Will Ripley is an award-winning American broadcast journalist who serves as a Senior International Correspondent for CNN. Throughout his career, he has gained international recognition for his extensive field reporting across Asia, particularly his rare and frequent assignments inside North Korea. His dedicated journalism has made him one of the most prominent international news correspondents covering global affairs today.
Early Life and Education
Will Ripley grew up in Manchester, Connecticut, where he developed a passion for media and storytelling at a young age. He pursued his higher education at the University of Missouri-Columbia, graduating from its prestigious School of Journalism. His academic training laid a strong foundation for his future career in investigative and broadcast journalism.
Early Career in American Broadcasting
Before joining international news networks, Ripley spent nearly fifteen years working in local newsrooms across the United States. He began his reporting career in Connecticut before moving on to cover key regional news in Missouri, Texas, and Colorado. His exceptional work during this period earned him multiple honors, including four Regional Edward R. Murrow awards and a Heartland Regional Emmy award.
Reporting for CNN and North Korea Access
Ripley joined CNN as a correspondent and was eventually stationed at key Asian bureaus, including Tokyo and Taipei. He became widely known for his unprecedented access to North Korea, visiting the isolated nation more than a dozen times to report on critical political and social developments. He was notably the only American journalist present in North Korea when U.S. prisoner Otto Warmbier was released in 2017.
Awards and Major Achievements
Throughout his tenure with CNN, Ripley has earned high acclaim for his coverage of major global events. In 2018, he received the award for Best Single News Story at the Asian Academy Creative Awards for reporting on the destruction of North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test site. He was also recognized with Best Documentary for his exclusive feature, Secret State: Inside North Korea.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Will Ripley? Will Ripley is an American journalist serving as a Senior International Correspondent for CNN, known for his coverage of Asian politics and North Korea.
Where is Will Ripley currently based? He is based at CNN's Taipei bureau, covering major international stories across Asia.
What awards has Will Ripley won? He has won several accolades, including Asian Academy Creative Awards, multiple Regional Edward R. Murrow awards, and a Heartland Regional Emmy award.