Charlie Gibson Says So Long to 'News'

By PopEater Staff Posted Sep 2nd 2009 12:09PM

In a very surprising move in the network news world, ABC 'World News' anchor Charlie Gibson is stepping down as the anchor of the popular broadcast. Diane Sawyer will be replacing him in the anchoring duties.

The New York Post broke the story on Wednesday, reporting that Gibson will continue to anchor 'World News' through the end of the year. Sawyer, 63, will then become the second female network news anchor, joining Katie Couric.

In an email obtained by RadarOnline.com, Gibson told his coworkers that "it has not been an easy decision to make. This has been my professional home for almost 35 years. And I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul."

Gibson goes on to say that 'World News' "is now operating at a very accelerated, but steady, cruising speed, and I think it is an opportune time for a transition - both for the broadcast and for me."

Gibson took the reigns of 'World News' in May of 2006 after various events sidelined the show's current co-anchors. Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the Iraq war, and Elizabeth Vargas's pregnancy eventually led to her quitting the broadcast altogether.

Gibson brought 'World News' to the top of the network news chain, maintaining the top ratings spot among the three for most of his tenure until recently. He closed each broadcast with his signature sign-off phrase, "I'm Charlie Gibson, and I hope you had a good day."

There's been no announcement on how 'Good Morning America,' which Sawyer anchors along with Chris Cuomo and Robin Roberts, will be affected by the move.

A Charlie Gibson 'World News' Highlight Reel

Comments

(794)

Wednesday 02 September

By Joyce

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So glad he is going!! Diane will bring a new perspective to the news - not one sided as Gibson. Another liberal bites the dust! Good ridance!!

By Kathleen

Nice thought, but don't hold your breath!

By Ludy

I will miss him!

By Namvet

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So what? Another liberal bites the dust. The news programs are jokes anyway. They're ALL biased one way or another in order to suit their personal agendas. Who really gives a s---?

By karenione

Oh yes, Namvet, and FOX Network is in no way biased at all. True news, never giving only the ultra conservative side with their own personal agendas at all. YEAH, RIGHT! And I have swamp land in Florida I want to sell you. LOL

By annette

Fox News - Fair & Balanced is the only news program I watch.

By cpfsdahl54

re your "Fox News-Fair & Balanced"...are you taking your meds?????? Fox News =Fairly Unbalanced,racist, nazi like,neoconservative demagogues is more like it!

By Jade

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This is suppose to be funny, right? You are being funny, right? Ha, ha, ha... OMG...

By Sue

As a supporter of Hillary Clinton, and having retired, the 2008 presidential primaries really drew my attention and I gathered as much information as I could. While looking for balanced news, I quickly wrote off the mainstream media. Then I turned to cable and surfed MSNBC, CNN and FOX, and the ONLY station that even acknowledged Hillary was in the race was FOX! After three months I learned one thing: if I ever meet Keith Olbermann or Jack Cafferty, I will literally spit on them. Obama demonizes FOX, but the interview with O'Reilly was the best I ever saw, and Bill was great--the only one which portrayed Obama as a regular American instead of the prince about to become a king. The other stations were disgusting beyond belief in their drooling over this man; their newscasters should have been given bibs before their reports. YES, FAIR AND BALANCED---I FOUND THAT OUT ON MY OWN.

By jortex

What will be different? Another Left-wing Liberal reading the same old Liberal talking points!

By rudewaitress

Good luck Charlie. But PLEASE not Miss Dull and Sweetness Diane. There are SO MANY others who are as qualified or better. Give somebody else a chance for a change.

By Mike

Sawyer? Never cared for her. NBC must be jumping clear out of their shorts over this.

By Realist

Just who watches broadcast news from the Big Three any more? Everyone I know watches cable, or satellite shows (when they watch at all), or reviews news on the internet. Broadcast news has gone the way of the dinosaur as their ratings reflect.

By xenophon

Well, actually I am surprised on two fronts: one, I thought that he would go work for the Obama administration since he has been one of their useful idiots for months now; and two, I thought that Rosie O'Donnell would replace him - old Charlie and Rosie are just about as balanced in their political views and opinions.

By chet radven

Well ABC is going to put in another loser.CBS found out and now the're stuck for as long as the contract goes.Actually,all the network news is so slanted it's not worth watching if you want to hear the trutg.

By lewrich4

I turned on Fox one night a year ago and have never changed the channel, REAL NEWS IS FOX NEWS

By Pat

OH NO! So sad to see Charlie leave. I respect and like him, I loved Peter Jennings. I am not sure if we will continue to watch ABC WORLD NEWS.
Sawyer is NOT likeable or trustworthy. Peter and Charlie were.

By mattdeleo

Good by charlie dont let the door hit you in the ass .. another ABC liberal hitting the dust only to get another on in his place. She wont be much better she is in the tank for the happy negro . So nothing new there.
Matt

By bsfurg

i sure wont miss him after he tried to make sarah palin look bad and i know ppl loved it but it made charlie look very bad as he was supposed to report the news not make it.. i used to love his show but after that i said thanks but no thanks charlie you blue it bad for me any way.. beside i dont watch that station any way...they slobber over obama and it makes me literally ill

By Hey its a brian

He must have messed up somewhere. ^_^

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