Kim Goodwin is exiting as president of ABC News

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After weeks of speculation, Kim Goodwin has left her position as president of ABC News.

Debra O’Connell, who added ABC News to its portfolio in February, will run the division in the meantime. She made the announcement internally, and Goodwin also addressed her employees. You can read the notes below.

At the time of OConnell’s February promotion when ABC News was put under her charge, Disney responded to speculation about Godwin’s future by revealing that it had extended her contract to continue as president of ABC News. But she was now reporting to O’Connell.

The surprise exit follows CNN Reports last week Frustration among ABC News employees with Goodwin’s management style was reportedly made clear to O’Connell in her review of the department and its leadership.

Goodwin joined ABC News in 2021. Although the network Good morning America And World news tonight still leads in total viewers, CBS Morning It leads rival ABC in the adults 25-54 demo on multiple occasions.

Goodwin presided over some unrest during her tenure. This included the departure of TJ Holmes and Amy Robach last year GMA3, amid a popular scandal over their off-screen romance, as well as a series of layoffs last year, when it reorganized its leadership team. Just last week saw the exit of meteorologist Rob Marciano GMAIt is said because of personal issues.

Last month, Jonathan Greenberger, the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for the past decade, left to take a new position at Politico.

Goodwin said in a memo to staff that she has decided to retire from broadcast journalism.

“Anyone who is passionate about what we do knows there is no other business like it, so this was not an easy or quick decision,” she wrote. He added: “But after a long thought, I am sure that it is the right choice for me and I look to the future and prioritize what is most important to me and my family.”

Since she will oversee ABC News for the time being, O’Connell wrote in a memo to staff, “I look forward to working with the leadership team as we forge a new path forward together.”

Although Goodwin had her detractors, over the weekend the National Association of Black Journalists called out the National Association of Black Journalists Issue a statement Expressing concern “about recent media reports that appear to have been written with the aim of undermining the leadership of the first black woman to lead a global news organization.”

“Many recent articles surrounding her leadership fail to demonstrate basic journalism by presenting alternative viewpoints.

“There appears to be an intent to cite anonymous sources as critics of Goodwin, along with using derogatory or stereotypical terms to describe her. At the same time, these reports completely ignore the sources and facts that Godwin has significant support within the organization.

Goodwin joins ABC News from CBS News, where she rose through the ranks over the years to become executive vice president of network news, with oversight of the national, foreign and foreign bureaus.

She succeeds James Goldstone, who led the network as World News Tonight expanded its audience. But it has also had its share of turmoil, including the fallout from its highly-talented CEO, Barbara Fedida, who was accused of making racially insensitive remarks.

Goodwin’s exit is the latest change in the executive ranks of the network’s news department. CBS News restructured its leadership team last August, with Neeraj Khemlani stepping down as president and co-head of CBS News and Stations, and Wendy McMahon assuming the title alone. Ingrid Cibrian Matthews has been appointed president of the network. Earlier in the year, Noah Oppenheim left NBC News, and Rebecca Blumenstein joined as editor-in-chief of NBC News, a new role, and another executive, Libby List, oversees today and Janelle Rodriguez, supervisor NBC Nightly News.

Ted Johnson contributed to this report.

Note from Debra O’Connell to her team:

a team,

I wanted to share Kim’s note below. Dana and I would like to take this opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to Kim for her service as President of ABC News. Kim has led this team through important times in our world, and she has done so with respect for the brand and the profession — and for that and more, we thank her.

Our reputation and credibility are hard-earned, and we would also like to acknowledge the exceptional work you deliver every day. As the #1 news network for 12 straight seasons and counting, ABC News is home to the best in the business. From morning to day, evening and beyond, this team is ready 24/7 to serve our nation with the news, people and events that shape our world.

For now, I will oversee ABC News and I look forward to working with the leadership team as we chart a new path forward together. Thank you for your patience and understanding during this transition period. Since I assumed this role in February, my goal has been – and will continue to be – to provide this team with the means to build on our success and continue the proud tradition of ABC News into a future full of opportunity and innovation.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me or your senior leaders.

