Diane Sawyer to take the helm at 'ABC World News'

[liberal N proud]

ABC News anchor Charles Gibson is retiring at the end of the year and will be replaced on "World News" by Diane Sawyer, Gibson's longtime co-anchor from "Good Morning America," the network announced today.

Gibson has decided to depart after serving for three years as the face of ABC News, helping to stabilize a news division rocked by first the death of longtime anchor Peter Jennings and then the serious wounding in Iraq of one of his successors, Bob Woodruff.

"It has not been an easy decision to make," Gibson wrote in an e-mail to his staff. "This has been my professional home for almost 35 years. And I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul."

"The proudest part for me has been saying '... for all of us at ABC News ...,' since those words signify in my mind that I have been in a position to speak for an entire news department that I consider second to none," he added.

Gibson said he had intended to retire in 2007, but stayed on to help stabilize the news division.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/09/diane-sawyer-to-take-the-helm-at-abc-wold-news.html

[monmouth]

1. With Charlie's lousy ratings, I think he was strongly encouraged to retire..n/t

[falcon97]

2. In what respect, Diane? n/t

[IDFbunny]

3. She has more gravitas the perky Catie.

[Triana]

4. I doubt this will be any improvement - ABC "news" sucks and she is a nasty

interviewer. I've seen some of her interviews - even older ones - just another vulture to feed the tabloid junkie culture. Pfft.