Sara Sidner, CNN's Libya Correspondent, Becomes A Breakout Star (VIDEO)

Sara Sidner's brave reporting from Muammar Gaddafi's compound in Libya is turning heads.

Sidner reported live from the compound while rebels shot rounds of celebratory fire behind her. The gunfire was so loud at some points that it interrupted the segment. At one point she reported getting hit by some of the shells.

But Sidner was intent on bringing viewers the story. She and her crew had to retreat to a wall for safety, but she continued reporting even after losing audio.

It's not the first time the CNN correspondent has won plaudits for her gutsy reporting. In 2008, she was reporting on the Mumbai terrorist attacks from the Taj Hotel when she was accosted by a group of angry locals. She could be heard yelling "Stop it!" in the dark before the network cut to previously recorded material. Larry King later said that "her reporting put her right in the line of fire."

Sidner has over been in television journalism for over fifteen years. She first joined CNN as the New Delhi correspondent in late 2007, according to TVNewser. Prior to that, she was a weekend anchor and reporter for KTVU-TV in Oakland, California. She got her start in reporting as a student at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where she got a degree in telecommunications.

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Comments

[Edison Saldano]

04:01 PM on 08/25/2011

I wonder if i could get a date ? lol!!

[topflight13]

09:31 AM on 08/25/2011

She is so brave!!!

[Jenn May]

04:35 AM on 08/25/2011

I adore her.

[innerpuppie]

12:16 AM on 08/25/2011

I have watched her on CNN for quite some time and she has always impressed me. Not only is Sara incredibly brave under fire, but she is a remarkable journalist. Even if your teevee screen went black, as long as you had sound, she could paint a picture for you that would be comparable to the visual. I truly hope that she is recognized by her peers for her excellence and dedication to her craft.

[LovelyGirl]

11:34 PM on 08/24/2011

I'm also impressed with this woman. She's very gutsy and focused. I agree with whomever said though that we hope she's not being pushed to stand in front of flying bullets. I remembered they had her subbing for one of the morning hosts. She seems better suited to be a "big time correspondent".

[Todd Sullivan]

10:47 PM on 08/24/2011

i just hope CNN isn't putting enormous behind-the-scenes pressure on their anchors to do these things for higher ratings.

[shuffleoff]

09:35 PM on 08/24/2011

Big congrats to Sara Sidner...she was our local news anchor for awhile and she was one of the only two women at the station who were actual journalists and weren't just 'reading' the news.

[eldorado81]

07:34 PM on 08/24/2011

Thought she was very brave going out there with all that gunfire in the background.Could you imagine any of Fox's " fair and balanced" reporters like Carl Cameron doing that?They'd poop in their pants.

[4more]

06:45 PM on 08/24/2011

I saw her for the first time also a few days ago, and to be honest it was her unexpected exotic (and attractive I will add) appearence that got my immediate attention.....I then started to look for her on ACs show for her extremely calm and straight forward reporting, in the midst of mayhem. Just hope that she STAYS SAFE as I can't help but think about the brutal assult of the other female reporter in Egypt.

[Bgrngod]

05:43 PM on 08/24/2011

I saw her for the first time just the other day and the first thought was "Holy crap, I can't believe there is a reporter alive that would put themselves in that situation to get the news out."

I kept watching and was definitely impressed. Certainly concerned for her safety too.

[ellen63]

04:38 PM on 08/24/2011

Indeed, she is impressive. She manages to navigate the unruly crowds with the least amount of
drama on her part and to get the story. Patricia Burstein

[Tee47122]

02:51 PM on 08/24/2011

You just couldn't say something nice Mr. Fenderbender1.....besides what's up with the synthetic 'Jesus look-a-like" thing you got going on there???

[taeyyenom1]

02:50 PM on 08/24/2011

she transcends the race card, she is just a gusty reporter. why does race have to be in every equation that we deal with. i hope that she stays safe and keep reporting that the level that she is reporting stories.

[luzma]

02:48 PM on 08/24/2011

I saw her report and it was very impressive, you don't see that kind of journalisms so often.

[Jamal Spencer]

04:32 PM on 08/24/2011

Shut Up. You aren't funny

[dress]

04:35 PM on 08/24/2011

and what constructive activity were you doing that day or any day for that matter??/