Diane Sawyer Steps Down From 'ABC World News'

What's This?

This Sept. 8, 2008 file photo shows Diane Sawyer, of "Good Morning America" at the ABC News/USA Today "50 States In 50 Days" election coverage partnership news conference at Grand Central Station in New York.

Image: Jason DeCrow, File/Associated Press

By Jason Abbruzzese2014-06-25 13:50:42 UTC

ABC News has announced that Diane Sawyer will step down as the lead anchor of ABC World News, the network's flagship evening news program.

Sawyer, 68, will be replaced by David Muir, who will also become managing editor of the program, starting on Sept. 2. George Stephanopoulos, who co-anchors Good Morning America, has been named chief anchor for ABC News on special reports and breaking news.

Sawyer took the anchor's seat at World News in December 2009, and has been one of the most visible female journalists of her generation. She was the first female correspondent for 60 Minutes. She will remain with ABC News in a role "tackling big issues and extraordinary interviews," but loses editorial control of the main news program at ABC.

“We have an extraordinary team of anchors who are gifted storytellers and uniquely skilled broadcasters,” said James Goldston, president of ABC News, in a press release. “For years to come, they will inspire us all to do our best work and set a high bar for excellence to inform, empower and inspire our viewers.”

The move means the anchor position of each of the major evening news broadcasts returns to a slate of three white men, after Sawyer and Katie Couric became the first women to lead the high-profile news programs. Muir joins the ranks of Brian Williams with NBC Nightly News and Scott Pelley at CBS Evening News.

Muir has been serving as co-anchor of "20/20" and the weekend anchor of World News.

“On this incredibly humbling day, I think of the 12-year-old boy with a dream of being a reporter and seeing the world. I never could have imagined seeing that world with Diane Sawyer,” Muir said in a press release. “On this day I thank her for not only setting the bar for the rest of us, but for being a trusted friend. I cannot wait to begin this new adventure with Diane and with George, whose political brain power and endless curiosity inspire me, and drive us all to be better every day.”

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Topics: ABC, Business, Media, Television