Black women in media are killing it at the top of the career ladder, and EVP Kim Godwin is the latest to make a major move to ABC News.
Deadline reports that Godwin — a longtime CBS News executive who currently serves as executive vice president of news — is poised to become the next president of ABC News, making her the first Black woman to run a broadcast network news operation.
According to the New York Post, Godwin is set to replace James Goldston, who previously announced that he’d be stepping down from his position as of March 31. CBS reportedly agreed to let Godwin out of her contract — which had one year remaining on it — so that she could make the historic move.
The outlet also reports under Goldston’s leadership, ABC News’ workplace environment was described by sources as “insular, divisive, cut-throat,” which in turn made it harder for minorities and women to see upward growth.
Godwin is now being brought into the fold at the network with a mission to repair the division’s culture.
Godwin — who joined ABC News back in 2007 — has a lengthy resume that includes oversight of the national desks, foreign desks and bureaus. Some of her previous roles also include serving as executive director for development and diversity and senior broadcast producer for CBS Evening News, according to New York Post.
Additionally, she also held several previous positions at local TV stations – including acting news director and assistant news director at WCBS-TV in New York; vice president and news director at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, CA; vice president of news operations for NBC Television Stations; and vice president and news director at KXAS-TV in Dallas.
ESSENCE shares that last year, Godwin was honored by the National Association of Black Journalists with the Ida B. Wells Award — an honor that is given to those who demonstrate distinguished leadership by increasing access and opportunities to people of color in journalism and improving the coverage of communities of color.
