ABC taps Gibson to anchor ‘World News’

A negative message for women?
Andrew Tyndall, a consultant who studies evening news content, said that by effectively demoting Vargas when she returns from maternity leave, ABC sends the wrong message to young women. With Vargas, “World News Tonight” has been devoting considerably more time to sex and family issues than its competitors, he said.

“The demotion of Vargas and her replacement by a pre-Baby Boomer not only makes ABC News’ long-term strategy incoherent, it displays a woeful tin ear towards the very demographic ABC News was purportedly courting,” he said. “What is the worst workplace nightmare the pregnant employee faces? It is the fear that her employer will find some way not to guarantee her job back on return from maternity leave.”

Vargas said she made a decision about what’s best for her family.

“Every woman has the right to make that decision for herself and her family without anybody judging it,” she said. “My decision might not be the right decision for everyone else. My decision does not mean I’m stepping off the stage forever.”

ABC, a division of Walt Disney Co., would not disclose terms of Gibson’s deal. He was reportedly making in the range of $8 million to $9 million at “Good Morning America.”

Asked whether he considered Diane Sawyer of “Good Morning America” for the evening role, Westin said he considered every conceivable possibility. “Diane, throughout this process, has said she thinks Charlie was the right person for this,” he said.

Sawyer did not immediately return a call for comment. Gibson said he got her blessing for the move.

The network promoted Robin Roberts to one of three co-anchor slots at “Good Morning America” last year in anticipation that either Gibson or Sawyer would be needed elsewhere. It will continue with the Roberts-Sawyer team.

Gibson has been with ABC News since 1975, and worked as a reporter on Capitol Hill during the 1980s. He took over at “GMA” in 1987 and stayed until 1998. When ratings sank after his departure, Gibson returned and teamed with Sawyer a year later.

“There is certainly much reason to think that Charlie Gibson will be regarded in a league with Tom Brokaw,” said Bob Zelnick, a former ABC News reporter now chairman of the journalism department at Boston University. “Both have a down-to-earth, plain way of addressing the audience, but they are extremely smart, careful and professional.”

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