# Brian Stelter
**Brian Stelter** is an American journalist who has been CNN's chief media analyst since September 2024, writes the network's *Reliable Sources* newsletter, and previously anchored the Sunday CNN program *Reliable Sources* from 2013 to 2022 after six years as a media reporter at *The New York Times*.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html) • [2](https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/cnn-names-brian-stelter-host-of-reliable-sources-and-senior-media-correspondent/) He is the author of three books on American television news and is a Walter Shorenstein Fellow at [Harvard Kennedy School](https://www.edgepedia.org/harvard-kennedy-school)'s Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy.[3](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current role | Chief media analyst for CNN Worldwide and writer of the *Reliable Sources* newsletter, covering free speech, the media business, and technology[4](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/brian-stelter) |
| CNN tenure | Joined CNN in November 2013 as senior media correspondent and host of *Reliable Sources*; left in August 2022; returned September 2024[5](https://shorensteincenter.org/person/brian-stelter/) • [1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html) |
| Start in journalism | Created the TVNewser blog in 2004 as a Towson University freshman; sold it to Mediabistro six months later[2](https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/cnn-names-brian-stelter-host-of-reliable-sources-and-senior-media-correspondent/) |
| Education | Bachelor's degree in Mass Communications with a journalism concentration, Towson University, 2007[4](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/brian-stelter) |
| Books | *Top of the Morning*, *Hoax*, and *Network of Lies* (Simon & Schuster)[3](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330) |
| Recognition | Forbes "30 Under 30: Media" for three consecutive years; Fortune "40 Under 40: Media & Entertainment"[5](https://shorensteincenter.org/person/brian-stelter/) |
## Early life and education
Stelter began his career while still an undergraduate. In 2004, as a freshman at [Towson University](https://www.edgepedia.org/towson-university) in Maryland, he created TVNewser, a blog covering the television news industry, and sold it to Mediabistro.com six months later; he continued editing the site for three more years while completing his degree.[2](https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/cnn-names-brian-stelter-host-of-reliable-sources-and-senior-media-correspondent/) He graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in Mass Communications with a concentration in [Journalism](https://www.edgepedia.org/journalism), and joined *The New York Times* upon graduation.[4](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/brian-stelter)
## New York Times and move to CNN
At the Times, where he worked from 2007, Stelter covered television and digital media for the paper's Media & [Advertising](https://www.edgepedia.org/advertising) and Arts sections and for its Media Decoder blog.[2](https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/cnn-names-brian-stelter-host-of-reliable-sources-and-senior-media-correspondent/) On November 12, 2013, CNN announced his hire as host of *Reliable Sources*, the network's weekly media-analysis program airing Sundays at 11:00 am ET on CNN/U.S., and as senior media correspondent for CNN Worldwide.[2](https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/cnn-names-brian-stelter-host-of-reliable-sources-and-senior-media-correspondent/)
## Reliable Sources and the 2022 departure
*Reliable Sources* examined the week's top media stories every Sunday on CNN, and Stelter anchored it until August 2022 while also serving as the network's chief media correspondent.[5](https://shorensteincenter.org/person/brian-stelter/) His departure came after a change in CNN leadership: he had joined the network under president [Jeff Zucker](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-zucker), and left in 2022 after Chris Licht took over and reprogrammed the network, amid differences with that leadership.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html) The Sunday television program was not revived when Stelter returned to the network two years later; his 2024 role combines on-air analysis, newsletter writing, and reporting rather than hosting a show.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html)
## Books and other media work
Stelter is the New York Times bestselling author of three books: *Top of the Morning*, *Hoax*, and *Network of Lies*.[3](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330) His first book inspired the Apple TV+ drama series *[The Morning Show](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-morning-show-american-tv-series)*, on which he is a producer, and he executive produced the HBO documentary *After Truth: Disinformation and the Cost of Fake News*.[3](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330)
## Post-CNN period and return
After leaving CNN in August 2022, Stelter held several academic and journalistic posts. He became a Walter Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, and earlier in his career had been a fellow at [Georgetown University](https://www.edgepedia.org/georgetown-university)'s Institute of Politics and Public Service and an adjunct professor at New York University's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.[5](https://shorensteincenter.org/person/brian-stelter/) • [3](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330) He also worked as a special correspondent for Vanity Fair.[3](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330)
In September 2024, at age 39, he announced his return to CNN as its chief media analyst, writing the *Reliable Sources* newsletter he had founded.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html) He succeeded Oliver Darcy, who had left CNN to start his own subscription-based news site.[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html) CNN's chief executive, Mark Thompson, said in a statement that he was "happy to welcome" Stelter back, calling him "one of the best global experts in media commentary."[1](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html) CNN's profile describes his current beat as free speech, the media business, and technology.[4](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/brian-stelter)
## Coverage and recognition
Early in his career he was named to Forbes Magazine's "30 Under 30: Media" for three consecutive years and to Fortune Magazine's "40 Under 40: Media & Entertainment."[5](https://shorensteincenter.org/person/brian-stelter/)
## References
1. [Brian Stelter Returns to CNN as Chief Media Analyst, The New York Times (September 3, 2024)](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/03/business/media/brian-stelter-cnn-reliable-sources.html)
2. [CNN Names Brian Stelter Host of Reliable Sources and Senior Media Correspondent, CNN Press Room (November 12, 2013)](https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2013/11/12/cnn-names-brian-stelter-host-of-reliable-sources-and-senior-media-correspondent/)
3. [Brian Stelter, Official Publisher Page, Simon & Schuster](https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Brian-Stelter/167771330)
4. [Brian Stelter, Chief Media Analyst, CNN profile](https://www.cnn.com/profiles/brian-stelter)
5. [Brian Stelter, The Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School](https://shorensteincenter.org/person/brian-stelter/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Broadcasting and journalism › Broadcast organizations and stations › Broadcasters as people › Broadcast journalists and news presenters › American broadcast journalists and news presenters › CNN journalists and anchors*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license