Zs.

Young people are so good at spotting when someone is trying to be cool. I don't do that. When I go on air, I'm dorky. I make puns. I'm not trying to be some fancy newscaster guy. They get that.

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Carl Azuz's facts
Five facts about Carl Azuz. Photo: @carlazuz on X (modified by author)
Source: Original

Why did Carl Azuz leave CNN 10?

Carl Azuz made his last appearance on CNN 10 in August 2022, leading to speculations about the reasons for his abrupt departure. The CNN network released a statement saying he was leaving due to a personal decision and thanked him for "bringing news to a generation in a lighthearted, engaging, and factual manner".

A section of the show's fans thought Carl Azuz had died, which turned out to be false, while others suggested he had been fired. Heartbroken fans like X (formerly Twitter) user @another_soapbox wrote,

"Carl Azuz not being on CNN10 is worse than the queen dying." 

And @mr.aldridge wrote,

"You will always be a part of our class @CarlAzuz; we have renamed our class plant after you!" 

The TV personality confirmed his departure in a September 19, 2022, TikTok video, telling his concerned fan base he was okay but did not provide a specific reason for leaving. He thanked his viewers and the show for the opportunities they had given him.

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While getting to anchor [CNN 10] was an answered prayer, I never could have predicted where it would lead me... It hasn't always been puns and games, though I remain pun-stoppable. This show has been a tremendous blessing to me, and that is largely because of you.
Carl Azuz on CNN 10
Carl Azuz during a previous episode of CNN 10. Photo: @carlazuz on X (modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Who replaced Carl Azuz?

Carl Azuz was replaced by Coy Wire as the new host of CNN 10. Coy is a former NFL player and was in the league for nine years from 2001 to 2010. He joined CNN in 2015 as a sports anchor and correspondent on several of their programs, including CNN Newsroom, World Sport on CNN International, and Early Start.

Coy Wire in Arizona
Coy Wire during the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at State Farm Stadium on April 05, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. Photo: Mitchell Layton (modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

What does Carl Azuz do now?

Carl Azuz launched The World from A to Z in the fall of 2023. The daily news program is designed for middle schoolers, high school students, teachers, and lifelong learners. It promotes critical thinking and civil discourse by presenting a non-partisan, balanced view of current events from the US and around the world.

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The World from A to Z program has nine-minute-long episodes designed to be engaging for students, often incorporating creative writing, daily history segments, maps, and trivia questions. The videos are released on the official worldatoz.org website and on the show's YouTube channel throughout the school year.

Carl Azuz on CNN Student News
Carl Azuz during a 2016 episode of CNN Student News. Photo: @carlazuz on X (modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Why did Carl Azuz go to The World from A to Z?

The former CNN 10 host joined The World from A to Z to help students hear multiple perspectives and ask better questions. While explaining how his new show is different, Carl told E2024's Jennifer Woo in August 2023:

I have a lot of freedom with the show. I don't need to compromise on anything... I have the freedom to kind of go out of my way to explain these topics to people in a way that says 'I'm not judging them.' 

Apart from hosting, Carl is also the program's executive producer and writer. He brings his signature style of lively reporting and wordplay to the program. The World from A to Z is free and does not require membership to watch.

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Carl Azuz in Atlanta
Carl Azuz in Atlanta, Georgia, in May 2025. Photo: @carlazuz on X (modified by author)
Source: Twitter

Final word

Nothing concerning happened to Carl Azuz, who has continued to keep his viewers educated. The veteran pun-loving journalist resides in metro Atlanta, Georgia, with his family, but he mostly keeps his personal life out of the spotlight.

READ MORE: Abby Phillip's net worth: how much does the CNN anchor make?

Briefly.co.za published an article about the net worth of CNN anchor Abby Phillip. She joined the media company in 2017 and has been hosting the primetime show, CNN NewsNight, since October 2023.

Abby Phillip graduated from Harvard University with a BA in Government. She previously worked for The Washington Post, ABC News, and Politico and co-moderated the 2020 Democratic presidential debate.

Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Alice Wabwile avatar

Alice Wabwile (Lifestyle writer) Alice Wabwile is a multifaceted content creator and Project Assistant at AfDAN, boasting over four years of experience. Holding a BCom degree from the University of Nairobi School of Business, she has cultivated a dynamic skill set through roles such as her tenure at Strathmore University's Data Science Department, where she contributed significantly to research. Recognized for her exceptional talent, she clinched the Writer of the Year Award. Beyond her professional endeavours, Alice is an engaged member of the Rotaract Club of Kabete. For inquiries, reach out to her at alicenjoro01@gmail.com

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