Kaitlan Collins Handles On-Air Teleprompter Failure with Poise During Live CNN Broadcast
WASHINGTON, D.C. — During a live broadcast of CNN News Central, anchor Kaitlan Collins was forced to improvise after a teleprompter malfunction left her without a script for a segment on the Biden administration's infrastructure policy. The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday from CNN's Washington bureau.
Collins promptly transitioned to a handheld tablet, referencing pre-written notes while maintaining direct eye contact with the camera. She continued to guide the segment for three minutes without a pause, briefly apologizing to viewers for the technical difficulty before pivoting to a correspondent's live report.
Why: The teleprompter failure stemmed a software glitch in the studio's control room, which was resolved by the engineering team by the next commercial break. Industry analysts highlight Collins's composure as a demonstration of professional adaptability under live pressure.
The segment remained on schedule, and Collins resumed standard broadcast procedures without further incident. Online reactions have praised her handling of the unexpected disruption.