The 66-year-old Charles Gibson said in an email to ABC News staffers Wednesday that he had planned to retire as early as 2007, but that unexpected events in the news division resulted in him staying on. Longtime anchor Peter Jennings died in 2005, and then his replacement, Bob Woodruff, was seriously injured in Iraq in January of 2006. Charles Gibson, who has anchored ABC’s "World News" since 2006, will retire at year’s end, he told ABC News staff in an email sent this morning.
Diane Sawyer, his former “Good Morning America” co-host, will replace Gibson in January.
Charles Gibson, who is 66, says in the email that he had always intended to retire in 2007 before the “World News” job came open.
But Charles Gibson decided to stay on when he was offered the “World News” job.
Peter Jennings, the longtime “World News” anchor, died in August 2005. He was briefly succeeded by Elizabeth Vargas and Bob Woodruff, who co-anchored the program until Woodruff was injured in Iraq and Vargas became pregnant.When the 63-year-old Sawyer, longtime co-anchor of "Good Morning America," takes over in January, two of three networks will be anchored by women. Sawyer has certainly earned the honor of anchoring the evening broadcast in a long career at CBS News on "60 Minutes" and at ABC News with the newsmagazine "Prime Time Live" before "Good Morning America." The morning show is a solid second in the ratings to NBC's "Today" show."World News" was reeling in 2006 when Gibson stepped in. Jennings' death left a huge void in the news opertion that ABC News President David Westin tried to fill by naming Woodruff and Elizabeth Vargas co-anchors in December of 2005, calling them anchors "for the digital age.""World News" has consistently finished a strong second in the ratings during Gibson's tenure. "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" finishes third."It has not been an easy decision to make" Gibson said in his email to colleagues. "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.""She has an outstanding and varied career in television journalism, beginning with her role as a State Department correspondent and continuing at 60 Minutes, Primetime Live, and most recently Good Morning America." Gibson may continue to do occasional reporting or analysis assignments for ABC.
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