ABC News President Kim Godwin Exits Community

ABC News president Kim Godwin is out at the network.

Debra OConnell, president, News Neighborhood and Networks at Disney Leisure, and Godwin shared the info in internal memos sent to workers Sunday night.

Godwin instructed workers that after reflecting on her tenure, “I in actuality have confidence decided to retire from broadcast journalism.”

“Anybody who’s obsessed with what we attain knows there’s no other industry deal with it, so this used to be no longer a easy or like a flash resolution,” Godwin persevered. “Nonetheless after appreciable reflection, I’m optimistic it’s the factual one for me as I explore to the future and prioritize what’s most necessary for me and my family.”

In her memo, OConnell said that she would lead ABC News within the duration in-between.

“For the time being, I will oversee ABC News and I’m taking a explore forward to working with the management personnel as we forge a brand contemporary path forward together,” OConnell wrote. “Thank you for your persistence and figuring out by this period of transition.”

Godwin joined ABC News in 2021 after a protracted career as an govt and producer at CBS News.

On the alternative hand, she used to be layered in February of this yearwith the Disney frail OConnell tasked with merging ABC News and the ABC TV stations industry. Godwin had signed a brand contemporary deal to remain at ABC News at the present, even though the restructuring little her authority severely.

Her tenure had confronted some public challenges, possibly most severely the suspension and finally the firing of GMA3 co-hosts Amy Robach an TJ Holmes last year. She had also been a goal of grumbling from workers, even though few national newsroom leaders have confidence been spared from that in contemporary years.

On Saturday, the Nationwide Affiliation of Unlit Journalists launched an announcement addressing about a of the reports, writing that “there appears an intentionality to cite nameless sources as Godwin’s detractors, coupled with the usage of derogatory or stereotypical terms to portray her. Meanwhile, these reports are totally ignoring sources and details that dispute to Godwin having necessary toughen internal the organization.”

The NABJ added that it deliberate to fulfill with ABC and Disney executives to focus on the topic.

Read OConnell’s and Godwin’s memos beneath.

NOTE FROM DEBRA OCONNELL TO HER TEAM:

Crew,

I needed to share Kim’s level to beneath. Dana and I’d deal with to take this alternative to particular our deepest gratitude to Kim for her carrier as president of ABC News. Kim has navigated this personnel by consequential times in our world, and he or she did so with respect for the logo and profession – and for that and extra, we thank her.

Our repute and credibility are arduous earned, and we would also deal with to acknowledge the unparalleled work you bring day to day. As the No. 1 files network for 12 consecutive seasons and counting, ABC News is dwelling to potentially the most attention-grabbing within the industry. From morning by daylight, night and past, this personnel stands ready 24/7 to support our nation with the info, contributors and occasions that form our world.

For the time being, I will oversee ABC News and I’m taking a explore forward to working with the management personnel as we forge a brand contemporary path forward together. Thank you for your persistence and figuring out by this period of transition. Since assuming this selection in February, my goal has been – and ought to proceed to be – to procedure this personnel with the vogue well-known to form on our success and carry on the proud custom of ABC News valid into a future beefy of alternative and innovation.

At the same time as you would possibly have confidence any questions, please don’t hesitate to realize out to me or your senior leaders.

Thank you,

Debra

KIM GODWIN NOTE TO ABC NEWS:

Correct night ABC News,

Forty years within the past, I began my career new out of faculty as an enthusiastic and enthusiastic govt producer at WTXL in Tallahassee, where I used to be liable for the 6 and 11 p.m. files. The staff used to be so little, on busy files days, I had to transfer out and represent too. Minute did I know then what unparalleled opportunities lay sooner than me as I began to chart a path by a profession where only about a women folk – and even fewer women folk of colour – were in management roles. So, I understood and favored the profound significance of being the first Unlit lady to lead a national broadcast files network as soon as I licensed the feature as president of ABC News just a diminutive over three years within the past. It’s each and each a privilege and a debt to those that chipped away at the ceiling sooner than me to lead a personnel whose trace is synonymous with belief, integrity and a dogged resolution to be potentially the most attention-grabbing within the industry.

