Cynthia McFadden was named co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline in October 2005 and is based in New York. She joined ABC News in 1994 as the network's legal correspondent. Two years later, she was named a correspondent for Primetime Live and was later named a co-anchor of Primetime. McFadden continues to report for the program.
Beginning with the network’s inception in 1991, McFadden was an anchor and senior producer at the Courtroom Television Network, where she anchored live coverage of more than 200 trials. From 1984 to 1991, McFadden was the executive producer of Fred Friendly's Media and Society seminars based at Columbia University. More than 30 of her programs were broadcast on PBS, including series on ethics, the military, terrorism and the presidency.
As part of ABC's 9/11 reporting team, McFadden received a 2001-2002 Dupont Award. For ABC's Millennium coverage, she reported from Cuba and was part of the team that was awarded the 1999-2000 Emmy. She has also received a Peabody Award and an Overseas Press Club Award, among other honors.
McFadden holds a law degree from Columbia University and an undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College.