ABC News Plans For 50th Anniversary of JFK Assassination

By Merrill Knox 

ABC News has slated a weeklong series of special reports to cover the 50th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination. Starting November 17, the reports will air across all ABC News platforms.

The reports will include a tribute to Kennedy on “This Week” November 17 and a first look at newly-released audio tapes of police and investigators from the day Kennedy was shot on “Good Morning America” November 21. On the actual anniversary, November 22, “World News” will look at the lives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Caroline Kennedy. Byron Pitts will report from Dallas on November 22 for all ABC’s newscasts.

More from ABC after the jump.

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ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL COVERAGE

“THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY”

A Week of Reflection on the Life and Legacy of President John F. Kennedy Across All ABC News Programs & Platforms Starts Sunday, November 17

ABC News Digital to Stream Live, Anchored Coverage of the 50th Anniversary Ceremonies in Dallas and Boston on Friday, November 22

As Americans gather to reflect on the life and legacy of President John F. Kennedy, ABC News will air a special week of programming to mark the 50th anniversary of his assassination on November 22, 1963. Special coverage will air on all ABC Newsprograms and platforms, including “Good Morning America,” “World News with Diane Sawyer,” “Nightline,” ABC News Radio, ABCNews.com and all digital platforms, throughout the week of November 17.  On Friday, November 22 ABC News Chief National Correspondent & Anchor Byron Pitts will provide updates of the day’s anniversary events from Dallas, Texas for all programs and platforms, including a special, digital live stream.

Programming highlights include:

  • On Sunday, November 17, “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” (10:00 a.m., ET) will feature a special tribute to President John F. Kennedy and a live panel discussion on the impact and significance of the Kennedy legacy fifty years later.
  • On Thursday, November 21 “Good Morning America” (7:00 a.m., ET) will provide an exclusive first-look at the newly released audio recordings of police, investigators and on-site reporters from the day of President Kennedy was shot. These special recordings shed light on the investigation into President Kennedy’s death and are featured in the new Discovery Channel special, “JFK: The Lost Tapes” that airs on November 21 at 7:00 p.m., ET.
  • On Friday, November 22 coverage of the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President Kennedy will continue on“Good Morning America” with live reporting from Dallas, Texas, followed by a series of reports on “World News with Diane Sawyer” (6:30 p.m., ET).  ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer will have a special report on the lives of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and Caroline Kennedy, two women forever changed by the death of President Kennedy. Byron Pitts will investigate the many conspiracy theories that have swirled around the assassination ever since that tragic day. Pitts will also report on the day’s events from Dallas, Texas.

LISTEN/WATCH: “Jacqueline Kennedy” In Her Own Words” Recordings

  • On “Nightline” (12:35 a.m., ET) Pitts travels back to the scene with the millennial generation family members of key participants from the dramatic events of November 22, 1963. They discuss the impact that the assassination of President Kennedy had on their own lives and on the country.

Throughout the week ABC News Digital will provide complete coverage of the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination across ABCNews.com, GoodMorningAmerica.com on Yahoo!, ABC News’ iPad, iPhone & Android apps, as well as on ABC NewsMobile properties. On Friday, November 22, ABC News Digital will kick off special live stream coverage of the 50th anniversary ceremonies at the Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, Texas and the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum in Boston, Massachusetts. ABC News’ Dan Kloeffler will anchor live stream coverage from New York beginning at approximately 12:30 p.m. ET, with continuing coverage until 2:30 p.m. ET.

ABC News Digital editorial content will include a live blog, “LIVE: Blogging a Nation’s Tragedy” which will provide users with comprehensive reporting of the day’s events as if it were 50 years ago. This live blog will also incorporate social media tools available today, along with archival video, historical images and quotes. In addition, ABCNews.com will feature a rich multimedia experience with interactive graphics, including:

  • TV Hub: An interactive that brings audiences into ABC News’ coverage of the JFK assassination on November 22, 1963. The TV Hub consists of seven archival videos that chronicle the assassination and the events that followed.  Each video is embeddable, shareable and mobile-friendly (and available via the new ABC News phone app for iPhone and Android.)
  • Kennedy Family Tree: A closer look at the 125 members of the Kennedy family and the connections between the relatives across generations.
  • Dealey Plaza Zoom Interactive: Zoom interactive features images, videos and facts to provide users with a deeper look at Dealey Plaza fifty years ago. This graphic will highlight the fashion of the time, newspaper headlines, points of interest and the key figures that gathered to catch a glimpse of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. 

ABC News Radio will provide extensive coverage including a two-hour special broadcast, “Three Shots Rang Out: An ABCNews Special – The JFK Assassination 50 Years Later,” anchored by ABC’s Diane Sawyer. The broadcast will take listeners back to Dealey Plaza fifty years ago with the first audio reports of the assassination, eyewitness accounts and key newsmakers of that day. ABC News Radio correspondent Jim Ryan will report from Dallas throughout the day.

ABC NewsOne, the network’s affiliate news service, will provide full coverage with live reports from Dallas, Texas with ABCNewsOne correspondent Brandi Hitt for more than 200 ABC affiliates, stations and clients.

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