Sharyl Attkisson

Sharyl Attkisson – Life, Career, and Controversies

Sharyl Attkisson (born January 26, 1961) is an American investigative journalist, Emmy winner, and host of Full Measure. Explore her path, major stories, philosophy, and controversies.

Introduction

Sharyl Attkisson is a prominent American investigative journalist known for her long tenure at CBS, her focus on government accountability, and her program Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson. Over her career she has won multiple Emmy Awards, published books critiquing media and establishment influence, and been both praised for dogged reporting and criticized for controversial claims. Her story is emblematic of the tensions between journalism, power, and accountability in modern media.

Early Life and Education

Sharyl Attkisson (née Thompson) was born on January 26, 1961, in Sarasota, Florida.

She attended Wilkinson Elementary School and later Riverview High School in Sarasota. University of Florida, graduating in 1982 with a degree in broadcast journalism from the College of Journalism and Communications.

Her academic grounding in journalism would pave the way for a career in television reporting, investigative work, and authorship.

Career & Achievements

Early Career in Broadcast Journalism

Attkisson began her professional career in television in 1982 at WUFT-TV (the PBS station in Gainesville, Florida). She then moved into commercial television reporting and anchoring roles:

• At WTVX-TV in Fort Pierce / West Palm Beach, Florida (1982–1985)

• At WBNS-TV (CBS affiliate in Columbus, Ohio) (mid-1980s)

• At WTVT in Tampa (1986–1990)

In 1990, she joined CNN, becoming one of the network’s on-air reporters. CBS News, anchoring Up to the Minute and eventually becoming a Washington bureau investigative correspondent.

Work at CBS and Investigative Reporting

During her more than two decades at CBS, Attkisson built a reputation for investigative journalism, pursuing stories on government spending, regulatory oversight, and controversial policy programs.

Some of her notable reporting achievements and recognitions include:

• Multiple Emmy Awards for investigative journalism.

• Recipient of the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award, a prestigious journalism honor.

• Coverage of events such as Fast and Furious (ATF gunwalking controversy), critiques of government stimulus and bailout spending, and oversight of public health policy.

• In 2008, during a trip with Hillary Clinton, Attkisson contested Clinton’s claim that she dodged sniper fire in Bosnia; Attkisson’s reporting prompted Clinton to revise her statement.

Departure from CBS and Shift to Independent Journalism

On March 10, 2014, Attkisson resigned from CBS News after 21 years. network bias, editorial interference, and constraints on investigative reporting, especially relating to controversial topics involving the Obama administration.

Following her departure, she pursued independent reporting and became more publicly vocal about surveillance, media bias, and institutional obstacles facing investigative journalism.

Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson

In 2015, she launched Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson, a Sunday-morning investigative news magazine show produced by Sinclair Broadcast Group.

• Full Measure focuses on “untouchable topics” — issues often underreported or avoided by mainstream media, including government waste, whistleblower stories, and policy oversight.

• The show is syndicated on Sinclair’s TV stations, reaching millions of households across the U.S.

• Unlike many Sunday public affairs shows, Full Measure eschews panel-based discussion formats, opting instead for feature-style deep reporting.

Under Attkisson’s leadership, the program has retained editorial control over topics and direction, allowing her to pursue investigative stories considered sensitive or controversial.

Authorship and Critique of Media

Attkisson has written several books in which she critiques media practices, perceived biases, censorship, and institutional resistance to transparency:

• Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama’s Washington (2014) — which became a New York Times bestseller.

• The Smear: How Shady Political Operatives and Fake News Control What You See, What You Think, and How You Vote (2017)

• Slanted: How the News Media Taught Us to Love Censorship and Hate Journalism (2020)

• She co-authored Writing Right for Broadcast and Internet News, a professional guide for journalistic writing.

These works position her not just as a reporter but as a media critic and watchdog, pushing readers to question how narratives are shaped and controlled.

