Melody Taylor is the Director of Programming for CNN, driving innovation in news content and strategy. She specializes in developing cost-effective, original journalism while integrating cutting-edge technology to ensure journalism not only survives but thrives in an evolving media landscape. Taylor played a key role in launching CNN News Central, CNN This Morning with Audie Cornish and programming for CNN Max, while also incorporating new journalism tools that are transforming how news is gathered and delivered.

Since joining CNN in 2012, Taylor has held leadership roles across CNN, HLN, and CNN International, including as Executive Producer of Morning Express with Robin Meade and Weekend Express. She has been at the forefront of the network’s biggest breaking news stories and special events, spearheading coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. presidential inaugurations, the passing of cultural icons, major weather events, and global moments such as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal Wedding.

Taylor began her journalism career as a producer at KHOU-TV (CBS) in Houston, WCNC-TV (NBC) in Charlotte, and WRGB-TV (CBS) in Albany, NY. She is a proud University of Texas at Austin graduate and a dedicated advocate for newsroom diversity, having served as President of the Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists and as a longtime member of NABJ. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and two sons.

Taylor has served as lead producer/executive producer for several of the network’s biggest breaking news stories and specials over the years. She has led network coverage on several big events including rolling coverage of COVID-19, the inauguration of President Trump, the death of Aretha Franklin, Harry and Meghan’s Royal Wedding, as well as Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.