ABC News president James Goldston has decided to shake up the newsroom a bit, and on Wednesday, he announced the promotion of two staffers to “Executive” positions.
Wendy Fisher becomes ABC News’s first Executive Editor, News Content, where she will oversee the assignment of all newsgathering resources across every platform, and “help us create a next generation newsroom producing the world’s best journalism for every platform 24 hours a day wherever news breaks,” said Goldston.
Fisher has worked on the network’s newsgathering team for nearly two decades.
David Reiter has been named Executive Producer, Special Events. Reiter, who Goldston says his played a key role on “virtually every breaking news story over the past 15 years,” will help lead “a more comprehensive, multi-platform Live and Special Events group planning breaking and special news coverage across all platforms.” Since January, ABC News has produced more than 120 special reports.
The network will be posting the role of Head of Domestic News later this week.
Here’s Goldston’s internal memo to staff, announcing the staffing changes:
Team,
I have important news to share about two key members of our team in the newsroom.
I’m very pleased to announce that Wendy Fisher is taking on an exciting new role. She will become our first Executive Editor, News Content. Wendy will ensure we assign all our newsgathering resources effectively across every platform: linear, social, mobile, streaming, and online. Working hand-in-hand with Katie Nelson, our Executive Producer for ABC News Content, Wendy will help us create a next generation newsroom producing the world’s best journalism for every platform 24 hours a day wherever news breaks.
A vital member of our newsgathering team for almost two decades, Wendy has deep ties throughout the news division. She is well known for her excellent news judgment and even hand during the most hectic breaking news situations. Her instincts for important stories have served us well over the years, and she has embraced new ways to reach our audience.
On the desk Wendy has proved pivotal in delivering the resources and information our teams need to report the biggest stories of the day. Her many talents, careful planning, skilled coordination and sound editorial instincts were on full display this fall as we covered three massive and devastating hurricanes. Now she will lead our efforts to modernize ABC’s news gathering operation to match the evolving needs of our audience with the most meaningful journalism.
This change comes at a key moment. This has been the most intense news cycle in recent memory. Since January we’ve produced more than 120 special reports, with many more every day overseen by our live streaming team.
To boost our ranks in Special Events, we’re expanding the team led by Marc Burstein, whose steadfast leadership, sharp news judgment and relentless attention to detail we all rely on mightily. David Reiter will join the group as Executive Producer, bringing his brilliant producing and reporting skills to Special Events full time. Marc and David will lead a more comprehensive, multi-platform Live and Special Events group planning breaking and special news coverage across all platforms.
David has been on the front lines for breaking news, playing a key role on virtually every major news story in the last 15 years. Most recently, David coordinated our coverage of the Las Vegas shooting, and he was instrumental in managing our 2016 campaign coverage team, including the off-airs, political desk and political social team. Earlier this month he and Marc were part of the team that won an Emmy for best breaking news coverage. Now they will lead the charge with Katie and the live team to expand our streaming coverage.
To supercharge our journalism across ABC News, greater communication will be key. We will soon start construction to create a new rim on the 5th floor of the New York newsroom. Moving our planning, affiliates, social, foreign and domestic desks will improve how we share information across the newsgathering and editorial groups. Our goal is to be fully up and running after the first of the year. This week, we will also be posting the role of Head of Domestic News coverage.
Today marks the first anniversary of a seismic election. A year on, the news from Washington, across the country and around the world shows no sign of slowing down. I am confident we’re building an ABC News that is even more powerful, more responsive, and ready for whatever the world brings our way.
Please join me in congratulating Wendy and David on their new roles.
James