CNN award-winning journalist Drew Griffin, an investigative reporter with the network since 2004, passed away Saturday at the age of 60.
Griffin passed after a long battle with cancer, his family said.
Griffin had been awarded some of journalism’s top prizes, including Emmys, Peabodys, and Murrow awards. But CNN CEO Chris Licht said that “people mattered more to Drew than prizes.”
“Drew’s death is a devastating loss to CNN and our entire profession,” Licht said in a note to staff. “A highly acclaimed investigative journalist, Drew’s work had an incredible impact and embodied the mission of this organization in every way.”
CNN’s Executive Vice President of Programming Michael Bass said in a note to the investigative journalism team on Sunday that Griffin was fearless and would be missed.
“Fearless and artful at the same time, he knew how to push a story forward to its limits, but also tell it in a way that would make everyone understand,” Bass said. “How many times has he chased an unwilling interviewee? How many times has he spoken truth to power? How many times has he made a difference on something important … It was an honor to be his colleague and to be witness to his work and the ways it changed the world.”
CNN star Dom Lemon broke down into tears when sharing the news with viewers.
Take a look —
Don Lemon breaks down in tears reporting the death of his colleague Drew Griffin. (Video: CNN) pic.twitter.com/6kJOsvzA9I
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) December 19, 2022
CNN created the following short tribute —
https://twitter.com/JoPrestonTV/status/1604838483419348993
The Horn editorial team