Carl Azuz is an American news anchor, currently the anchor of the online daily student news program "The World From A to Z". He is best known for his work at CNN as anchor of CNN 10 (formerly CNN Student News).^[1][2] In his time following CNN he was a contributor for Sonlight Curriculum, Ltd. Azuz also worked as media literacy ambassador for the Poynter Institute.^[3]

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,^[4] Azuz took over as anchor of CNN Student News in 2008.^[5] The CNN program featured original reporting, along with clips from CNN broadcasts and quiz-style questions.^[6] In January 2017, the show rebranded from "CNN Student News" to CNN 10, highlighting the show's ten minute duration.^[7] The target audience of CNN Student News/CNN 10 was middle, high school, and college students.^[8][9] 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.^[10][11][12]

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.^[13][14] 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.^[15]

Azuz left CNN in 2022, following the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year. His final episode of CNN 10 was May 27, 2022.^[16] 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."^[17]

After his departure, rumors began on X that he died.^[18] Coy Wire would eventually anchor CNN 10.^[19] In the year following his time at CNN, Azuz did freelance work, including producing content for SonLight Homeschool Curriculum, and public speaking gigs.^[20] 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.^[21]

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".^[22] The World From A to Z is owned by World News Group, a Christian journalism organization based in North Carolina.^[23] 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.^[24][25] The show presents itself as non-partisan and incorporates Azuz's signature puns and light-hearted approach.^[26][27] 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.^[28]

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.^[29]

In 2015, Azuz traveled to Petoskey, Michigan to deliver a commencement speech at Petoskey High School.^[30]

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.^[31] 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.^[32]

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.^[33] 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.

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.^[34] Similarly, Indian River School District in Selbyville, Delaware banned using CNN 10 in their school curriculum.^[35]

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.^[36]

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.^[37] 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.^[38]

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.^[39] 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.^{[40][failed verification]} Azuz graduated from McIntosh High School in Peachtree City, Georgia.^[41] Azuz graduated from the University of Georgia in May 1999, majoring in telecommunications arts production and minoring in drama.^[42][43][44] He resides in the Atlanta metro area with his family.^[45]

• Carl Azuz on Twitter
• The World From A to Z Official Website