Errol Barnett

Errol Barnett was born in Milton Keynes, England to Michael Christie and Pamela, an English woman from Liverpool. Gladstone Christie, his Jamaican grandfather, was one of 500 Caribbean aircrew serving with the British Royal Air Force during WWII, afterward relocating to England as part of the Windrush generation.{{Cite magazine|url=https://people.com/tv/cbs-news-errol-barnett-marries-ariana-tolbert/|title=CBS News' Errol Barnett Marries Ariana Tolbert – See Photos from Their Stunning Jamaica Nuptials|magazine=People}} Barnett has English, German and Jamaican heritage. He has one older brother, Danny, and older sister, Natalie, who died.{{Cite web|url=https://www.errolbarnett.com/mystory|title=Errol Barnett – My Story|website=Errol Barnett}}

His mother later married Gary Barnett, a US Air Force sergeant who served in the Gulf War before moving the family to Phoenix. After spending the first decade of his life in England, Barnett attended Garden Lakes Elementary and Westview High School, in Avondale, Arizona, before Channel One News hired him in 2001 relocating to Los Angeles.[http://www.teenwebonline.com/errol.htm Teen Web Online article] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070101081501/http://www.teenwebonline.com/errol.htm |date=1 January 2007 }}

The youth oriented Channel One hired Barnett, their youngest anchor/reporter at age 18, to work alongside Maria Menounos, Seth Doane, Gotham Chopra among others. While also in college, Barnett covered Barack Obama's breakout DNC keynote speech, reported from the United Nations when Colin Powell presented flawed WMD intelligence and from the US Capitol during passage of the Homeland Security Act.

Barnett was chosen as one of Teen People magazine's "20 Teens Who Will Change The World".{{Cite web|url=http://www.onthemedia.org/yore/transcripts/transcripts_122002_one.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080313074203/http://www.onthemedia.org/yore/transcripts/transcripts_122002_one.html|url-status=dead|title=NPR story|archive-date=13 March 2008}} After being accepted to UCLA he left Channel One to complete his undergraduate studies.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QD140HZNf4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/0QD140HZNf4| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Errol Barnett's last day with Channel One News|last=errolbarnett|date=26 May 2007|access-date=24 October 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}} At UCLA Barnett received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science with a focus on international relations.{{cite web|url=http://dailybruin.com/2007/04/02/get_reelz/|title=Get Reelz|website=dailybruin.com|access-date=24 October 2018}} After graduation he was hired by CNN.

CNN initially assigned Barnett to report on the rise in influence of social media and in 2008 he was part of the most viewed streaming event in history during President Obama's Inauguration on CNN.com. In 2010, he anchored at noon ET on CNN International from CNN Abu Dhabi focusing on the Arab Spring, which was part of the network's Peabody-award winning coverage. As a CNN foreign correspondent, he was based in Johannesburg, South Africa covering the death of Nelson Mandela the Oscar Pistorius murder trial and various miner strikes.

Barnett also hosted the network's longest running feature program Inside Africa from 2011 to 2014. During his time at the helm of the award-winning show Barnett reported from twenty-two countries including Senegal, Morocco, Ethiopia, and Madagascar.{{cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/world/africa/inside-africa|title=Inside Africa|publisher=CNN|access-date=24 October 2018}} The weekly half-hour documentary earned awards for its depiction of the continent,{{Cite web |title=2013 Salute to Excellence Winners |url=https://www.nabj.org/page/STEWinners2013 |publisher=National Association of Black Journalists}} with Barnett styling the program as a "journey of discovery."

While based in Atlanta, Georgia Barnett anchored CNN Newsroom leading coverage of the Ferguson, Missouri protests, death of Robin Williams and the lead up to the 2016 presidential election. He became an Internet meme during coverage of protests with viewers noting Barnett's response to his co-anchor's suggestion that police use water cannons on demonstrators. Buzzfeed described Barnett's "side-eye" expression as "did that just happen" and "is this real life?"{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/cnn-anchor-suggests-using-water-cannons-ferguson-protestors|title=CNN Anchor Suggests Using Water Cannons on Ferguson Protestors|website=BuzzFeed |access-date=24 October 2018}}

CBS News hired Barnett during the 2016 election as a Washington, D.C.–based correspondent and anchor appearing on CBS This Morning, the CBS Evening News and Face the Nation. Currently, he is based in New York City as a national correspondent and solo anchor of CBS Morning News airing daily on the channel's national streaming network.{{cite web|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/errol-barnett-and-lilia-luciano-earn-new-roles-at-cbs-news/|title=New roles for Barnett and Luciano at CBS News|website=AdWeek |access-date=August 29, 2022}} His coverage includes the Presidencies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden, artificial intelligence, extreme weather and various breaking news events. He also conducts high-interest interviews; his chat with Wikipedia's top editor was viewed more than two million times.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhNczOuhxeg |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/JhNczOuhxeg| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|title=Meet the man behind a third of what's on Wikipedia - YouTube|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

