ABC News Employees Upset Over Amanpour This Week Hire

video

by Steve Krakauer | 2:48 pm, April 13th, 2010

» 23 comments

Ever since the non-ABC News hire of Christiane Amanpour for This Week anchor, rumors have circulated about employee discontent over the decision as well as questions over what the show would become with a more internationally-focused anchor at the helm.

Now with Jake Tapper as the permanent interim host until the CNNer takes over in August, Mediaite hears rumblings over staff cuts, Amanpour’s hiring and more.

Over the past week, Mediaite has spoken to several ABC News employees in D.C. and New York, as well as This Week Executive Producer Ian Cameron about the shock and disappointment by some over the decision to hire an outsider for the This Week anchor gig in the midst of major cuts at ABC. One employee said that while “the initial shock is gone,” many at ABC “don’t know what to make” of the Amanpour hire, and are still in the dark about what the show will be. Another said staffers were “furious” that ABC execs went outside rather than promoting one of their many in house political correspondents.

Cameron said ABC is “just beginning discussions about what kind of tweaks and changes we’ll do to the program when Christiane comes,” but noted “there will certainly be changes.” He continued:

The show will continue to have a roundtable, interview newsmakers. I think obviously Christiane is looking more than just inside the beltway for stories, and will be looking abroad, doing more international stories. There’s no doubt about that. We’ll have a canvas that will be bigger. There will be a lot more using Christiane’s strengths and interests, but we will be on the news, we will be there and pushing for newsmaking interviews. I think it’s going to be a little more variety than what we’ve had in the past…We don’t expect her to fit into a cookie cutter program we have pre-created for her.

One reason for the in-the-dark nature of what Amanpour’s This Week will look like may be because she’s still on the air at CNN, which she will be until April 30. One look at her website, however, gives a good indication of her international wheelhouse.

While Amanpour’s This Week is up in the air, Jake Tapper‘s This Week is, interestingly, taking a very solid form. Tapper was a front-runner for the role (and “obviously wanted the job” says one employee), and was named as permanent replacement until Amanpour takes over. This Tapper version has made several key changes in just a few short weeks. There is now live tweeting during the show, using the resources and talent within the D.C. bureau, and a popular fact-checking partnership launched Sunday with Politifact.

To make Tapper’s influence that much more obvious, his image is now part of the opening credits on the program (see video below). One staffer notes this provides some “stability” for the show, which the entire bureau feels a “sense of ownership” of. Cameron says Tapper’s footprint on the program is expected. “Sunday show anchors, more than any news program, are incredibly important,” he said. “Viewers really put their trust in the person there, to answer questions, and they seem to be a much bigger presence across the whole hour. Jake obviously excels on the web and is constantly blogging and tweeting and is very much in contact with that community.”

Of course, Tapper’s success at This Week so far, and as the next couple months continue, only underscores the questions about bringing in someone new (as one staffer put it, there was surprise that ABC “couldn’t find someone inside to do it”). Plus, there’s the dichotomy of an outside anchor, after weeks of several internal candidates anchoring, including Terry Moran, Jonathan Karl and Elizabeth Vargas, coming in while longtime employees like Betsy Stark and many more staffers are cut (which has hurt morale, according to several employees we spoke to).

Cameron said these were two separate issues. “We needed an anchor for one of the main flagship news programs,” he said. “Christiane was someone we’ve tried to bring to ABC before. There aren’t a lot of opportunities when anchors leave and there are vacancies at main network programs to bring someone on board, and we think she should be here. Someone of Christiane’s stature coming to the bureau, coming to ABC, can be nothing but good for ABC, and This Week and this bureau specifically.”

But as Tapper continues to thrive with his slightly revamped This Week format (while keeping much of the same themes of the original), and as the D.C. bureau continues their teamwork in building the show in new ways, there will be an obvious and abrupt change when Amanpour comes in. It sounds like we, the viewer, will find out more information about what’s to come as those who are left at ABC do as well.

Here’s This Week‘s new opening, with Tapper:

—–
» Follow Steve Krakauer on Twitter

abc, ABC News, Christiane Amanpour, cuts, David Westin, Jake Tapper, This Week

Jamestaylor

They should be . Just go to to the page on Mediaite where the president of MSNBC say’s that its problem with David Shuster is “loyalty.”

Yes, then let’s talk about loyalty at ABC.
http://www.sailrabbits.com Magister

If Tapper can put a stamp on the program between now and August, I wonder what are the chances that ABC might add another show or a second hour to their Sunday morning line-up — one foreign and one domestic?

Strategically it makes a bit of sense because Meet the Press is somewhat vulnerable and one assumes that Face the Nation will also be going through an anchor transition in the relatively short term.

