Jake Tapper's Success and Achievements in Timeline

A closer look at the biggest achievements of Jake Tapper. Awards, milestones, and records that define success.

Jake Tapper is a prominent American journalist. He currently serves as the lead Washington anchor for CNN. He anchors 'The Lead with Jake Tapper,' a weekday television news show, and co-hosts 'State of the Union,' a Sunday morning public affairs program. Tapper's role at CNN highlights his influence in American journalism and his contributions to political discourse.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1998: Senior Writer for Washington City Paper

In 1998, Jake Tapper began his full-time journalism career as a senior writer for the Washington City Paper. During his two years there, he wrote an article about dating Monica Lewinsky and won a Society of Professional Journalists award.

2002: Nomination for Columbia University Award

In 2002, Jake Tapper's reports about Enron were nominated for a Columbia University School of Journalism online award. He also began questioning the Bush administration's claims about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.

2005: Edward R. Murrow Award

In 2005, Jake Tapper contributed a report to a broadcast of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings that won the Edward R. Murrow Award for best network newscast.

2010: Merriman Smith Memorial Award for Obama story

In 2010, as Senior White House Correspondent for ABC News, Jake Tapper received a Merriman Smith Memorial Award for his story that President Obama had asked for the resignation of his Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis C. Blair (retired).

2010: Merriman Smith Memorial Award

In 2010, the White House Correspondents' Association awarded Jake Tapper the Merriman Smith Memorial Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure.

2011: Merriman Smith Award for S&P downgrade story

In 2011, Jake Tapper won a Merriman Smith Memorial Award for breaking the story that Standard and Poor's was expected to downgrade the United States' AAA rating for government debt.

2011: Merriman Smith Memorial Award

In 2011, the White House Correspondents' Association awarded Jake Tapper the Merriman Smith Memorial Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure.

2012: Merriman Smith Memorial Award

In 2012, the White House Correspondents' Association awarded Jake Tapper the Merriman Smith Memorial Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure.

2013: National Headliner Awards for Reporting

In 2013, The Lead with Jake Tapper won three National Headliner Awards for its reporting, including coverage of the Boston Marathon bombing and the Oklahoma tornadoes.

2014: Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism

In 2014, Jake Tapper was recognized by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society with the Tex McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism for his book and reporting on military topics.

2014: The Lead Honored for Investigative Reporting

In 2014, The Lead was honored with a Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting for a series of reports on academic fraud at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill by correspondent Sara Ganim.

January 2015: Reporting Leads to Pentagon Policy Change

In January 2015, Jake Tapper's reporting on a new Pentagon policy resulted in the U.S. military changing a rule that was adversely impacting caregivers for wounded servicemembers, reinstating the previous policy.

2016: National Headliner Awards for The Lead

In 2016, "The Lead" was honored with two National Headliner Awards for Best Newscast and Best Coverage of a Major News Event, specifically for the show's coverage of the November 2015 Paris attacks.

2017: RTDNA's John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award

Also in 2017, Jake Tapper was named Radio Television Digital News Association's John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award winner, recognizing his contributions to journalism and freedom of the press.

2017: Awards for Excellence in Journalism

In 2017, Jake Tapper received the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Television Political Journalism and the John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award.

2017: Awards in 2017

In 2017, Jake Tapper won multiple awards including the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Journalism, RTDNA's John F. Hogan Distinguished Service Award, CJF's Tribute Award, Moment Magazine's Robert S. Greenberger Journalism Award, and the Dartmouth Club of Washington's Daniel Webster Award for Distinguished Public Service.

2017: Los Angeles Press Club President's Award

In 2017, the Los Angeles Press Club gave Jake Tapper its President's Award for Impact on Media, citing his willingness to take on politicians from both sides of the aisle during a divisive election.

2018: Merriman Smith Award

In 2018, Jake Tapper was part of a four-person team at CNN that won the Merriman Smith Award for broadcast reporting on the White House under deadline pressure.

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2018: Recognition on Mediaite's annual list

In 2018, Jake Tapper was recognized on Mediaite's annual list for his ability to hold Republicans and Democrats accountable equally and for his noteworthy moments, including the Parkland town hall and a stellar one-on-one with James Comey.

2018: Vetty Award for veterans' coverage

In 2018, Jake Tapper won a Vetty Award, recognizing his coverage of veterans' issues.

2018: Merriman Smith Award for Steele dossier news

In 2018, as a CNN anchor, Jake Tapper was awarded a Merriman Smith Award as part of a team that broke the news about the Steele dossier alleging Russia had blackmail material on Donald Trump.

2020: Emmy Awarded for "Madua's Blood Gold"

In 2020, a report for The Lead by correspondent Isa Sores, called "Madua's Blood Gold", was awarded an Emmy.

2022: Mediate called Tapper 'the top dog'

In 2022, Mediate called Jake Tapper "the top dog who could represent the CNN brand."

2022: Emmy Awarded for "9-Year-Old Afghan Sold into Marriage"

In 2022, a story by Anna Coren on a "9-Year-Old Afghan Sold into Marriage" that aired on The Lead, was awarded an Emmy.

December 2023: C.J. Rice's conviction overturned

In December 2023, C.J. Rice's conviction was overturned, following Jake Tapper's reporting on his case.

2023: Ranked #7 by Mediate

In 2023, Jake Tapper was ranked number seven by Mediate, which noted his unrivaled skills as an interrogator on cable news.

2023: Emmy Awards in 2023

In 2023, Jake Tapper won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Breaking News Coverage as part of the team that covered the Russian invasion of Ukraine and for Outstanding Live News Special for being one of the co-anchors of "Live from the Capitol: January 6, One Year Later".

March 2024: C.J. Rice exonerated; Tapper breaks the news

In March 2024, Jake Tapper broke the news that C.J. Rice was exonerated and freed in Pennsylvania, following Tapper's extensive coverage of Rice's case.

2024: Reporting on Gold Star Families Protests

In 2024, Jake Tapper reported on Gold Star families protesting the 2014 policy change by the American Battle Monuments Commission regarding flower placement on graves in overseas cemeteries. After the piece aired, the White House pushed the ABMC to change the policy back.

2024: Ranked #23 by Mediate

In 2024, Jake Tapper was ranked 23rd by Mediate and recognized as one of America's preeminent anchors for moderating a presidential debate and championing the release of C.J. Rice.

2024: Emmy Awards in 2024

In 2024, Jake Tapper won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Live News Special for "A CNN Town Hall: Toxic Train Disaster, Ohio Residents Speak Out", which he hosted, and for Outstanding Live Breaking News Coverage for being part of the team that covered the Israel-Hamas War.