In 2018, the Secret Service issued a rare statement{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/errol-barnett-secret-service-responds-to-blocking-questions-to-jared-kushner-today-2018-10-17/|title=Secret Service responds to CBS News correspondent being prevented from questioning Jared Kushner|first1=Caroline|last1=Linton|date=17 October 2018|publisher=CBS News}} after a viral interaction with Barnett, following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. As Barnett asked then-Presidential advisor Jared Kushner about his relationship with the Saudi Crown Prince, Mohammad Bin Salman, a Secret Service agent "physically prevented" him. As the Washington Post reported, "Barnett can be seen attempting to ask Kushner a question as he makes his way off the plane, before a Secret Service agent appears to block his way. Barnett can then be seen showing his CBS and White House press credentials to one of the agents, who responds, 'I don’t give a damn who you are, there’s a time and a place.'"

In response to the backlash, the USSS said, "the actions were taken solely in response to an abrupt movement by an unknown individual who later identified themselves as a member of the media." On CNN's The Lead with Jake Tapper, Barnett responded "the video speaks for itself".{{cite news | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/secret-service-investigating-incident-in-which-agent-blocked-reporter-from-questioning-jared-kushner/2018/10/17/c87270b0-d228-11e8-8c22-fa2ef74bd6d6_story.html | title = Secret Service investigating incident in which agent blocked reporter from questioning Jared Kushner | first1 = Felicia | last1 = Sonmez | date = 17 October 2018 | newspaper = The Washington Post}}{{Cite web |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |title=Secret Service reviewing incident of agent blocking reporter from questioning Kushner |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/17/media/secret-service-kushner-reporter/index.html |publisher=CNN}}

During the 2020 U.S. Presidential election then-Vice President Joe Biden called Barnett a "junkie" in response to his question about cognitive abilities.{{cite web |title=Politico article on Biden calling Barnett a "junkie |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/05/joe-biden-reporter-cognitive-test-391771 |website=Politico |publisher=Politco |access-date=October 9, 2020}} As part of a joint virtual convention between NABJ and NAHJ, Barnett asked Biden if he had taken a cognitive test, as his opponent, President Donald Trump, insisted.{{cite web |title=AP article on Trump demanding Biden take cognitive test |url=https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-election-2020-ap-top-news-dementia-elections-c8e5d800f5eb545c7aee8c5b597e6df4

|website=AP |access-date=July 23, 2020}}

Biden replied, "No, I haven’t taken a test. Why the hell would I take a test? Come on, man. That’s like saying to you, before you got on this program if you had taken a test, were you taking cocaine or not? What do you think, huh? Are you a junkie?" Barnett pressed again to which Biden responded, "Well, if he can’t figure out the difference between an elephant and a lion, I don’t know what the hell he’s talking about."{{cite web |title=Politico article on Biden calling Barnett a "junkie |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/05/joe-biden-reporter-cognitive-test-391771 |website=Politico |access-date=October 9, 2020}} The exchange was widely cited in the national press.{{Cite web |last=Stracqualursi |first=Sarah Mucha,Charlitta Rodrigues,Veronica |date=2020-08-05 |title=Biden clarifies he has not taken cognitive test {{!}} CNN Politics |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/05/politics/joe-biden-2020-cognitive-test/index.html |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}

In 2024 Barnett was named solo anchor of the CBS Morning News, airing weekdays at 7a ET on the CBS streaming platform ahead of CBS Mornings.{{Cite web |date=2024-10-07 |title=Paramount Press Express {{!}} CBS News 24/7 Announcements |url=https://www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-news-and-stations/releases/?view=110399-cbs-news-247-announcements |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=www.paramountpressexpress.com |language=en}} Forbes wrote this places "Barnett in a class of anchors that include his colleagues Nate Burleson and Vladimir Duthiers, along with Craig Melvin, Al Roker, Bryant Gumbel, and Michael Strahan."{{Cite web |last=Fowler |first=Richard |title=Errol Barnett Joins CBS' Morning Line-Up |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardfowler/2024/10/08/errol-barnett-joins-cbs-morning-line-up/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Forbes |language=en}} Variety called him a "veteran of CBS and CNN... who also worked as a fill-in on “CBS Mornings,” “CBS Saturday Morning” and the “CBS Weekend News,” and he has examined issues pertaining to technology, including documentary features examining  cryptocurrency mining and the growth of e-sports."{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2024-10-04 |title=Errol Barnett Will Anchor 7 A.M. Slot at CBS News 24/7 |url=https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/errol-barnett-cbs-news-24-7-1236168543/ |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}

