Draft: Carl Azuz

Azuz began his career at CNN as an entry-level teleprompter operator two days after his graduation from the University of Georgia. After several years of working in production and writing, including work as a features writer and writer and deliverer of the "Shoutout" segment,{{cite web |title=Bacon's TV/cable Directory: Directory of TV/cable Stations Programming Contacts |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q9NaAAAAYAAJ&q=%22Carl+Azuz%22+-wikipedia |publisher=Bacon's Information, Incorporated |access-date=22 November 2024 |language=en |date=2006}} Azuz took over as anchor of CNN Student News in 2008.{{cite web |last1=Weekman |first1=Kelsey |title=The Beloved Host Of CNN's Student Show Left And Everyone Freaked Out |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/kelseyweekman/carl-azuz-cnn-10-news-anchor-tiktok |website=Buzzfeed |date=5 October 2022 |access-date=18 November 2024}} The CNN program featured original reporting, along with clips from CNN broadcasts and quiz-style questions.{{cite web |title=The Tuscaloosa News |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=200oAAAAIBAJ&dq=%22Carl+Azuz%22&pg=PA11&article_id=4611,4640031 |publisher=The Tuscaloosa News |access-date=22 November 2024 |language=en}} In January 2017, the show rebranded from "CNN Student News" to CNN 10, highlighting the show's ten minute duration.{{cite web |last1=Katz |first1=A. J. |title=CNN Student News Is Back in Session as 'CNN 10' |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cnn-student-news-back-in-session-as-cnn-10/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |date=4 January 2017}}

The target audience of CNN Student News/CNN 10 was middle, high school, and college students.{{cite web |title='CNN Student News' Returns for Another School Year |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cnn-student-news-returns-for-another-school-year/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |date=15 August 2011}}{{cite web |title=News Media Yellow Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xpkqAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Carl+Azuz%22+-wikipedia |publisher=Monitor Leadership Directories, Incorporated |access-date=22 November 2024 |language=en |date=2008}} Azuz would spend 15 years as the anchor of CNN Student News/CNN 10, and the sole writer of the program from 2014-2022.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Carl Azuz and the CNN 10 team adapted to remote production, with Azuz anchoring from home. The show provided students with a sense of normalcy and reassurance during school disruptions. In April 2020, Azuz appeared on Sanjay Gupta's "Chasing Life" podcast to take questions about COVID-19 from students.{{cite web|access-date=21 February 2025|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/27/health/sanjay-gupta-podcast-carl-azuz-wellness/index.html|title=Kids coronavirus Q&A with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and CNN10's Carl Azuz|date=27 April 2020 }}{{cite web |title=Kids Q&A with Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Carl Azuz - Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta - Podcast on CNN Audio |url=https://www.cnn.com/audio/podcasts/chasing-life/episodes/8d9d184a-8ddb-4aa7-a829-abaa008c8782 |website=CNN |access-date=21 February 2025}}{{cite web|access-date=6 February 2025|publisher=CNN|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/21/health/carl-azuz-cnn10-pandemic-questions-wellness/index.html|title=CNN 10's Carl Azuz takes questions from kids|date=21 May 2020 }}

In June 2020, AT&T collaborated with CNN to launch Youth Voices Collective to help students interested in journalism. Azuz was one of the journalists that served as a resource for young people in this program.{{cite web |title=AT&T Launching Literacy Program to Amplify Youth Voices |url=https://about.att.com/newsroom/2020/youth_voices_collective.html |website=about.att.com |access-date=24 February 2025}}{{cite web |title=AT&T Launches Youth Voices Collective Program To Overcome Social Unrest |url=https://www.theeducationmagazine.com/att-youth-voices-collective/ |website=The Education Magazine |access-date=24 February 2025 |date=24 June 2020}} As part of the program, Azuz produced short "special editions" on topics that included: Objectivity in Journalism, Checking Sources, On-Camera Delivery, and Effective Newswriting.{{cite web |title=Checking Your Sources CNN |website=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/cnn10/2020/09/30/ten-sources.cnn |access-date=25 February 2025 |language=en |date=1 October 2020}}

