Jim Boulden was born in 1964 in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Dulaney High School in 1982 before attending Kutztown University in Pennsylvania. In 1986, he earned a bachelor's degree in Telecommunications with a minor in Political Science.
Boulden began his journalism career at PBS’s premier business program, The Nightly Business Report, in Washington, D.C. He then joined Reuters TV, serving as a news correspondent and business producer from 1990 to 1995. During his time at Reuters, he covered landmark global events such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the signing of the Maastricht Treaty, the unification of East and West Germany, and the rebuilding of Kuwait following the Gulf War. He also reported on Istanbul’s industrial development as part of broader discussions related to potential European Union membership.
In 1995, Boulden joined CNN’s London Bureau as a package producer and soon began reporting for the network’s business and current affairs segments. He frequently reports live from the London Stock Exchange, contributing daily updates to CNN’s business programming. While based in Europe, his reporting scope is global, covering major international developments.
Boulden has contributed to CNN’s business-focused shows such as Business Unusual, covering significant stories across Europe and Asia. In 2000 and 2001, he produced Your Business, Your World, a program that spotlighted socially conscious business issues. Notable episodes included coverage of AIDS in Uganda, the conflict over blood diamonds in South Africa, and microcredit initiatives in Bangladesh.
In 2002, Boulden was part of the CNN team that received the 2001 First Place Headliner News Award for their comprehensive coverage of the September 11 attacks, featured in the series Attack on America. He played a key role in investigating and reporting the broader European effects of the attacks. His reporting on the 2004 OPEC conference, which addressed rising oil prices and production increases, was also widely recognized.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Jim Boulden has covered many of the world’s most pivotal stories, establishing himself as a respected voice in business journalism and international reporting. Known for his in-depth and analytical approach, Boulden remains a significant contributor to CNN’s global reporting efforts.
