Kim Godwin, the president of ABC News, has allegedly terminated several long-standing employees to prevent leaks about her alleged mismanagement at the Disney-owned network, as The New York Post reported. This has resulted in an environment where staff members are afraid to speak out.
Sources claim that Godwin and a select group of executives, including Stacia Philips Deshishku, Derek Medina, and Jose Andino, were responsible for laying off the workers as part of a phased rollout of 50 job cuts last month.
Some insiders have labeled the layoffs a “score-settling” and said they were severely handled. The firing of people who had been with the company for over two decades without explanation has been called the “Red Wedding.”
“The process was fair, and there wasn’t retaliation,” the source said. “Kim is not that type of person,” one source said.
Insiders also criticize Godwin’s leadership style. One source says that her leadership group has created a “culture of fear” at ABC News, which goes against the organization’s culture of questioning and inquisitiveness.
Another source claims that Godwin has made many mistakes during her two-year tenure, particularly in her head-in-the-sand approach to the salacious affair between “GMA3” hosts TJ Holmes and Amy Robach. Godwin reportedly permitted the pair to remain on the air despite widespread criticism, causing a spectacle that led to even more news stories.
“I think the feeling is she’s safe until the next mistake. They’ve allowed her to gut the place and establish her team. As long as the ratings remain number 1 at the network’s two big shows, ‘Good Morning America’ and ‘World News Tonight with David Muir,’ she’s fine,” said a source.
The layoffs, which included award-winning investigative journalist Chris Vlasto, newsgathering senior vice president Wendy Fisher, talent vice president Mary Noonan, talent and strategy senior vice president Galen Gordon, executive editorial producer Heather Riley, and communications vice president Alison Rudnick, were part of a broader shakeup ordered by parent company Disney CEO Bob Iger to slash 7,000 jobs across the company. Sources with knowledge claim that severance was only offered to a select few, and no buyouts were offered.
ABC News declined to comment on the situation, and some employees have reportedly investigated suing ABC News. As more cuts are expected, insiders fear they may be on Godwin’s “enemies list.”
