Why do I feel like the luckiest man to exist?

My starting point was suburban, my family unit was unstable and despite moving thousands of miles away from my roots as a kid, I’ve found a sense of purpose; to pursue fascinating stories. It has pulled me all around the world and showed me amazing things so I want to share everything I’ve absorbed.

This passport-punching trek has taken me from being a gap-toothed kid in Milton Keynes, England to being the only Black-British broadcaster on American TV for the country’s most-watched channel.

I’m now fulfilling a dream by anchoring the CBS Morning News weekdays @ 7a ET streaming for free everywhere highlighting much of what I witnessed along the way. And I can say I’ve personally been inspired most by those who beat the odds because they convince me - I can do the same.

I was born in the UK and moved to the US with my older sister, mother, and American stepfather at age 10. But within a few short and turbulent years, my sister passed away; my mother fell into depression; my stepfather left the family; my world simply imploded.

My teenage years were confusing and challenging, so I threw myself into school, sports and any extra curricular activity I could find. Young, foreign, and unsure of my role in the world, it would be journalism that gave me a sense of purpose more than anything else.

In a way it was therapeutic, as I found comfort in asking people about their biggest challenges while I was still, privately confronting many of my own. 

As it turns out through luck, hard work, and amazing opportunities, I’ve been a reporter my entire adult life, assigned to various posts on four continents.

A flashpoint moment in my younger days was the day I turned 18. A current events program tailored for teens called Channel One News hired me, based me in Los Angeles, and sent me throughout the US, reporting on major news events to their audience of millions. I learned so much about the size and diversity of America from Itasca, Texas to Seward, Alaska.

Best of all I worked alongside Seth Doane, Melissa Knowles, Gotham Chopra, Maria Menounos and others who showed me something unique in their approach to reporting. Thanks to my salary, this first-generation college student earned a political science degree at UCLA. Go Bruins!

I was then hired by CNN International as an anchor/correspondent, ultimately reporting and anchoring from their bureaus in Atlanta, London, Abu Dhabi, Johannesburg and all over the African continent.

In fact, hosting “Inside Africa” exposed me to people and adventures in 22 countries over two years and without a doubt was the most incredible assignment of all (thank you Ethiopia, Madagascar, Tunisia and the DRC to name a few). Looking back, it feels like I’ve lived multiple lifetimes in these places, and made so many good friends. And don’t get me started on good food.

My last role there was co-anchoring eight live hours of ‘CNN Newsroom’ during the week on CNN and CNN International with Rosemary Church in a broadcast seen in more than 300 million households around the world.

I’m now a CBS News anchor and national correspondent based in New York City after a few years working from Washington, D.C. covering the Obama and Trump White House. I’m still in awe at the fact a kid like me made it to a place like CBS, an American institution with profound journalistic heritage.

The best place to see what I’ve been up to lately is this playlist on my youtube channel where I post weekly videos.

For my latest reporting scroll through this playlist. And to see some interesting interviews - check this out.

I hope something I’ve reported on over the past few decades helps you understand the world and I want to believe you sought your own adventure as a result!

This page is here for you to discover more about me; watch standout reports, subscribe to my youtube channel, or send me a note.

And most importantly - for you to tell me your story!

Thanks for visiting,

errol barnett