Azuz left CNN in 2022, following the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year. His final episode of CNN 10 was May 27, 2022.{{cite web |title=American Cars Reach A New Record |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md8oasZArwA&list=PLolrn7cpMe9jnBJZCFXyadlzODRfQFCIm&index=19&ab_channel=CNN10 |website=YouTube | date=26 May 2022 |publisher=CNN 10 |access-date=18 November 2024}} In a statement on X, CNN expressed gratitude to Azuz for "providing the news - in a fun, entertaining and factual way - to a generation." The statement also referred to Azuz's departure as a "personal decision."{{cite tweet |user=NilesGApol|number=1571732424006193155|title=Look, when I was in school, watching @CarlAzuzCNN was one of the few things I looked forward to during the day. From his energy to his corny puns, literally everything about him made the news fun. Thank you for the years of memories, Carl. We hope to see you somewhere else soon❤️|date=Sep 19, 2022 |access-date=24 February 2025}}

In February 2022, the Norwin School District in Pennsylvania voted to remove CNN 10 from its middle school homeroom curriculum. Some board members and parents raised concerns about potential bias in the program, while others defended its educational value.{{cite web |last1=Napsha |first1=Joe |title=Norwin board pulls plug on CNN 10 |url=https://triblive.com/local/westmoreland/norwin-board-pulls-plug-on-cnn-10/ |website=TribLIVE.com |date=14 February 2022}} Similarly, Indian River School District in Selbyville, Delaware banned using CNN 10 in their school curriculum.{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Mike |title=SMS teacher requests review of CNN 10 ban |url=https://www.coastalpoint.com/news/education/sms-teacher-requests-review-of-cnn-10-ban/article_a04c50ec-558c-11ed-84e5-eb4898f720b5.html |website=Coastal Point |access-date=24 February 2025 |language=en |date=27 October 2022}}

Azuz's work at CNN has been the subject of peer-reviewed scholarly study.

In 2014, Dr. Wayne Journell of University of North Carolina at Greensboro published "Analyzing the Appropriateness of Internet-Based School News Programs for Social Studies Classrooms: CNN Student News as a Case Study". Journell evaluated the program for substance, bias, and appropriate for high school classrooms.{{cite journal |last1=Journell |first1=Wayne |title=Analyzing the Appropriateness of Internet-Based School News Programs for Social Studies Classrooms: CNN Student News as a Case Study |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/10.1080/00098655.2013.842532?scroll=top&needAccess=true |journal=The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas |pages=53–58 |doi=10.1080/00098655.2013.842532 |date=March 2014|volume=87 |issue=2 }}

Dr. Perry Parks of Michigan State University published two articles about CNN 10. The first piece, "'Down the Middle': CNN 10 and the Ideology of Objectivity" (2021), critiques the show's emphasis on objectivity and balance, noting that the show has received little scrutiny in media scholarship.{{cite journal |last1=Parks |first1=Perry |title="Down the Middle": CNN 10 and the Ideology of Objectivity |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17512786.2021.2008812 |journal=Journalism Practice |pages=1627–1644 |doi=10.1080/17512786.2021.2008812 |date=14 September 2023|volume=17 |issue=8 }} Perry followed that article with another piece in 2023 titled "How U.S.-based children's news show CNN 10 reproduces neoliberal hegemony: A critical discourse analysis". In this article, Perry analyzed 102 episode transcripts of CNN 10 and concluded that the show reinforces neoliberal economic perspectives.{{cite journal |last1=Parks |first1=Perry |title=How U.S.-based children's news show CNN 10 reproduces neoliberal hegemony: A critical discourse analysis |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10714421.2023.2247957 |journal=The Communication Review |pages=390–413 |doi=10.1080/10714421.2023.2247957 |date=2 October 2023|volume=26 |issue=4 }}

