Sharyl Attkisson

Sharyl Attkisson
Name	Sharyl Attkisson
Birth date	26 January 1961
Birth place	Winnetka, Illinois
Occupation	Journalist, Author
Years active	1985–present

Sharyl Attkisson is an American television journalist and author known for investigative reporting and commentary on public policy, health, and media. She has worked for major broadcasters and written books critical of public institutions and pharmaceutical practices, often attracting both praise and controversy. Her reporting has intersected with topics involving political administrations, federal agencies, and journalistic ethics.

Early life and education

Born in Winnetka, Illinois, she grew up in a Midwestern family with ties to local institutions in Cook County, Illinois and attended schools in the Chicago metropolitan area. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she studied alongside contemporaries who later worked at outlets such as CNN, NBC News, ABC News, and CBS News. Attkisson’s education placed her within a lineage of journalists connected to the Pulitzer Prize tradition and regional reporting networks including the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Kansas City Star.

Career

Attkisson began her professional career in local television markets, including stations affiliated with NBC, ABC, and CBS, working in newsrooms in cities such as Raleigh, North Carolina, Tampa, Florida, and Baltimore, Maryland. She later joined national outlets, reporting for CNN and serving as a correspondent for CBS News, where she appeared on programs like CBS Evening News and 60 Minutes II. Her assignments included coverage of presidential administrations such as the George W. Bush administration and the Barack Obama administration, as well as major national events like the Hurricane Katrina aftermath and the 2008 financial crisis. After leaving network television, she contributed to digital platforms and hosted programs on networks associated with independent media figures and conservative commentators linked to outlets like The Daily Signal and other online publishers.

Investigative reporting and major stories

Attkisson’s investigative work has covered a range of topics including public health controversies involving Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claims, pharmaceutical matters related to companies such as Pfizer and Merck, and federal programs overseen by the Department of Health and Human Services and the Food and Drug Administration. She reported on national security and foreign policy issues involving the Iraq War, Guantanamo Bay detention camp, and intelligence matters connected to the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency. Attkisson produced investigative pieces examining political scandals and administrations, touching on episodes linked to figures like Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and members of Congress including John McCain and Nancy Pelosi. Her reporting on vaccines, medical treatments, and regulatory processes engaged stakeholders such as World Health Organization officials, academic researchers at institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Harvard University, and advocacy groups including Mayo Clinic affiliates and patient organizations.

Books and publications

She authored books critiquing federal health policy, media practices, and cybersecurity issues, publishing works that entered conversations involving publishers and commentators in New York and Washington. Her titles prompted discussion among critics and supporters in venues such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, Fox News, and NPR. Attkisson’s op-eds and feature essays appeared in outlets including The Wall Street Journal and magazines with readerships overlapping those of Time (magazine), Newsweek, and The Atlantic (magazine). Her books referenced regulatory cases from the Food and Drug Administration and legal disputes involving firms headquartered in regions such as Silicon Valley and Wall Street.

Controversies and litigation

Her career has included high-profile disputes over journalistic independence, allegations of computer intrusions linked to reporting on the Benghazi episode and other national security topics, and legal actions invoking federal statutes and civil claims involving entities like the Department of Justice and technology companies based in Redmond, Washington and Cupertino, California. She filed lawsuits asserting electronic surveillance and tampering, which engaged courts in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia and attracted commentary from legal scholars at institutions such as Georgetown University Law Center and Yale Law School. Critics and supporters debated her methods and conclusions in forums hosted by Columbia University's journalism school, media watchdogs such as the Poynter Institute, and partisan commentators on networks like MSNBC and Fox News Channel.

Awards and recognition

Attkisson received journalism awards and nominations from organizations including the Emmy Awards for regional and national reporting, honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, and citations tied to investigative journalism competitions in collaboration with universities such as University of Missouri and American University. Her work was acknowledged in industry publications including Editor & Publisher and recognized at events hosted by media institutions such as Radio Television Digital News Association and prize committees affiliated with the National Press Club.

Personal life and beliefs

She has described personal and professional convictions shaped by experiences covering public policy and health debates, engaging with commentators and analysts from think tanks like the Heritage Foundation, the Brookings Institution, and the Cato Institute. Her personal background includes residence in regions of the Mid-Atlantic United States and participation in civic associations connected to educational and religious institutions in communities across Virginia and Maryland. Her public statements touch on topics that involve voters, policymakers, and advocacy networks active in Washington, D.C., and state capitals such as Richmond, Virginia and Annapolis, Maryland.

Category:American journalists Category:American authors Category:Living people Category:1961 births