Controversies, Criticism & Legal Disputes

Vaccine-Autism Reporting

One of the more contentious areas in Attkisson’s career is her coverage of vaccines and autism. She has published stories implying a possible link between vaccines and autism—claims that have been rejected by the scientific consensus and public health authorities.

Allegations of Computer Hacking / Surveillance

In the early 2010s, while still at CBS, Attkisson claimed her personal and work computers had been compromised (hacked or remotely accessed) over an extended period, potentially in relation to her investigation of sensitive topics.

She testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee during the confirmation hearing of Loretta Lynch (2015), alleging remote surveillance, keystroke monitoring, and audio spying via Skype.

However, an internal report by the Justice Department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) found insufficient evidence to substantiate many of her claims, and suggested that deletions seen might be due to a stuck delete key rather than remote intrusion.

Attkisson filed lawsuits against federal agencies (including DOJ and USPS) alleging illegal surveillance and intrusion. However, in 2017 a judge dismissed her case for failure to provide sufficient facts and connect specific individuals. The decision was affirmed on appeal in 2019.

Some legal observers and critics argue that her claims remain unproven, while supporters see her as a journalist asserting accountability over powerful institutions.

Personality, Values & Approach

Sharyl Attkisson’s journalistic style is characterized by tenacity, skepticism, and a willingness to probe controversial or underreported stories. She stresses the importance of accountability journalism and guarding the press’s role as a check on government and powerful entities.

She frames herself as independent of partisan agendas, often criticizing what she sees as biases in both liberal and “mainstream” media.

On a personal level, Attkisson is known to hold a fifth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, reflecting perhaps discipline and perseverance beyond journalism. James Attkisson (since 1984), with whom she has a daughter.

She lives (or has lived) in Northern Virginia with her family, continuing her work in national reporting and media production.

Sample Quotes & Themes

Sharyl Attkisson does not have many widely circulated inspirational quotes, but through her work and public statements, a few recurring themes emerge:

• On the role of investigative journalism:

  Journalism must expose waste, abuse, and power unchecked — even when it’s uncomfortable or unwelcome. (paraphrase of her mission for Full Measure)

• On overcoming suppression or invisibility:

  Stonewalled’s subtitle: “My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation, and Harassment in Obama’s Washington.” – framing her struggle to bring stories forward.

• On media bias and control:
  In The Smear, she critiques how narratives can be manipulated: “how shady political operatives and fake news control what you see, what you think, and how you vote.”

Though not pithy in the sense of one-liner quotes, her work is imbued with consistent messages: watchful oversight, guarding truth, resisting censorship.

Lessons & Reflections from Her Career

1. Investigative journalism demands courage. Attkisson’s career shows that persistent inquiry into powerful institutions often comes with pushback, scrutiny, and risks.

2. orial freedom is crucial. Her departure from CBS was rooted in conflict over how stories were selected, framed, or suppressed—highlighting how media infrastructure and ownership can shape narratives.

3. Accountability is never free. Pursuing stories that challenge entrenched power often invites counterattacks (legal, technical, reputational).

4. Balance between skepticism and rigor. While skepticism toward authority is vital, claims must be backed by solid evidence—especially in contentious domains (e.g. public health).

5. Media critique from within. She is both a practitioner and critic of journalism, showing that insiders can question the systems they serve.

6. Persistence over visibility. Attkisson has often focused more on deep story work than broad celebrity, emphasizing impact over fame.

Conclusion

Sharyl Attkisson is a complex and consequential figure in American journalism. Her career encompasses frontline investigative reporting, critique of media systems, and a shift toward independent journalism with Full Measure.

Her strengths lie in her tenacity and willingness to tackle controversial, often inconvenient topics. But her journey also illustrates the fragile boundaries of evidence, trust, and the burden of proof — especially when challenging powerful institutions. Whether one views her as a champion of accountability or a polarizing figure with contested claims, her work encourages deeper scrutiny of how news is shaped, who gets to tell it, and what remains hidden.