After his departure, rumors began on X that he died.{{cite web|title=5 media literacy tips to avoid election misinformation, from Carl Azuz and Hasley Pitman|date=21 October 2022 |url=https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/media-literacy/2022/5-media-literacy-tips-to-avoid-election-misinformation-from-carl-azuz-and-hasley-pitman/|access-date=16 February 2025|publisher=Polynter}} Coy Wire would eventually anchor CNN 10.{{cite web |title=CNN Profiles - Coy Wire - CNN Sports Anchor & Correspondent |url=https://www.cnn.com/profiles/coy-wire-profile#about |website=CNN |access-date=20 November 2024 |language=en}} In the year following his time at CNN, Azuz did freelance work, including producing content for SonLight Homeschool Curriculum, and public speaking gigs.{{cite web |last1=Caswell |first1=Cameron |title=Raising Media-Savvy Teens: Teaching Unbiased News Consumption With Carl Azuz » BabyBoomer.org |url=https://babyboomer.org/shows/parenting-teens-with-dr-cam/raising-media-savvy-teens-teaching-unbiased-news-consumption-with-carl-azuz/ |website=BabyBoomer.org |access-date=21 November 2024 |date=19 November 2024}} On November 8, 2022, Azuz announced his new role as an ambassador for Mediawise, a division of the Poynter Insitute devoted to teenage media literacy.{{cite web |title=Carl Azuz |url=https://www.poynter.org/member/carl-azuz/ |website=Poynter |access-date=19 November 2024}}

{{external media| float = right| video1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OoTbcfOv04k 11/18/2024: The Pros & Cons of Wikipedia] on Youtube}}

Starting in August 2023, Azuz began producing a new newscast titled "The World from A to Z", a nod to his surname and a previous CNN Student News blog, titled "From A to Z with Carl Azuz".{{cite web |title=CNN Student News Is Back in Session |url=https://cnnpressroom.blogs.cnn.com/2011/08/15/cnn-student-news-is-back-in-session/ |access-date=19 November 2024}} The World From A to Z is owned by World News Group, a Christian journalism organization based in North Carolina.{{cite web |title=Privacy Policy |url=https://worldatoz.org/privacy-policy |website=World AZ |access-date=20 November 2024 |language=en}} The roughly nine minute show releases episodes Monday through Friday during the American school-year. Unlike CNN 10, The World from A to Z is ad-supported, with advertisements targeted toward teachers from Periodic Presidents and EF Tours.{{cite tweet |user=periodicprez|number=1787714024991261155|title=So happy to announce that you'll see Periodic Presidents on The WORLD From A to Z—hosted by the amazing @CarlAzuz!|date=May 7, 2024}}{{cite web |title=Advertise |url=https://worldatoz.org/advertise |website=World AZ |access-date=25 February 2025 |language=en}} The show presents itself as non-partisan and incorporates Azuz's signature puns and light-hearted approach.{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://worldatoz.org/about-us |website=World AZ |access-date=19 November 2024 |language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://spencereducation.com/carl-azuz-on-media-literacy-and-journalism-in-age-of-machine-learning/|title=Carl Azuz on Media Literacy and Journalism in Age of Machine Learning|date=8 July 2024 |publisher=Spencer Education|access-date=6 February 2025}} Some of Azuz's trademarks include incorporating puns in the last segment of his shows and including the phrase, "Fridays are awesome," into the last show of the week.{{cite journal |last1=Journell |first1=Wayne |title=Analyzing the Appropriateness of Internet-Based School News Programs for Social Studies Classrooms: CNN Student News as a Case Study |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00098655.2013.842532 |journal=The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas |access-date=22 November 2024 |pages=53–58 |language=en |doi=10.1080/00098655.2013.842532 |date=March 2014|volume=87 |issue=2 }}

In February 2012, Azuz attended and presented at the 61st Southern Regional Press Institute where he was awarded The Robert S. Abbott Memorial Award. At the event, Azuz spoke to high school and college students about the sacrifices journalists make to be successful.{{cite web |editor-last1=Hunter |editor-first1=Whitney |title=61st Southern Regional Press Institute Held - The Savannah Tribune |url=https://www.savannahtribune.com/articles/61st-southern-regional-press-institute-held/ |website=The Savannah Tribune |access-date=24 February 2025 |date=22 February 2012}}

