For the first time, two of the three solo anchors on the prestigious network evening newscasts will be women, according to a recent National Public Radio report about Diane Sawyer's ascent to the World News evening anchor slot for ABC.
Charlie Gibson is leaving the post he took three years ago, after a long career in broadcast journalism including ABC's morning news show slot co-hosting Good Morning America with Joan Lunden. Gibson retires at 66. Sawyer starts her job in January 2010 at the age of 63.
When I saw the "Frost/Nixon" movie recently, I was tickled to learn that the blonde helping prepare Nixon for his interviews with talk show host David Frost was Diane Sawyer. I hadn't paid much attention in 1972 when Watergate actually happened, being only 12 at the time.
In any event, hats off to Ms. Sawyer at this auspicious achievement in her career, having risen through the ranks of the male-dominated broadcast news world long before it became fashionable for women to be there.
Another perspective to consider...
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Carole Simpson On Couric and Sawyer: "I Am Supposed To Be Delighted. Why Am I Not?"
By Alissa Krinsky on Sep 09, 2009 02:06 PMIn a commentary for CNN.com, former ABC World News Sunday anchor Carole Simpson — the first black woman to anchor a national news program, now a faculty member at Emerson College in Boston — shares her perspective on Diane Sawyer joining Katie Couric on the networks' evening news scene:
"Since I have personally worked for 30 years for the advancement of women in broadcast journalism, I guess I am supposed to be delighted. Why am I not?
Because it took so darned long — and TV news is on life support.
No disrespect to Diane or Katie. I consider them friends and I take pride in their accomplishments. They have proven their talents and journalistic credentials. But, come on. We had to wait until 2009?...
So why are women getting these opportunities now? Well, I'm a cynic. The reason is that broadcast television news is dying...
With fewer resources and the death knell sounding, why not put women in charge of the network evening news programs? When things couldn't be worse, it's okay for women to be in charge. Sad to say, but I don't believe the evening network newscasts, nor Katie and Diane as the anchors, will be around for very long."