Black ABC News staffers confronted Disney boss Bob Iger about ‘unfair treatment’ of Kim Godwin: report
Disney CEO Bob Iger got an earful from African American staffers at ABC News over the parent company showing a lack of support for embattled division chief Kim Godwin, according to a report.
During a lunch last February, Iger sought to reassure the black staffers that he and Disney Entertainment co-chair Dana Walden were “invested in her success,” the Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend, citing people familiar with the matter.
Godwin — who was the first black person to run a network news division when she got the top job three years ago — had attended the lunch, according to the outlet.
A year later, she was effectively demoted after Disney announced a major restructuring last week.
Godwin’s supporters told the Journal that since the former CBS executive was tapped to run ABC News, she has been undermined and second-guessed by veteran staffers at the unit.
She also has come under fire from some staffers over her lack of day-to-day engagement, as The Post previously reported.
That assertion was rebutted by Jonathan Karl, the network’s chief White House correspondent and co-anchor of “This Week,” who said the perception of Godwin as not involved “certainly does not reflect the reality of who she is.”
“She’s a crazy workaholic,” Karl told the Journal, adding that during his 20-year tenure at the division, he has “never had a stronger relationship” with a unit leader than the one he shares with Godwin.
The Post has sought comment from ABC News and Disney.
Many ABC News staffers cheered when they learned that Disney elevated veteran executive Debra OConnell to helm a new division that encompasses ABC News, as The Post reported.
More than one staffer was overheard saying, “Ding dong! The witch is dead,” while others “celebrated at the bar,” sources told The Post.
The rejoicing came despite Godwin getting a three-year extension shortly after Disney announced OConnell’s new role, which will also include oversight of ABC’s local affiliates and cable channels like FX and Disney.
OConnell’s new job description has fueled the perception within the halls of ABC News that Godwin’s days could be numbered, according to sources.
Prior to the move, Godwin reported to Walden, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Iger.
Sources told The Post that executives were concerned about top-rated shows “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight” losing some viewers to rivals NBC News and CBS News.
“A drop from first place to second place can happen overnight,” said a former TV exec. “But getting back to first place may take years.”
Godwin had alienated some rank and file after she fired a number of employees last spring and replaced them with people who were perceived as having less hard news experience, according to the Journal.
Godwin has also been faulted for her handling of the affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach.
The executive initially played down the affair, allowing the two to remain on the air amid tabloid headlines about their dalliance.
Sources accused Godwin of firing veteran journalists and replacing them with “yes-men” while running the division “like a police state.”
