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Kim Godwin out as ABC News president after 3 years as first Black woman as network news chief

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Kim Godwin out as ABC News president after 3 years as first Black woman as network news chief
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Kim Godwin out as ABC News president after 3 years as first Black woman as network news chief

2024-05-06 11:53 Last Updated At:15:31

NEW YORK (AP) — Kim Godwin is out after three tumultuous years as ABC News president, a move presaged earlier this year when network parent Walt Disney Co. installed one of its executives, Debra O'Connell, to oversee the news division.

Godwin, the first Black woman to lead a network news division, said Sunday she was retiring from the business. O'Connell said she will be in charge “for the time being” as it looks ahead.

Godwin inherited a news division where its two most important programs, “World News Tonight” and “Good Morning America,” led rivals at CBS and NBC in the ratings. They're still ahead, although “Good Morning America” has seen some slippage amid the messy departures of anchors T.J. Holmes and Amy Robach, and Cecilia Vega's jump to CBS News.

Godwin was recruited as an outsider from CBS News and was beset by grumbling about her management style that made it into print.

In a note to staff members, Godwin said she understood and appreciated the significance of being the first Black woman to hold such a prominent broadcast news role.

“It's both a privilege and a debt to those who chipped away at the ceiling before me to lead a team whose brand is synonymous with trust, integrity and a dogged determination to be the best in the business,” she wrote.

After working at ABC, CBS, NBC and at 10 local news stations in nine cities, Godwin said she's quitting the business.

“I leave with my head held high and wish the entire team continued success,” she wrote.

David Bauder writes about media for The Associated Press. Follow him at http://twitter.com/dbauder.

FILE - Kim Godwin attends the Disney 2022 Upfront presentation at Basketball City Pier 36, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in New York. Godwin is out as ABC News president after three years as the first Black woman to lead a television network news division. On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Godwin said she was retiring from the business. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Kim Godwin attends the Disney 2022 Upfront presentation at Basketball City Pier 36, Tuesday, May 17, 2022, in New York. Godwin is out as ABC News president after three years as the first Black woman to lead a television network news division. On Sunday, May 5, 2024, Godwin said she was retiring from the business. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - The ABC logo is seen in an advertisement at a bus stop near their television studio on the West Side of Manhattan, Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in New York. Kim Godwin is out as ABC News president after three years as the first Black woman to lead a television network news division. Godwin, the first Black woman to lead a network news division, said Sunday, May 5, 2024, she was retiring from the business. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

FILE - The ABC logo is seen in an advertisement at a bus stop near their television studio on the West Side of Manhattan, Wednesday, May 10, 2017, in New York. Kim Godwin is out as ABC News president after three years as the first Black woman to lead a television network news division. Godwin, the first Black woman to lead a network news division, said Sunday, May 5, 2024, she was retiring from the business. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

ATLANTA (AP) — The game between the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves on Saturday night was postponed by rain and lightning.

The teams will play a split doubleheader on Monday with a 6:20 p.m. game added to the previously scheduled 12:20 p.m. game.

Officials announced about five minutes before the scheduled first pitch that the start of the game was being delayed by inclement weather in the area.

The four-game series will continue on Sunday night.

Right-hander Yu Darvish had been scheduled to start for San Diego on Saturday night, but has been pushed back to Sunday.

The Padres planned to reinstate right-hander Joe Musgrove (right elbow inflammation) from the 15-day injured list for Sunday's game. Instead, Musgrove's return apparently will be pushed back to the Padres' series at Cincinnati, which begins on Tuesday.

The Padres will have right-hander Dylan Cease and right-hander Randy Vásquez start Monday's games.

The Braves have shifted Saturday night’s planned starter, right-hander Bryce Elder, to Sunday night.

Atlanta plans to have right-hander Reynaldo López and left-hander Chris Sale start Monday's games. López was pushed back one day after originally being listed as Sunday night's starter.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Braves: RHP Pierce Johnson (right elbow inflammation) was reinstated from the injured list. RHP Jackson Stephens was outrighted to Triple-A Gwinnett. ... C Travis d'Arnaud (head contusion) was available in an emergency situation if Saturday night's game had been played. Manager Brian Snitker says he hopes to rest d'Arnaud again Sunday. ... 3B Austin Riley (left side inflammation) was to miss his fifth straight game but said, “I feel like I'm slowly but surely getting there. ... I'm still feeling it in certain areas with certain movements.” Riley still hasn't taken batting practice.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

A fan moves in Truist Park after baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A fan moves in Truist Park after baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

The rain cover is seen at Truist Park after a baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

The rain cover is seen at Truist Park after a baseball game was postponed between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres do to rain, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A fan dances in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A fan dances in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Ground crew watch weather radar before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Ground crew watch weather radar before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Fans dance in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Fans dance in the rain before a rain-delayed baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Military aircraft fly over Truist Park before a baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A ground crew member covers the mound before baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

A ground crew member covers the mound before baseball game between the Atlanta Braves and the San Diego Padres, Saturday, May 18, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

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