Marc Stewart
International correspondent Marc Stewart reports on the dynamic Asia-Pacific region for CNN’s television and digital platforms. While his home base is now Beijing, his roots are in Michigan, which helped set the stage for his future career.
Stewart grew up in Bloomfield Hills and attended Cranbrook Schools where he was drawn to travel and valued being surrounded by the diversity of people and cultures in Southeast Michigan.
“One of the greatest strengths of the metro Detroit area is that you encounter people from all over the world. The global community feel is all around you,” he said.
He graduated from Michigan State University’s James Madison College in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in international relations. While in college, he had internships at several local media outlets including WDIV, WWJ and WDET.
His rich journalism career has spanned more than 25 years with much of it spent as a reporter and news anchor. He “hopscotched all over the U.S.” working for local news stations in Lansing, Knoxville, Nashville and Denver and was able to travel internationally through journalism-related fellowships.
In June 2018, while working in Denver, Stewart attended a conference in Singapore and learned of a master’s program at New York University which combines business and journalism – two of his main interests. “On the 16-hour flight from Singapore to Denver I applied to the program and ended up getting accepted. I quit a great job in Denver mid-career and started grad school at NYU that fall.”
Stewart earned a master's degree in business and economic journalism from NYU in December 2019. He landed a job with the Wall Street Journal and moved to London in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic to host its morning business and economy podcast which he credits with deepening his understanding of global markets.
The journalist returned to New York at the end of 2021 and began appearing frequently on CNN as a guest commentator during the time when the stock market and economy were in flux. He was hired by CNN in the fall of 2022 and moved to Asia to work in his current role. He also co-hosts CNN’s Marketplace Asia.
While living in Toyko, he reconnected with a childhood friend from Michigan who had moved back to Japan. He fondly recalls many years earlier having Little Caesar’s pizza and Japanese food at his friend’s birthday party in Michigan. “It’s interesting how childhood experiences can help set your course for life. The global exposure heightened my sense for the journalistic bug.”
Of his current job, Stewart explained, “There is no typical workday. A lot of my schedule is dictated by what’s happening in the world.”
He added, “With CNN, I get to work with smart people all over the world and have access to incredible resources...It’s never lost on me that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I never take it for granted.”
Along with his busy work schedule, Stewart frequently returns to Michigan to visit family and enjoys stopping by a Coney Island restaurant for one of his favorite Michigan comfort foods – a Greek salad.
To keep mentally and physically fit, he participates in weightlifting and CrossFit-style classes and has competed in an Ironman triathlon, a marathon and about 40 half marathons.
In addition to curiosity of the world as well as strong writing and analytical skills, Stewart offered this advice to aspiring journalists: “You should always be learning something new and be aware of what’s happening in the world...The way news is gathered is changing. It gives you an edge if your bosses know you can cover a wide range of topics.
“None of this happens without hard work – I didn’t get here overnight. I was persistent. Keep pushing forward and it will bring dividends,” he said, adding, “Be well informed. Preparation prevents poor performance. Bring your A-game and you’ll have no regrets.”
Story: Tracy Donohue
