Kim Goodwin is leaving ABC News

Kim Goodwin, the head of ABC News who was the first Black woman to run a news operation for the broadcast network, will leave the Disney unit amid growing concern about the way it has been running the home of programs like “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight.” “.

Goodwin told staff in a memo Sunday that she plans to “retire from broadcast journalism.” Her leadership has come under increased scrutiny since a restructuring of ABC News and Disney’s ABC stations left her reporting directly to Debra OConnell, a Disney business veteran who is seen as a valuable worker at the company. O’Connell will lead ABC News for the foreseeable future, she told staff Sunday evening.

A Disney spokesperson declined to make the executives available for additional comment or respond to an inquiry about what changes Goodwin’s exit might mean for the executive’s direct reports or management of individual ABC News programs.

“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 to the executive ranks, “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,” Goodwin said in a note Sunday. 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.

While Goodwin has sought to improve the work atmosphere at ABC News, where anchors have been known to feud with each other and compete for positions as well as interviews, and launched a new studio dedicated to programming for Disney streaming outlets like Hulu, she has been accused of remaining too distant from the staff and many… The unit’s properties, which include daytime top stories such as “The View” and “The Tamron Hall Show,” as well as core evening and morning newscasts.

In recent months, “Good Morning America,” arguably the news division’s flagship program, has seen its standing decline among viewers ages 25 to 54 — the demographic most favored by advertisers. Over the five days beginning April 22, for example, “GMA” attracted an average of 497,000 viewers in that age group — just 49,000 ahead of “CBS Mornings,” which traditionally holds third place. In the morning TV broadcast wars. Meanwhile, NBC’s “Today” show averaged 659,000. However, “GMA” remains the most-watched morning news program in the country.

ABC News is smaller than many of its competitors, including NBCUniversal’s news operations and Warner Bros.’s CNN. Discovery. But the operation often punches above its weight by focusing on behind-the-scenes access to compelling stories of struggle and in-depth interviews with celebrities and cultural newsmakers. In recent months, there has been a new focus on harnessing some of its most famous broadcasters, such as George Stephanpoulos or Robin Roberts, to create programs aimed at audiences.

However, NBC News, Fox News Channel, CBS News and even CNN have received more attention for their live streaming efforts. ABC News offers many hours of live coverage and has recently added more, including programs with Kayna Whitworth, Linsey Davis, Kyra Phillips and Diane Macedo.

O’Connell pledged to keep ABC News moving forward during the transition. “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,” she said, adding, “I look forward to working with the leadership team.” We forge a new path forward together.