Jim Bittermann

Educational Background and Honors

Bittermann earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Southern Illinois University in 1970. His alma mater later recognized his professional achievements by naming him Journalism Alumnus of the Year in 1989 and awarding him the Alumni Achievement Award in 2000.

Early Career in Journalism

Jim Bittermann began his career in television journalism in 1970 at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee. Before that, he worked briefly as a news reporter for the Waukegan News-Sun in Illinois. In 1971–72, he also participated in national politics, serving on the presidential campaign staffs of Senators Birch Bayh of Indiana and Edmund Muskie of Maine.

His television career progressed with roles at WKYC-TV and WQED-TV, followed by a position as a producer for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s news magazine. In 1978, he joined NBC News as a European correspondent, where he covered major stories such as papal transitions and the international travels of Pope John Paul II.

Career at ABC News and Transition to CNN

In 1990, Bittermann became a correspondent for ABC News in Paris. During his tenure there until 1996, he covered pivotal global stories, including the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Gulf War, and the U.S. military deployment to Somalia. He then transitioned to CNN, continuing as a European correspondent based in Paris, where he remains highly active in covering European and international affairs.

Awards and Recognitions

Throughout his distinguished career, Jim Bittermann has received numerous accolades. He won an Emmy Award for his coverage of the famine in Sudan in 1988. At CNN, he earned a CableACE Award for his reporting on the civil war in Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

In recognition of his outstanding journalistic contributions, Bittermann was named a Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest decoration. Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the award is traditionally granted to French nationals, though Bittermann became only the second American journalist—after Pierre Salinger—to receive the distinction.

Academic and Cultural Contributions

Beyond his reporting duties, Bittermann actively contributes to academic and cultural spheres. He serves as an adjunct professor at the American University of Paris, where he teaches courses in communication, including documentary filmmaking and broadcast news.

He has also played key roles in global and cultural events, including serving as a moderator for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and acting as a juror for the French cinema competition, Les Lumières de Paris.

Personal Life

Jim Bittermann was married to Patricia Thompson, an Emmy Award-winning television producer. The couple shared a deep connection both professionally and personally until her passing in 2010.