ABC News Boss Recommits to ‘Straightforward Journalism’ After Layoffs and Trump Settlement: ‘We Must Earn Their Trust’

ABC News President Almin Karamehmedovic rallied his newsroom on Tuesday in New York City to reiterate the outlet — which has been rocked by recent layoffs and a $15 million settlement paid to President Donald Trump — is committed to hard-hitting, accurate and “straightforward” news.

Karamehmedovic, in the meeting held at Disney’s new Hudson Square headquarters, acknowledged the recent restructuring has hit many ABC reporters and staffers hard. Earlier this month, Disney announced it was cutting 200 employees, mostly from ABC’s news division.

In a note to staff recapping the town hall afterwards, Karamehmedovic said ABC News will have to fight to win over more viewers and readers in the years ahead.

“We must earn their trust every single day by providing straightforward journalism,” Karamehmedovic said.

Karamehmedovic — who has been with ABC News for 27 years and was named president last August — said the outlet can accomplish that goal by focusing on three top priorities:

— Preserving and expanding its audience and reaching viewers wherever they access news

— Streamline and enhance its collaborative work environment

— Delivering for its audience with “excellence”

To make this happen, he said the news division will depend on three pillars: 24/7 live and breaking news, because “we need America to turn to us first — to ABC News Live and Special Events — for the news as it is happening”; signature shows like “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight With David Muir”; long-form storytelling features that are shown on “Nightline,” “20/20” and other programs.

“This is not easy. The entire industry has been challenged,” the ABC president said about the current media landscape.

His game plan for ABC News comes a few months after the outlet paid $15 million to settle the defamation lawsuit President Trump brought against the outlet and star anchor George Stephanopoulos.

Stephanopoulos had said on air a number of times that Trump was found “liable for rape” in the civil case E. Jean Carroll brought against him. In fact, Trump was found liable for sexual abuse, which carries a different definition in New York, where the case took place.

“A reasonable jury could interpret Stephanopoulos’ statements as defamatory,” Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid said in a filing last year. “Stephanopoulos stated 10 times that a jury — or juries — had found the plaintiff liable for rape.”

The judge’s comments, coupled with the fear a Florida jury would award Trump more than the $15 million he ultimately received, pushed Disney towards settling the lawsuit.

A little more than two months after settling the lawsuit, ABC’s news division was hit by layoffs.

Despite the recent turmoil, Muir and ABC’s nightly newscast has remained the top-rated broadcast news program. Last week, Muir and “ABC World News Tonight” averaged 7.5 million viewers; Lester Holt and NBC News came in second place, with an average of 6.11 million viewers, and CBS Evening News averaged 4.04 million viewers.

“Because of every single one of you, ABC News is the #1 news network in
America. None of what we do would be possible without all of you and
our outstanding journalists positioned around the world,” Karamehmedovic said in his memo to staff. “Our goals are ambitious, and I have full confidence in our future together.”

Lucas Manfredi contributed to this report.

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