Mark Swanson

B.S. Telecommunication, 1997

Emmy-Winning Television News Director, CNN
Co-Chair and Lead Coordinator, Night to Shine Atlanta

Hall of Fame 2026

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Mark Swanson has spent nearly three decades working at CNN. Originally hired as a video journalist, Swanson was promoted to a technical director after just two years, later working his way up to Senior Technical Director until being promoted to his current role as Director in 2023. His extensive news coverage has included some of the biggest events of the last three decades, including seven presidential elections, three papal elections, the September 11th Terrorist Attacks, the War in Afghanistan, the deaths of Princess Diana and Nelson Mandela, Hurricane Katrina and the war against Isis. He was also the Technical Director for Larry King Live from 2001 to 2005 and was in the chair for the first five hours of CNN’s global coverage of the start of the Second Gulf War. Swanson worked Special Events for CNN for more than a decade covering prime time election coverage, debates, Presidential Town Halls and national conventions.

Swanson won an Emmy for directing part of CNN’s Breaking News coverage on October 7th, 2023, the start of the Israel – Hamas war.

Swanson also spent five years as a freelance director for Comcast Sports South, working on shows like “SportsNite,” “Talkin’ Football,” “Talkin’ Hoops” and “In the Huddle.” His work there also earned him two additional Emmy nominations for Outstanding Achievement in Regularly Scheduled Live Sports Programming.

Swanson was one of the leaders that launched Night to Shine, a prom for people with special needs sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation, in the Atlanta area in 2016. He took over the lead role as Co-Chair and Lead Coordinator in 2019 and managed 20 teams of over 300 volunteers to plan, produce and execute the prom annually serving hundreds of honored guests.