On the Walt Disney Company stage Monday morning, ABC News president James Goldston sat down with David Muir, Dan Abrams, Abby Huntsman, Tara Palmeri and George Stephanopoulos to discuss how ABC News stays straightforward, the tactics they use to deliver balanced news coverage and how the current political climate affects their ability to do so.
According to Goldston, ABC News is America’s number one news network with 9 to 10 million viewers every night, with a news cycle turnaround that is quicker than ever. Today, the country is more politically polarized that ever, especially in regard to recent events and the upcoming midterm elections. Now, more than ever, it is a necessity for ABC News to deliver unbiased news and be “straightforward: backed by facts, told with heart.”
David Muir, anchor and managing editor of ABC World News Tonight and co-anchor of 20/20, was the first to join Goldston on the stage. In light of the sexual assault accusations against Brett Kavanaugh after his Supreme Court nomination, Muir discussed his personal role in the trial. His responsibility was to share real human emotion while staying calm and level-headed —to guide America through the chaos. Muir strives to deliver the facts while providing key moments to inform viewers at home.
“That’s our job, to help start those conversations, to educate those conversations and let people at home make up their own minds,” said Muir.
Muir strengthens his straightforward approach by traveling the world and taking the time to understand what citizens want —gaining perspective on small-area issues.
Next to join Goldston was Dan Abrams, ABC News’ Chief Legal Analyst; Abby Huntsman, The View co-host; and Tara Palmeri, ABC News’ White House Correspondent. Moving forward from the Supreme Court nomination, the team discussed the upcoming midterm elections and how the confirmation of Kavanaugh into the Supreme Court could alter the results.
Abrams spoke on how the American population just wants the truth and whether Kavanaugh was or was not being honest in his testimony. What the FBI investigation brings about could alter the vote, dramatically. Huntsman spoke on how either decision in the Kavanaugh case could enrage the political party it negatively affects — causing a surge in votes from the particular side for the midterms.
George Stephanopoulos, chief anchor of ABC News and the last to join Goldston. For Stephanopoulos, covering the news today is a frenzy of trying to decide what is the most important to cover, due to the impossibility of delivering all of the news from one day in just one day.
Stephanopoulos looked even further into the future and evaluated the lasting effects that the midterm results could have and how the Kavanaugh case and the Muller investigation findings could sway results even in the 2020 election. Despite the outcome, whichever political party loses, Stephanopoulos expects great changes and many representatives from the opposite party declaring candidacy.
Despite all of this political uncertainty in America, with ABC News’ strong team and content full of news, analysis and opinion, their success in delivering straightforward news is sure to continue and help citizens make informed decisions for themselves.