Sara Sidner

Sara Sidner's record is less about trophies than about endurance. She has spent roughly two decades at CNN, much of it in the field covering wars, humanitarian crises and mass shootings, and she was part of network teams honored for breaking-news coverage. In 2025 TIME featured her in its Closers series on demystifying breast cancer treatment, a recognition that came from her decision to talk openly about her own diagnosis. That combination, a reporter who goes where the story is and then tells her own story without flinching, is what sets her apart.