Photo: Getty Images
Bernard Shaw, an award-winning journalist and former CNN anchor, has died, per CNN. He was 82.
On Thursday (September 8), Shaw's family confirmed that the long-time anchor died Wednesday (September 7) of pneumonia unrelated to Covid-19.
Funeral services for the Shaw will only include family and invited guests only. A public memorial service will follow at a later date, per the family.
"In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Bernard Shaw Scholarship Fund at the University of Chicago," a statement from the family reads. "The Shaw family requests complete privacy at this time."
Shaw worked with CNN from its launch on June 1, 1980, and was the network's first chief anchor. He retired in February of 2001 after more than two decades at CNN.
Chris Licht, CNN's current Chairman and CEO, recognized Shaw as a "CNN original" who covered some of the biggest events of the 80s and 90s including the Tiananmen Square protests and the First Gulf War.
"CNN's beloved anchor and colleague, Bernard Shaw, passed away yesterday at the age of 82. Bernie was a CNN original and was our Washington Anchor when we launched on June 1st, 1980," Licht said in a statement. "He was our lead anchor for the next twenty years from anchoring coverage of presidential elections to his iconic coverage of the First Gulf War live from Baghdad in 1991."
"Even after he left CNN, Bernie remained a close member of our CNN family providing our viewers with context about historic events as recently as last year," he added. "The condolences of all of us at CNN go out to his wife Linda and his children."
Former CNN CEO Tom Johnson said Shaw, his personal friend and colleague for over 55 years, will be "remembered as a fierce advocate of responsible journalism."
"As a journalist, he demanded accuracy and fairness in news coverage. He earned the respect of millions of viewers around the world for his integrity and independence," Johnson said in a statement. "He resisted forcefully any lowering of ethical news standards or any compromise of solid news coverage. He always could be trusted as a reporter and as an anchor."
CNN correspondents, former and current, took to Twitter Thursday to share their condolences and memories of the journalism trailblazer.
Rest in peace, Bernard Shaw.
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