Kim Godwin, the first Black woman to lead a national news network, is stepping down as president of ABC News after facing backlash over her leadership style and handling of internal controversies.
ABC News president Kim Godwin, who made history as the first Black woman to lead a national news network, has announced her retirement after just over three years in the role. In an email to staff on Sunday night, Godwin said that she had decided to "retire from broadcast journalism" to prioritize her family and future.
Godwin's departure comes amid reports of internal strife at ABC News over her leadership style. Several staffers had expressed frustration with her management, criticizing her for creating an inner circle that alienated others and alleging that she made several prominent mistakes.
Godwin has also faced criticism for her handling of the high-profile affair between former "Good Morning America" anchors Amy Robach and T.J. Holmes. Insiders have accused her of micromanaging the situation and mishandling the subsequent fallout.
However, Godwin has also received praise for her work, particularly her efforts to increase diversity and representation at ABC News. In her retirement announcement, she acknowledged the significance of her role as a Black woman in a predominantly white industry.
"I understood and appreciated the profound significance of being the first Black woman to lead a national broadcast news network when I accepted the role as president of ABC News a little over three years ago," she said.
Disney Networks president Debra O'Connell thanked Godwin for her service and announced that she would be temporarily heading up the ABC News division during this period of transition.
Godwin's retirement has sparked discussions about race and representation in the media industry. Some critics have suggested that Disney, the parent company of ABC, hesitated to fire Godwin because she is a Black woman, despite concerns about her performance.
"Race in the workplace is so nuanced that it can be easily weaponized by all sides and bad actors of any race," one Black ABC News veteran told Puck News. "Disney fell into the trap of the soft bigotry of low expectations and appointed someone everyone knows is unqualified to do the job... Now [they] are worried that firing the first Black woman would be an act of racism, when she is simply bad at her job."
Despite the internal challenges, Godwin has credited her team for their hard work and dedication. She expressed her pride in ABC News's commitment to delivering quality journalism.
"I have decided to retire from broadcast journalism, but I will never stop being a journalist," she said. "The work we do to inform, educate and entertain the public remains more important than ever, and I am confident that ABC News will continue to be a leader in this field."