In 2015, Azuz traveled to Petoskey, Michigan to deliver a commencement speech at Petoskey High School.{{cite web |last1=Mikus |first1=Matt |title=CNN's Carl Azuz: I've never felt so welcomed visiting Petoskey |url=https://www.petoskeynews.com/story/news/local/2015/06/05/cnns-carl-azuz-ive-never-felt-so-welcomed-visiting-petoskey/45981097/ |website=Petoskey News-Review |access-date=24 February 2025}}

In July 2023, Azuz was a featured speaker at the National Association for Media Literacy Education (NAMLE) Conference, where he discussed the role of digital news platforms in education and the importance of fostering media literacy among younger audiences.{{cite web |title=NAMLE 2023 Conference Full Schedule |url=https://conference.namle.org/register-2023/2023-full-schedule/ |website=NAMLE |date=19 May 2023 |access-date=February 21, 2025}} That same year, he spoke as the Keynote Address at the Georgia Council for Social Studies Conference, addressing educators on the impact of media literacy in social studies instruction.{{cite web |title=Georgia Council for Social Studies Conference 2023 |url=https://www.gcss.net/uploads/files/GCSS-2024-Conference-Program-web.pdf |website=Georgia Council for Social Studies |access-date=February 21, 2025}}

Azuz was also a guest speaker at the 2023 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Conference, where he presented on engaging students in current affairs through accessible and unbiased news reporting.{{cite web |title=NCSS Annual Conference 2023 |url=https://www.socialstudies.org/103rd-ncss-annual-conference |website=National Council for the Social Studies |access-date=February 21, 2025}} In addition to these major conferences, he has frequently served as a keynote speaker at high school and university events, emphasizing journalism’s role in education.

Azuz maintains an active social media presence, with accounts on the platforms X and TikTok, where he interacts with students and educators. On September 9, 2022 Azuz posted a video to his TikTok account where he addressed leaving CNN.{{cite web |title=TheRealCarlAzuz on TikTok |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@therealcarlazuz/video/7145226213429103914?lang=en |website=TikTok |access-date=25 February 2025 |language=en}} This video quickly went viral, amassing 5.8 million views, 1.3 million likes, and over 43,000 comments.

In addition to his social media presence, Azuz has appeared on various podcasts and YouTube shows, particularly on programs that focus on education. On these appearances he discusses media literacy, journalism, and shares stories from his time as an anchor.

Azuz has described himself as "an American mutt" when characterizing his ancestry. One of his great-grandfathers came to the United States from Spain, but his predominant ethnicity is Italian.{{cite web |title=Chat with Sonlight: Reporting with Carl Azuz | website=YouTube |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=670&v=BJzS_LfOZ9o&feature=youtu.be |access-date=25 February 2025 |date=31 March 2023}}{{failed verification}} Azuz graduated from McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia.{{cite web |last1=Massingill |first1=Savannah |title=CNN Student New's Carl Azuz visits McIntosh |url=https://mhstrail.org/features/2013/03/05/cnn-student-news-carl-azuz-visits-mcintosh/ |website=The Trail - The Student News Site of McIntosh High School |access-date=18 November 2024}} Azuz graduated from the University of Georgia in May 1999, majoring in telecommunications arts production and minoring in drama.{{cite web |title=YMB #148 Why Current Events? |url=https://pambarnhill.com/why-current-events/ |website=Homeschool Better Together}}{{cite web |last1=Stenger |first1=Jack |title=CNN Student News Anchor Visits North Atlanta High School |url=https://www.thewarriorwire.org/1563/news/cnn-student-news-anchor-visits-north-atlanta-high-school/ |website=The Warrior Wire |access-date=19 November 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.thewarriorwire.org/4862/news/cnn-10-anchor-carl-azuz-inspires-journalism-students/ |title=CNN 10 Anchor Carl Azuz Inspires Journalism Students }} He resides in the Atlanta metro area with his family.{{cite web |title=Carl Azuz |url=https://www.socialstudies.org/conference/featured-speakers/carl-azuz |website=National Council for the Social Studies |access-date=18 November 2024}}

{{reflist}}

• {{twitter|CarlAzuz}}
• [https://worldatoz.org/ The World From A to Z Official Website]
• [https://www.youtube.com/@TheWorldAtoZ The World From A to Z on YouTube]

{{CNN personnel}}