Thank you,

Debra

Kim Goodwin’s note to ABC NEWS:

Good evening ABC News,

Forty years ago, I began my career out of college as an enthusiastic and enthusiastic executive producer at WTXL in Tallahassee, where I was in charge of the 6 and 11 p.m. news. The staff was very small, and on busy news days, I had to go out and report as well. Little did I know then what extraordinary opportunities awaited me as I began to chart a course through a career in which there were very few women — and even fewer women of color — in leadership roles. So, I understood and appreciated the profound significance of being the first Black woman to lead a national news network when I accepted the position of president of ABC News just over three years ago. It is both a privilege and a debt to those who broke the ceiling before me to lead a team whose brand is synonymous with trust, integrity and a strong determination to be the best in the business.

Now, four decades and countless miles later, and having worked at all three broadcast news networks and ten local stations in nine cities, I’ve come full circle from the small but mighty ABC affiliate in Florida. I have decided to retire from broadcast journalism. After attending j-school at Florida A&M University, which I loved, I was lucky and blessed enough to have done almost every job in the industry, including anchor, investigative reporter, news director, field producer, and network/special events executive producer. And more before moving up to the executive ranks. Anyone who’s passionate about what we do knows there’s no other business like it, so this wasn’t an easy or quick decision. But after much thought, I am sure it is the right choice for me as I look to the future and prioritize what is most important to me and my family.

ABC News was No. 1 when I joined the team, and I’m proud to say we’re still No. 1 — an accomplishment that has been punctuated in recent months by the highest honors our profession has to offer, from Edward R. Morrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television, an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Award for our groundbreaking series “Power of Water,” and for our first-ever Primetime Emmy Award nominations for “Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields” and “Aftershock.” And just last week, our documentary about Uvalde, “Print It Black,” won Best Feature Documentary at the Dallas International Film Festival, where it premiered. I’m especially proud of our unprecedented Uvalde 365 project, an unparalleled year-long commitment to documenting a community’s emotional journey after a mass shooting.

In 2022, we were all thrilled to receive 41 Emmy nominations, the most in 53 years. We have the best morning news shows, daytime network shows, evening news, and Friday newscast. We consistently rank #1 on all major live TV events, including, most recently, “Eclipse Across America,” in partnership with Nat Geo. Our shows can regularly be found in the top 10 shows on Hulu.

Beyond awards and ratings, our success is perhaps best measured by the people at ABC News. This is an exceptional team doing exceptional work – together. You are best in class in every category, and it has been nothing short of wonderful to see you tackle task after task, providing comprehensive coverage from around the world to our viewers at a time when honest reporting is essential to the future of our great nation.

We pride ourselves on covering all communities and meeting our audiences where and when they need us, and no project exemplifies that better than ABC News Live. When I started, it was only the little broadcast train that could; And now, thanks to your hard work and dedication, it’s a big train that can do it every day. Together, at Hulu last season, we launched “Impact

We should be especially proud of our success with ABC News Studios, which we have built from the ground up to now become a premiere studio for nonfiction and documentary, making more than 120 hours of award-winning content annually. We also created the first climate unit among broadcast news networks. So many innovations and initiatives in what seems like the blink of an eye. Together, we are committed to creating a cultural shift, where people can be themselves, feel seen and heard, while doing their best work. For all these reasons and more, I leave ABC News and this profession with the sincerest feelings of pride, accomplishment, and gratitude. My heart is full.

I want to thank Dana Walden and Debra O’Connell for ensuring we always have the resources and support to do our work. Finally, thank you to ABC News for the love, support and inspiration. Over the years, hundreds of you have sent emails, texts and made phone calls that have warmed my heart. In this important election year, and as we look to the months ahead, the importance of what we are doing cannot be overstated. Remember, there is fun in journalism.

I leave with my head held high and wish the entire team continued success.

#oneabcnews

In faith and grace,

Kim