{{Short description|African-American television executive}} {{Infobox person | name = | image = Kimberly Godwin 2022.jpg | caption = Godwin in 2022 | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | education = Florida A&M University (BA) | occupation = Network executive and journalist | spouse = | website = }} '''Kimberly Godwin''' is an American television executive and journalist. From 2007 to 2021, Godwin worked in a variety of roles at CBS News. In April 2021, Godwin was named president of ABC News, becoming the first ever black woman to lead a major American broadcast news network.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weprin |first=Alex |date=2021-04-14 |title=Kimberly Godwin Named President of ABC News |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/kimberly-godwin-named-president-of-abc-news |access-date=2021-04-16 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last1=Grynbaum|first1=Michael M.|last2=Koblin|first2=John|date=2021-04-14|title=ABC News names Kimberly Godwin as its new president.|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/14/business/media/abc-news-president-kimberly-godwin.html|access-date=2021-04-16|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Barr|first=Jeremy|title=Kim Godwin will be president of ABC News, the first black woman to run a broadcast television news division|language=en-US|newspaper=Washington Post|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2021/04/14/godwin-abc-news/|access-date=2021-04-16|issn=0190-8286}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Brian Stelter|title=The new president of ABC News is about to make history|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/media/kimberly-godwin-abc-news/index.html|access-date=2021-04-16|website=CNN|date=14 April 2021 }}</ref> In May 2024, she announced her intention to resign from the network.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last1=Flint |first1=Joe |last2=Simonetti |first2=Isabella |date=2024-05-05 |title=Exclusive {{!}} ABC News President Kim Godwin Is Stepping Down |url=https://www.wsj.com/business/media/abc-news-president-kim-godwin-is-stepping-down-28bf9617?mod=asia_whatsnews_pos1 |access-date=2024-05-06 |work=WSJ |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Education == In 1984, Godwin graduated from Florida A&M University (FAMU) with a degree in broadcast journalism, where she studied at the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Kimberly Godwin makes network history as next president of ABC News|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Business/kimberly-godwin-makes-network-history-president-abc-news/story?id=77075637|access-date=2021-04-16|website=ABC News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dobson |first=Byron |title=FAMU broadcast graduate Kim Godwin appointed president of ABC News |url=https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2021/04/14/kim-godwin-famu-president-abc-news-cbs-graduate-florida-a-m/7223348002/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Tallahassee Democrat |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Career == Godwin has held newsroom-leadership roles in various cities including New York, Los Angeles, Dallas, Philadelphia and Cleveland.<ref name=":0" />
=== Career at CBS (2007-2021) === Godwin joined CBS News in 2007. While with the network, she served as senior broadcast producer of ''CBS Evening News'', executive director for development and diversity, and executive vice president of News.<ref name=":1" />
While at CBS Godwin, in discussions with top executives at ViacomCBS, reportedly expressed interest in overseeing the company's news division. ''Variety'' reported that CEO George Cheeks was opposed to promoting her to oversee the news division, which ultimately led to her being released from her contract.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Steinberg |first=Brian |date=2021-04-14 |title=Kim Godwin Named President of ABC News |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/kim-godwin-abc-news-president-1234951553/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Presidency of ABC News (2021-2024) === In April 2021, Godwin was named president of ABC News, succeeding James Goldston, who had announced his resignation in January.<ref name=":0" /> She became the first black woman to lead a major American network's broadcast news division.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Brian Stelter|title=The new president of ABC News is about to make history|url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/14/media/kimberly-godwin-abc-news/index.html|access-date=2022-02-02|website=CNN|date=14 April 2021 }}</ref>
In 2022, ''The Hollywood Reporter'' reported that Godwin "is said to have made culture changes a priority" during her tenure. The report noted that Godwin had promoted "key players" at Good Morning America, and had worked to increase ABC News' presence in audio formats and specials.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-17 |title=The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media 2022 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/35-most-powerful-people-in-media-2022/ |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, it was reported that, according to over two dozen staffers, morale at ABC News had declined under her leadership. ''CNN'' reported that staffers voiced concerns regarding declining ratings for Good Morning America, considered the network's flagship show.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Darcy |first=Oliver |date=2024-05-06 |title=Embattled ABC News President Kim Godwin steps down after tumultuous run {{!}} CNN Business |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/media/abc-news-president-kim-godwin-steps-down-hnk-intl/index.html |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> After receiving fierce criticism from within, Godwin announced on May 5, 2024 her intention to resign from the network.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/media/abc-news-president-kim-godwin-steps-down-hnk-intl/index.html | title=Embattled ABC News President Kim Godwin steps down after tumultuous run | CNN Business | website=CNN | date=6 May 2024 }}</ref> She was reportedly forced to resign.<ref>{{Cite web | title=MSN | url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/anti-trump-abc-news-president-forced-out-as-employees-revolt/ss-BB1mwZiS?ocid=iehpJT | access-date=2026-03-28 | website=www.msn.com}}</ref> Reporting on her resignation, the ''New York Times'', characterized her time at ABC as "a rocky tenure defined by infighting and damaging leaks".<ref name=nyt>{{cite news |last1=Mullin |first1=Benjamin |last2=Koblin |first2=John |title=ABC News's President, Kim Godwin, to Step Down |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/05/business/media/abc-news-president-kim-godwin-to-step-down.html |access-date=May 6, 2024 |work=New York Times |date=May 5, 2024}}</ref>
== Political views == In an internal email to ABC staff in February 2024, Godwin condemned remarks made by former president and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump. Godwin described Trump's suggestion that his highly-publicized mug shot would assist his campaign among black voters as “as racist as they come.” In the email, which was reported by ''Semafor'', Godwin stated:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tani |first=Max |date=2024-02-27 |title=ABC News president: Trump's comments on Black voters 'as racist as they come' |url=https://www.semafor.com/article/02/27/2024/abc-news-president-kimberly-godwin-trumps-comments-on-black-voters-as-racist-as-they-come |access-date=2024-05-06 |website=Semafor |language=en}}</ref><blockquote>"No matter one's politics, the fact that a person running for President of the United States made these remarks period — but also to a public crowd — and with so many black people present — and that they stand with him — is mind blowing. Shocking."</blockquote>
== Awards == Godwin has won six National News and Documentary Emmy Awards, two Edward R. Murrow Awards, an Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia Award, a Sigma Delta Chi Award, and the National Association of Black Journalists' Ida B. Wells Award.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=It's Official: Kim Godwin Makes History as First Black Executive, First black Woman to Head ABC News|date=14 April 2021 |url=https://nabjonline.org/blog/its-official-kim-godwin-makes-history-as-first-black-woman-to-head-abc-news/|access-date=2021-04-16|language=en-US}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist|2}}
== External links ==
* {{IMDb name}} {{Presidents of ABC News}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Godwin, Kimberly}} Category:Living people Category:American women television executives Category:American television executives Category:Florida A&M University alumni Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Presidents of ABC News Category:21st-century American businesswomen Category:21st-century American businesspeople Category:African-American business executives