The exodus of top-flight executives at ABC News continued apace this week as Stacia Deshishku, executive editor at the Walt Disney-owned television news division, announced that she was stepping down.
“I’ve been fortunate that my career has always felt like a calling,” Deshishku wrote in draft memo to staffers whose contents were reported by The Washington Post.
“My run has been nothing short of extraordinary and I leave with a deep appreciation for the stories I’ve been privileged to help tell.”
Last month, Deshishku’s boss, ABC News President Kim Godwin, announced her resignation — a development that was expected by newsroom observers following Disney’s decision to effectively demote her by promoting a longtime executive, Debra OConnell, to oversee the news division.
Disney’s decision to carve out a new role for OConnell marked the beginning of the end for Godwin and her top assistants, among them Deshishku.
As previously reported by The Post in March, Deshishku was among the Godwin lieutenants who were seen as skating on thin ice, even as Godwin insisted to staffers she was “still in charge” despite her demotion.
Deshishku joined ABC News in 2014 as deputy Washington bureau chief after a stint as a producing executive for CNN.
She was named executive editor at ABC News in 2022. Her last day will be June 28.
In her memo, Deshishku wrote that she spoke with ABC News leaders “several months ago” about her intent to leave the network.
She wrote that she plans on beginning the next phase of her career which “rekindles the passion and purpose that journalism afforded me for so long.”
During Godwin’s tenure as ABC News boss, she alienated staffers with her hands-off leadership style as well as her failure to retain top talent.
Under Godwin’s watch, ABC News’ flagship morning show “Good Morning America” has seen its ratings slip somewhat as more viewers began to migrate to “CBS Mornings,” which is gaining on first-place “GMA.”
ABC News was also rattled by the headline-grabbing romance between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach — both of whom were married at the time they reportedly began their romantic relationship.
Godwin permitted the two to remain on the air despite reports of their relationship — a decision that criticized internally by staffers.
Homes and Robach eventually reached a financial settlement with the company and departed.
The OConnell promotion put Godwin on shaky ground, which also did not bode well for key lieutenants such as Deshishku, executive vice president Derek Medina and vice president Jose Andino.
Before OConnell was promoted, Godwin was able to report directly to Dana Walden, co-chair of Disney Entertainment whose portfolio includes ABC television, its news department and TV stations as well as Hulu and National Geographic.
Walden has the ear of Disney CEO Robert Iger, which meant that OConnell’s elevation effectively cut Godwin off from the chief executive’s inner circle.
OConnell has been overseeing ABC News since Godwin’s departure. It is unclear if Disney plans on naming a successor.
The Post has sought comment from ABC News and The Walt Disney Company.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