Now, four decades and endless miles later, having worked the least bit three broadcast files networks and 10 local stations in nine cities, I in actuality have confidence come beefy circle from that little but mighty ABC affiliate in Florida’s panhandle. I in actuality have confidence decided to retire from broadcast journalism. After matriculating by j-college at my favored Florida A&M University, I in actuality have confidence been lucky and blessed ample to have confidence done practically every job there would possibly be on this industry, including anchor, investigative reporter, files director, field producer, network/particular occasions govt producer and extra sooner than transferring on to the governmentranks. Anybody who’s obsessed with what we attain knows there’s no other industry deal with it, so this used to be no longer a easy or like a flash resolution. Nonetheless after appreciable reflection, I’m optimistic it’s the factual one for me as I explore to the future and prioritize what’s most necessary for me and my family.

ABC News used to be No. 1 as soon as I joined the personnel and I’m proud to deliver we’re aloof No. 1 – an success that’s been punctuated in contemporary months with the very ideal honors our profession has to present, from the Edward R. Murrow Award for Total Excellence in Television, to the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for our groundbreaking “Power of Water” collection, to our first-ever Primetime Emmy Award nominations for “Lovely Toddler: Brooke Shields” and “Aftershock.” And correct last week, our Uvalde documentary, “Print It Unlit,” obtained Most attention-grabbing Feature Documentary at the Dallas International Film Festival, where it premiered. I am severely joyful with our unprecedented Uvalde 365 venture, an unparalleled yearlong dedication to documenting the emotional stoop of a neighborhood after a mass taking pictures.

In 2022, we were all extremely delighted to receive 41 Emmy nominations, potentially the most in fifty three years. We now have confidence the pinnacle morning files display cover, daylight network display cover, night newscast and Friday files journal. We’re constantly No. 1 in all most necessary dwell TV occasions, including, most recently, “Eclipse All the absolute most life like plot by The United States,” in partnership with Nat Geo. And our programs can many times be display cover within the Prime 10 on Hulu.

Past awards and rankings, our success is possibly simplest measured within the contributors of ABC News. This is an distinctive personnel doing distinctive work – together. You would possibly well possibly very effectively be simplest at faculty in every category, and it’s been nothing searching awesome to explore you form out task after task, turning in entire protection from spherical the enviornment to our viewers at a time when truthful reporting is very essential to the vogue forward for our large nation.

We take pride in holding all communities and meeting our audiences where and after they need us, and no endeavor greater exemplifies this than ABC News Reside. When I started, it used to be the diminutive streaming prepare that will; now, thanks to your arduous work and dedication, it’s a gigantic prepare that can – and does, on daily basis. Collectively, on Hulu last season, we launched “Impact X Nightline,” a weekly files journal whose episodes are many times among the many most watched announce on the platform.

We needs to be especially joyful with our success with ABC News Studios, which we constructed from the flooring as much as alter into what’s now a premiere nonfiction and documentary studio, making extra than 120 hours of award-a success announce a year. We also established the first local weather unit among the many published files networks. So many improvements and initiatives in what feels deal with the blink of an look. Collectively, we dedicated to a cultural shift, where contributors would possibly well very effectively be their decent selves, feeling viewed and heard, while doing their simplest work. For all these causes and extra, I accelerate away ABC News and this profession with the sincerest sense of pride, accomplishment and gratitude. My coronary heart is crammed.

I’d deal with to thank Dana Walden and Debra OConnell for constantly making sure we had the resources and toughen to realize our jobs. And sooner or later, thanks ABC News for the savor, toughen and inspiration. Through the years, a entire bunch of you would possibly have confidence sent emails, texts, and made cellular telephone calls which have confidence lifted my coronary heart. On this consequential election year, as we explore to the months forward, the importance of what we attain can’t be overstated. Be wide awake, there would possibly be pleasure in journalism.

I accelerate away with my head held excessive and need your entire personnel persevered success.

#oneabcnews

In religion and favor,
Kim