File:Barnett at UN Habitat World Urban Forum.jpg

Barnett regularly moderates discussions and speaks at conferences on the topics of freedom of the press, U.S. politics and various international issues. Events have included:

• UN Habitat – World Urban Forum, Cairo, Egypt (2024){{Cite web |date=2024-09-04 |title=Dialogue 6: The loss of home {{!}} WUF |url=https://wuf.unhabitat.org/event/wuf12/dialogue-6-loss-home |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=wuf.unhabitat.org |language=en}}
• ICON Mann Honors – Oscars week Gala, Los Angeles (2023){{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/icon-mann-honors-gina-prince-bythewood-reginald-hudlin-kamala-harris-1235346591/|title=Icon Mann Honors: Gina Prince-Bythewood Talks ‘Woman King’ Impact as Reginald Hudlin Celebrated by Kamala Harris |access-date=March 9, 2023}}
• NABJ/NAHJ – Salute to Excellence Awards Gala, Las Vegas, NV (2022){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUorhwybguI |title=#NABJ 2022 Salute to Excellence Awards Gala Powered by Global Blood Therapeutics |date=2022-08-06 |last=NABJ Headquarters |access-date=2024-12-06 |via=YouTube}}
• Smithsonian – Exclusive Preview, 1,000 Years Of Slavery, Martha's Vineyard (2021){{Cite web |date=2021-08-20 |title=Errol Barnett during a panel discussion at the "Exclusive Preview Of... |url=https://www.gettyimages.no/detail/news-photo/errol-barnett-during-a-panel-discussion-at-the-exclusive-news-photo/1234776796?adppopup=true |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=Getty Images |language=en-us}}
• FOCOS – Annual Gala, New York (2018){{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fc4KDm_KqjM |title=Panel Discussion at the 2018 FOCOS Fundraising Gala |date=2018-10-15 |last=FOCOS Foundation |access-date=2024-12-06 |via=YouTube}}
• Society of Professional Journalists – Annual Awards Dinner, Washington, D.C. (2018)
• Milken Institute – Global Conference, Los Angeles (2017)
• NABJ/NAHJ – Conference, Washington, D.C. (2016){{cite web|url=http://www.theroot.com/blog/journal-isms/donald-trump-campaign-turns-down-nabjnahj/|title=Trump Campaign Turns Down Joint Black and Hispanic Journalists Convention|first=Richard|last=Prince|access-date=24 October 2018}}
• International Press Institute – Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa (2014);{{cite web |url=http://ipi.freemedia.at/newssview/article/ipis-news-innovation-platform-to-host-digital-media-event-in-south-africa.html |title=International Press Institute: IPI's News Innovation Platform to host digital media event in South Africa |access-date=2016-08-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818221028/http://ipi.freemedia.at/newssview/article/ipis-news-innovation-platform-to-host-digital-media-event-in-south-africa.html |archive-date=18 August 2016 }}
• World Bank – Conference, Johannesburg, South Africa (2012);[http://wbi.worldbank.org/wbi/stories/open-contracting-growing-global-movement World Bank Institute] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521140523/http://wbi.worldbank.org/wbi/stories/open-contracting-growing-global-movement |date=21 May 2013 }}
• International Press Institute Conference, Vienna, Austria (2010).{{Cite web|url=http://www.ipiworldcongress.com/programme-speakers/speakers/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705141023/http://www.ipiworldcongress.com/programme-speakers/speakers/|url-status=dead|title=IPI bio|archive-date=5 July 2010}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• [https://www.cbsnews.com/team/errol-barnett/ Errol Barnett's CBS bio]
• [https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=errol+barnett Videos of Errol Barnett from YouTube]
• [https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/cbsn-am/ CBS Morning News show page on Paramount+]
• {{IMDb name|1927009}}
• [https://www.forbes.com/sites/richardfowler/2024/10/08/errol-barnett-joins-cbs-morning-line-up/ Forbes article]
• [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/08/20/cnn-host-water-cannons-ferguson-rosemary-church/14323435/ USA Today article]
• [https://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/cnn-anchor-suggests-using-water-cannons-ferguson-protestors Buzzfeed article]

{{CBS News Personalities}}

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