Career overview and public presence
Paula Faris is an American television correspondent and coanchor best known for her work with ABC News, including roles on Good Morning America and Nightline. Her career emphasizes storytelling in news and in features, with a mix of hard news coverage and human interest reporting. This overview focuses on verifiable roles, professional milestones, and publicly documented work patterns rather than speculation or opinion.
Background and early career
Faris grew up in Jackson, Michigan, and graduated from Taylor University with a degree in communication. She began her professional journey in local television, holding roles in reporting and anchoring at stations in Indiana and Ohio. These early positions provided foundational experience in newsgathering, on-air presentation, and deadline-driven production, preparing her for network-level opportunities.
Local news roles and skill development
- Reporter and anchor, WTTV/CBS affiliate in Indianapolis
- Reporter and anchor, WKRC/CBS affiliate in Cincinnati
- Work in nonprofit and documentary projects alongside local news duties
Joining ABC News and notable assignments
In 2011, Faris joined ABC News as a correspondent based in Chicago. She contributed across multiple programs and was part of high-profile coverage, including the Boston Marathon bombing and the death of Robin Williams. Her ability to communicate complex information clearly was noted in both breaking news and feature-driven projects, eventually leading to a larger national audience role.
| Date or Period | Event | Role and Notable Details |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Joins ABC News | Correspondent based in Chicago |
| 2014 | Boston Marathon bombing coverage | On-the-ground reporting |
| 2014 | Death of Robin Williams | Correspondent for national coverage |
| 2015 | Steps in as coanchor on Nightline | Substitute anchor during transition period |
| 2016–2018 | Regular coanchor and correspondent on Good Morning America and Nightline | National visibility increases |
On-air roles and visibility
Faris became widely recognized for her work as a coanchor and correspondent on Good Morning America and Nightline in the mid-2010s. She was part of team coverage of major events and contributed to both morning news briefs and late-night narrative features. Her reporting balanced factual precision with accessible storytelling, a pattern common in network correspondent roles that bridge breaking news and long-form features.
Hiatus and public breaks from the spotlight
In 2018, Faris stepped back from full-time on-air duties to focus on personal matters and family priorities. She made limited public appearances during this period and did not return to regular on-air duties with ABC News. In subsequent interviews, she has discussed challenges related to online criticism and the boundaries between public life and personal well-being, offering reflections often categorized under mental health and media responsibility.
Key themes in public discussion during hiatus
- Online harassment and its professional impact
- Work-life boundaries for public-facing professionals
- Choices around reentry into full-time media roles
Return and current professional activity
By the early 2020s, Faris had returned to select on-air and project-based work, including podcast appearances and moderated live events. She has described a more deliberate approach to commitments, with an emphasis on sustainability and alignment with personal values. While she does not maintain a regular network news anchor role, she participates in interviews, speaking engagements, and content projects on a selective basis.
Public perception and legacy context
Faris is often discussed as part of a cohort of network correspondents who combined breaking-news coverage with long-form human interest stories. Colleagues and observers have highlighted her composure under pressure and willingness to address difficult topics. Her career illustrates how correspondents balance reliability, empathy, and factual rigor across formats, from morning shows to late-night narrative segments.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Paula Faris best known for? She is best known for her roles as a correspondent and coanchor for ABC News programs such as Good Morning America and Nightline in the mid-2010s.
- Did Paula Faris leave ABC News? She stepped back from full-time on-air duties in 2018 and returned to select projects on a part-time basis in the early 2020s.
- What does Paula Faris do now? She participates in interviews, moderated events, and select media projects while prioritizing personal sustainability and family focus.