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New York
CNN
—
ABC Information President Kim Godwin is skating on thinner and thinner ice.
Debra OConnell, the favored and revered media veteran who was tapped by Burbank in February for a newly created place that oversees the information community, has spent the previous few months evaluating the state of affairs on the Disney-owned property. Having instantly made it clear that she holds the true energy at ABC Information, OConnell has solicited an unyielding stream of enter from a big swath of the group. And, suffice to say, she has been lower than impressed about what she has discovered.
OConnell, in keeping with folks acquainted with the matter, has been astonished by Godwin’s administration — or lack thereof — on the community. In non-public conversations, OConnell has pointed to a slew of issues which have materialized on Godwin’s watch, faulting the embattled ABC Information chief for her hands-off management fashion, which she believes has allowed issues to fester.
OConnell, for instance, has been astounded by the truth that a yr after Godwin dismissed the community’s head of expertise, Galen Gordon, the necessary place has but to be stuffed. She was not happy to see ABC Information lose its Washington bureau chief, Jonathan Greenberger, to POLITICO simply months earlier than a historic presidential election, leaving that essential seat vacant. And the truth that “CBS Mornings” has been knocking on the ratings door of “Good Morning America” has been one more supply of discomfort.
Most of all, OConnell shouldn’t be blind to the truth that Godwin’s management has helped produced palpable nervousness and frustration amongst staffers who’re questioning concerning the community’s longterm sport plan because the linear tv enterprise continues to crumble. Community staffers are particularly apprehensive within the wake of Disney boss Bob Iger publicly floating that he may dump ABC, feedback he has since tepidly walked again.
“She has to take swift strikes,” an individual acquainted with the interior workings of ABC Information candidly mentioned of OConnell. “Folks there are stressed. They’re extraordinarily pissed off.”
To that finish, CNN was instructed that OConnell is conducting a management assessment that might impression the manager suite, together with a few of Godwin’s high lieutenants. These lieutenants embody Stacia Deshishku, government editor and senior vp; Derek Medina, government vp; and Jose Andino, vp of the workplace of the president and course of administration.
As OConnell’s not-so-subtle analysis has performed out at ABC Information, Godwin has privately voiced displeasure about being layered away from Iger and bemoaned Disney’s micromanagement, CNN was instructed.
Spokespeople for Disney and ABC Information declined to remark.
However as every day passes, it’s more and more tough to see how the state of affairs is sustainable for the lengthy haul. And whereas Godwin did renew her contract when OConnell was appointed in February, the Magic Kingdom is haunted by the ghosts of executives who’ve been axed shortly after inking new offers with the corporate. It’s, in any case, the Disney means.