James Goldston was a longtime producer at ABC News and then its president for seven years. Now, he’s helping congressional investigators retell and reframe the events of Jan. 6, 2021, for a weary and polarized nation.
The House’s Jan. 6 committee has turned to a renowned former network news executive to hone a mountain of explosive material into a captivating multimedia presentation for a primetime hearing Thursday. James Goldston — former president of ABC News, and a master documentary storyteller who ran Good Morning America and Nightline — has joined the committee as an unannounced adviser.
Veteran journalist and news executive James Goldston, former president of ABC News, has signed a producing deal with Aaron Kaplan’s Kapital Entertainment to develop and produce companion scripted series and docuseries based on true events.
ABC News President James Goldston announced today that he would step down from his post on March 31. “It’s a really tough decision. I’ve loved every day of my 17 years at ABC News, but in recent times I’ve always assumed that after this extraordinary election cycle, which we’ve covered at a full sprint for four years, it would be time for a change.”
ABC News is laying off staffers amid a broader reorganization at parent company Walt Disney, one that impacts a low single-digit percentage of the news division’s 1,400 staffers, according to a source familiar with the situation. In a memo to employees sent Thursday evening, ABC News President James Goldston said that the personnel reductions were “necessary” as the company adapts to changes in the business and its organizational structure. Those who have been let go will end their tenures at ABC News in early 2021.
On March 13, 2019, the Radio Television Digital News Foundation will host its 29th annual recognition of First Amendment champions – The First Amendment Awards: Fear Will Not Silence Facts. The winners: CNN; James Goldston, ABC News; David Begnaud, CBS News; Shepard Smith, Fox News Channel; Dale Hansen, WFAA Dallas; NBC News “Road Warriors”; Jamal Khashoggi, Washington Post; and the journalists of the Annapolis Capital Gazette.
Exclusives
ABC News president James Goldston excoriated staff Monday over Brian Ross’ major error on a report about former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and announced that Ross, the network’s chief investigative reporter, will no longer cover stories related to President Trump.
ABC News chief James Goldston on Tuesday made a surprising admission about the U.S. leader during a keynote address to the Banff World Media Festival — Trump has overseen a renaissance of journalism in America. “This [Trump] administration has given us a true clarity of purpose about what we do as journalists every day. He has single-handedly shaken up journalism, he has reinvigorated journalism,” declared Goldston, before adding, “It feels like a new golden age.”
The former SVP for content and development at ABC News is promoted to succeed Ben Sherwood who recently was upped to co-president, Disney/ABC Television Group.