Amanpour will add eyeballs which thus far have largely eluded Jake and because the program isn’t live in a lot of the country, nor are its competitors, a second hour could possibly compete with both MTP and FTN across every market, no matter what time they air.*

*except of course in those markets that hold This Week until the wee hours of the night
The Real Royal King

For a very long time, US television news, broadcast and cable, has been among the most parochial in the world. We are far more informed as to which of Palin’s children has currently dropped out of school or what insult Coulter hurled at a latter day Nürnburg rally than we are of elections in Mexico, revolutions in Africa and disasters in the Middle East. ABC seems to be making the pardigm shift. Long over-due and not without expected pain.
evie

It’s going to be very odd if all these changes Tapper is making to the show are dropped when Amanpour comes on. I was a happy when ABC announced C.A. in the role, but now it all seems very weird — Tapper isn’t just holding the spot, he’s transforming the show. Good for him, and the show, but doesn’t ABC care about consistency at all?

Gregory is seriously faltering on NBC — ABC has a real chance to take the lead if they don’t blow it with chaotic decisions.
The Real Royal King

I certainly agree with your assessment about Gregory. I can scarcely stand to watch the show anymore. He was a very good reporter, but he is an exceptionally poor moderator.
Olby Sucks

Oh lookie, the phony is talking to itself! LOL!
Michele

Be interesting to see how C.A. competes with Candy Crowly on Sunday mornings. They did change things from John King, wouldn’t be surprised if ABC doesn’t do the same. But, I must say, with all the talent at ABC and across the spectrum, of their organization, they couldn’t find a reliable/informed host. I can think of several.

It must tick off fellow folks at ABC that an outsider was chosen. I want to hear about what is effecting my local politics, toss in breaking international but I don’t watch for international news.

As with all things nowadays folks way up the food chain just DO NOT SEEM TO WANT TO LISTEN TO THE FOLKS that keep them employed. Pols in DC and those networks that force their point of view or ignore the fans of their shows.

This isn’t FATHER KNOWS BEST it is take your bitter medicine or change the dial or vote us out.

Few humble thoughts from the heartland, Ft. Leavenworth, KS.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gordon-Bloyer/537945868 Gordon Bloyer

Amanpour, the terrorist’s best friend, LOL. ABC takes another dive off the cliff.
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

_____
For a very long time, US television news, broadcast and cable, has been among the most parochial in the world. We are far more informed as to which of Palin’s children has currently dropped out of school or what insult Coulter hurled at a latter day Nürnburg rally than we are of elections in Mexico, revolutions in Africa and disasters in the Middle East. ABC seems to be making the pardigm shift. Long over-due and not without expected pain.
_____

RRK’s attitude shows why they picked Amanpour, and why they will fail. Sunday morning political viewers are looking for something very specific: meaningful analysis of Washington politics. The attitude of RRK and the elitists who picked Amanpour is that the viewers OUGHT to want something different, something more global, more European.

Amanpour = New Coke. She will fail. Indeed, this is why the dinosaur media in general is failing. The mainstream media is the only business in the world where the customer is always wrong.
Munch

ABC has Obama sycophants now I guess they needed to add a person who has such great understanding into the terrorists’ hearts.
Olby Sucks

I’m really surprised that al jazeera doesn’t pick up amanpoor. She’d fit right in!
m

Yawn. Right-wingers attacking anyone who isn’t right-wing. Self-parody.
Munch

Yawn. Right-wingers attacking anyone who isn’t right-wing. Self-parody.”

Liberal projection, BM?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Paul-LaDue/1358787623 Paul LaDue

What will it become?? Hmm… Let’s see, HOW ABOUT A BETTER SHOW WITH INTEGRITY. Stephanopolous was a simpering fool. The angry ABC wimps are mad that a real “International” professional was hired. Go cry on your 6 figure checks.
Tommy Christopher

Whoah, I agree with Finch on this. No disrespect to Amanpour, but she is an awful fit for this show. I think ABC’s explanation about wanting to find a spot for her sort of concedes that. This is a prestige move.
TfT

Can’t say that I blame the ABCers. Management reached outside the network for a new “star” who won’t really do much for the Sunday show, except perhaps tank it. CA is an internationalist, super elitist, liberal know-it-all.

Prestige? HAHAHA Only in the minds of the lefties at ABC.
http://www.anonymousfinch.com AnonymousFinch

Tommy, in real life we’d be friends. Periodically, we’d get in a fistfight and beat the hell out of one another outside of a bar, but we’d be friends again the next day.
Jelperman

Thank goodness one of these Sunday morning shows will now be hosted by a real journalist rather than the usual Village hacks and brown nosers rambling on about who is up or down.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Gordon-Bloyer/537945868 Gordon Bloyer

I represent the mainstream of America. It only seems right-wing to the loony left. They will find out in November. All polls show the mainstream of Amerca, supports lower taxes, less government, strong military and CONSERVATIVE judges.
OxyCon

What a fortunate time for Obama for ABC to hire someone who holds his same negative views of Israel. Together Amanpour and Obama can team up against Israel.
Sunnyr

I will continue to watch This Week as long as Jake Tapper is hosting. The day he leaves is the day I remove this Sunday morning show from my TIVO for good. I refuse to watch that anti-American wench. She is repulsive.
Sunnyr

The day the communist America hater takes charge is the day I walk OUT on This Week!! I refuse to watch this HAG!
Jelperman

Dude, you suck.