CNN anchor to take leave for master of studies in law program

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CNN’s Poppy Harlow is slated to take a hiatus from the anchor desk to work on a Master of Studies in Law program at Yale, reports Variety.

Harlow, who joined CNN in 2008, currently anchors a mid-morning block of “CNN Newsroom” and will step aside starting Aug. 20, 2021.

The program she’s enrolling in is not meant to help people become attorneys — and doesn’t equate to a juris doctor in law degree — but is designed to help scholars interested in learning more about the law, including journalists.

Harlow’s late father was a lawyer and her leave of absence has the blessing of Jeff Zucker, the head of WarnerMedia’s sports and news division that includes CNN.

The Yale University program runs one year.

Harlow already holds bachelor’s degree from Columbia University in political science and Middle Eastern studies.

A legal background is not uncommon for journalists, who also frequently have degrees, like Harlow, in political science or similar topics.

Among prominent TV journalists who also have law degrees are “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, former CNN personality Nancy Grace, Fox’s Jeanine Pirro, MSNBC’s Ari Melber, ABC News and NewsNation’s Dan Abrams and others.

CNN did not immediately announce who, if anyone, would replace Harlow, who typically anchors alongside Jim Sciutto. It is possible Sciutto could hold down the show solo.