The Walt Disney Firm introduced on Wednesday {that a} longtime govt on the firm, Debra OConnell, would grow to be the president of a newly created division that may embody ABC Information and the corporate’s native stations.
The transfer, in impact, places Ms. OConnell in command of ABC Information’s signature properties, together with “Good Morning America” and “World Information Tonight.” Kim Godwin, the ABC Information president since 2021, will stay in her function — executives mentioned on Wednesday that she had signed a brand new contract — however with an vital caveat: She’s going to now report back to Ms. OConnell.
“Debra is a superb govt who has succeeded in a variety of management roles round our firm and is aware of very nicely the extraordinary energy of ABC Information and its world-class journalists,” Dana Walden, the co-chairman of Disney Leisure, mentioned in an announcement on Wednesday.
The reorganization mirrors what has taken place at different community information divisions. A number of executives at NBC Information report back to Cesar Conde, the chairman of the so-called NBCUniversal information group, a division that features native information and cable networks like MSNBC. Wendy McMahon, the president of CBS Information, additionally oversees native stations.
In appointing Ms. OConnell to the brand new place, the corporate has added an govt layer between Ms. Walden and Ms. Godwin, who has had a little bit of a rocky tenure since taking up as head of ABC Information in 2021.
Final 12 months, ABC Information parted methods with the “GMA3” anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, concluding a weekslong tabloid spectacle after it had been revealed that the anchors have been romantically concerned. Ms. Godwin initially saved the 2 on the air — solely to reverse course a number of days later. Mr. Holmes and Ms. Robach left the community a few months later.
“Good Morning America” stays the most-watched morning information present however has seen scores decline amongst adults youthful than 54 — the important thing metric for advertisers — by 21 % since September, steeper than both “Immediately” or “CBS Mornings,” in line with Nielsen. The third-place CBS morning present has additionally had a handful of scores wins over “G.M.A.” since September, an uncommon growth.
In a notice to staff, Ms. Godwin mentioned the brand new govt construction would “enable us to higher amplify the unimaginable work all of us produce every day.”
“Debra and I’ve collaborated during the last couple of years, and he or she is a devoted chief who all the time champions the very best in journalism,” Ms. Godwin wrote.
In a separate memo to staff, Ms. OConnell praised ABC Information’s “world-class reporting.”
“I’d prefer to take this chance to share how excited I’m to be bringing ABC Information, the ABC-owned stations and our networks groups collectively as one group,” she wrote.
