What Happened to Matt Gutman?
Matt Gutman is an award-winning American journalist and author, known for his extensive field reporting on major global events. After nearly two decades at ABC News, where he served as Chief National Correspondent, he transitioned to CBS News as Chief Correspondent in January 2026. As of August 2026, he is facing a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by a former ABC News producer.
Quick Answer
Matt Gutman is currently the chief correspondent for CBS News, a role he commenced on January 5, 2026, following a distinguished career at ABC News. In this capacity, he reports for "CBS Mornings," "CBS Evening News," "48 Hours," and contributes to "60 Minutes," while also serving as a fill-in anchor. On August 14, 2026, a lawsuit was filed against him by former ABC News producer Samira Said, alleging inappropriate sexual remarks made during their time together at ABC.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline17 events
Began Journalism Career as Freelance Reporter
Matt Gutman started his career as a freelance print reporter in Argentina.
Reporter for The Jerusalem Post
Gutman moved to Tel Aviv and worked for The Jerusalem Post, covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Joined ABC News Radio
Matt Gutman officially joined ABC News Radio, marking his entry into American broadcast journalism.
Joined ABC News (TV)
Gutman moved to Miami and began appearing on various ABC News television programs and platforms.
Hosted 'Sea Rescue'
He took over hosting duties for the ABC Television Network's Saturday morning show 'Sea Rescue,' which won an Emmy in 2016.
Detained in Venezuela
While reporting on Venezuela's collapsing healthcare system, Gutman was detained and interrogated for five days by Venezuelan authorities.
Named ABC News Chief National Correspondent
Gutman was promoted to Chief National Correspondent for ABC News, a role that saw him report from over 50 countries.
Published 'The Boys in the Cave'
He authored his first book, 'The Boys in the Cave: Deep Inside the Impossible Rescue in Thailand,' about the Tham Luang cave rescue.
Suspended by ABC News for Kobe Bryant Reporting
Gutman was suspended for a month by ABC News after incorrectly reporting that all four of Kobe Bryant's children died in the helicopter crash.
Briefly Suspended for COVID-19 Policy Violation
He was briefly suspended again by ABC News for violating Disney's COVID-19 policies while reporting from a hospital.
Reported from Ukraine
Gutman was on the ground in Ukraine covering the early stages of Russia's invasion.
Published 'No Time to Panic'
His second book, 'No Time to Panic: How I Curbed My Anxiety and Conquered a Lifetime of Panic Attacks,' was released.
Reported from Israel after Hamas Attack
Gutman was among the earliest journalists to arrive in Israel following the October 7 terror attack by Hamas.
Covered California Wildfires
He was one of the first network reporters on the scene of the devastating Palisades fire in California, reporting for a month.
Announced Joining CBS News
CBS News announced that Gutman would join the network as Chief Correspondent, effective January 5, 2026.
Began Role as CBS News Chief Correspondent
Matt Gutman officially started his new position as Chief Correspondent for CBS News, based in Los Angeles.
Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Filed Against Him
Former ABC News producer Samira Said filed a lawsuit against Gutman, ABC News, and Disney, alleging sexual harassment during their time at ABC.
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🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Matt Gutman, born Matthew A. Gutman on December 5, 1977, has built a nearly three-decade-long career as a prominent American journalist and author. He began his journalism journey in late 2000 as a freelance print reporter in Argentina, later working for The Jerusalem Post from 2001 to 2005, covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Gutman officially joined ABC News Radio in 2006 and by 2008, he had moved to Miami, appearing across various ABC News programs like 'World News Tonight,' 'Good Morning America,' 'Nightline,' and '20/20.' His reporting assignments took him to over 50 countries, covering significant events from wars in the Middle East to natural disasters across six continents. In January 2018, he was promoted to ABC News' Chief National Correspondent.
His tenure at ABC News was not without controversy. In January 2020, Gutman was suspended for a month after incorrectly reporting that all four of Kobe Bryant's children had died in the helicopter crash that killed Bryant and his daughter Gianna. He issued an apology, taking accountability for the error. In February 2021, he faced another brief suspension for violating Disney's COVID-19 policies by reporting from a Los Angeles-area hospital for newsgathering purposes.
Beyond his broadcast work, Gutman is an accomplished author. He published 'The Boys in the Cave: Deep Inside the Impossible Rescue in Thailand' in 2018, detailing the Tham Luang cave rescue, and 'No Time to Panic: How I Curbed My Anxiety and Conquered a Lifetime of Panic Attacks' in 2023. He continued to cover major global stories, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the Israel-Hamas conflict in 2023, and the devastating California fires in January 2025.
In a significant career move, it was announced on December 9, 2025, that Gutman would be leaving ABC News to join CBS News as Chief Correspondent. He officially began this new role on January 5, 2026, based in Los Angeles. At CBS, he reports for 'CBS Mornings,' 'CBS Evening News,' serves as a lead correspondent for '48 Hours,' and contributes to '60 Minutes,' also acting as a fill-in anchor. This move was notable as he was one of the first high-profile hires under CBS News' new editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss.
Most recently, on August 14, 2026, Gutman became a defendant in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed by former ABC News field producer Samira Said against ABC News and The Walt Disney Company. The lawsuit alleges that Gutman created a hostile work environment by making inappropriate sexual remarks during two work assignments several years ago when they were colleagues at ABC.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Matt Gutman made different choices?