ABC News is the most recent segment of The Walt Disney Company to be hit with layoffs as Disney reduces staffing by 7,000 as part of an effort to cut $5.5 billion in costs. Variety is reporting that the corporate team for ABC News is being downsized.
With the cuts, several executives are departing the company. This includes Wendy Fisher, the senior vice president of newsgathering who came to ABC News in 1989 as a desk assistant; Galen Gordon, senior vice president of talent strategy and development; Mary Noonan, vice president of talent strategy and development; and Alison Rudnick, who joined ABC News from CNN in 2001.
Chris Vlasto, a veteran senior executive producer who led ABC News’ investigative unit; Heather Riley, an executive editorial producer; and David Herndon, ABC News’ Los Angeles bureau chief who has been with ABC News since joining as a producer in 1999 are also departing. In all, it is expected that about 50 people from the news unit will be losing their jobs.
ABC News produces some of ABC’s most well-known programs. This includes Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and 20/20. Good Morning America has been fighting for dominance with NBC’s Today for dominance of the key demographics in the morning. World News Tonight is one of the most-watched programs on television. Moving forward, the management team overseeing and empowering these programs will be smaller.
The reduction of staff continues at The Walt Disney Company this week ahead of its annual shareholder meeting next week. However, this won’t be the end of the layoffs. According to an email from Disney CEO Bob Iger, there will be three waves of layoffs. Earlier this week, Marvel Entertainment Isaac Perlmutter was among other leaders across the company to be given a pink slip. The largest round of layoffs are expected to be the next round.
Daps Magic will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they become available.
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