ABC has promoted the manager producer of top-ranked “World Information Tonight with David Muir” as the brand new president of the information division — a “shock alternative” that ended a three-month stretch of the community going with no chief.
Almin Karamehmedovic replaces embattled ABC News president Kim Godwin, who stepped down in May amid a sequence of embarrassing missteps on the normally buttoned-up, Disney-owned community.
Debra OConnell, president of ABC Information Group, networks and Disney Leisure, broke the information to workers Monday, after a protracted seek for Godwin’s successor and rampant rumors that the community — which is in the throes of cutbacks — would decide to rent from inside.
In his function, Karamehmedovic will oversee the information division’s day-to-day operations, in addition to its programming together with “World Information Tonight” and “Good Morning America.”
The appointment struck some on the community as odd — regardless that the producer has a robust resume. A supply advised The Publish that Karamehmedovic wasn’t significantly nicely favored and that he had a fame as a “little bit of a bully.”
In 2015, Page Six reported that Karamehmedovic got so drunk at an ABC holiday party at Higher West Aspect restaurant the Ribbon that he stumbled out of the venue and fell. The exec was rushed to the hospital after he hit his head on the pavement and knocked himself unconscious.
Others on the community applauded the choice, saying Karamehmedovic received’t be steamrolled by the correspondents on the extremely aggressive community.
“He’s very brilliant. He understands methods to elevate the rankings by giving folks what they need,” a supply stated.
“He was a shock alternative however he was all the time within the working,” one other supply famous. One other added that the choice got here as a aid to the rank and file, who had grown more and more impatient for Godwin to get replaced.
“It took so lengthy for her to make this determination that it weakened her as a frontrunner,” one insider stated.
ABC Information didn’t remark.
Karamehmedovic has overseen the manufacturing and all day by day operations of Muir’s “World Information Tonight” –which has been the most-watched newscast for eight years — since August 2014.
Previous to “World Information Tonight with David Muir,” Karamehmedovic was government producer of
“Nightline,” ABC Information’ late-night flagship newsmagazine. He additionally government produced “Nightline”
in primetime for 2 consecutive seasons in addition to quite a few different ABC primetime hours, “20/20”
specials and ongoing breaking information particular experiences.
“I strategy this function with nice respect and humility, not just for the a whole lot of colleagues round
the world whose tireless contributions gas the unflinching and unbiased reporting of ABC Information however
additionally for the viewers we serve,” Karamehmedovic stated.
“Almin has devoted his profession to ABC Information, mastering each function and elevating excellence in
journalism by connecting with viewers in a really significant and profound approach that resonates with
them,” stated OConnell.
“He’s a extensively revered, seasoned journalist of the best order who has labored his approach as much as senior government producer of ‘World Information Tonight with David Muir,’ incomes the belief of colleagues and business friends alongside the way in which. I’ve little doubt ABC Information will attain new heights below his management.”
Sources near ABC stated OConnell was pressed to select because the community readies to host its first presidential debate subsequent month.
What’s extra, “GMA’s” rankings proceed to melt and there are loads of contracts for on-air expertise due for negotiation.
“She wanted to call somebody,” an ABC supply stated, noting that the community nonetheless has no vp of expertise, so placing into place a information president was paramount. “Quite a lot of brokers are pissed off” with none management in place to barter.
Below Godwin, ABC’s top-ranked money cow “GMA” started to slide within the rankings. Though the present is primary in whole viewers, it has sunk to second place within the advertiser-coveted demographic of viewers ages 25 to 54.
The exec’s tumultuous reign included running a “culture of fear,” as one supply advised The Publish on the time, which elevated her “sure folks” and pushed out high-level ABC execs who criticized her administration.
Others griped at the time that Godwin was too self-promotional and never concerned sufficient within the day-to-day grind of working ABC Information.
Godwin first drew widespread criticism from many on the community as information unfold of the salacious affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach.
Particulars of the affair spilled out in November 2022, however Godwin permitted the “GMA3” pair to stay on the air, inflicting a spectacle which led to extra information tales.
As extra lurid tidbits got here out, Godwin benched the duo and defended them on a Dec. 5 interoffice name, saying they “had not violated firm coverage.”
ABC launched an inner probe quickly after, as extra juicy tales had been leaked to the tabloids about Holmes’ different affairs at ABC. After a protracted suspension, ABC settled with the pair to exit the company for an undisclosed sum.
Over time, Godwin’s errors started to put on on Disney brass they usually introduced in OConnell, a company veteran, to oversee the exec earlier this year, which signaled to many who her time had run out.
