ABC News president to leave; profit an issue, and who can forget Caylee Anthony licensing agreement?

ABC News president to leave; profit an issue, and who can forget Caylee Anthony licensing agreement?

posted by halboedeker on September, 7 2010 8:41 AM

As president of ABC News, David Westin handled some difficult assignments with great skill. Westin, who succeeded Roone Arledge in 1997, guided the news division after it lost Peter Jennings and after Bob Woodruff was injured in Iraq. Westin helped save “Nightline” after Ted Koppel departed. Westin led the news division when it delivered first-rate reporting, notably on the millennium and 9/11. And Westin showcased top talent, especially Charlie Gibson, Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos.

But when Westin announced Monday night that he was resigning at year’s end, I couldn’t help but think of ABC News’ licensing agreement for footage of Caylee Anthony. Two years ago, ABC News paid Casey Anthony and her parents $200,000 for video and footage of the toddler. Casey Anthony was later charged with first-degree murder in thedeath of Caylee.

It was embarrassing and an ethical lapse. But it was also financial news to make you scratch your head: They spent money that extravagantly?

This year, ABC News announced it was shedding roughly 25 percent of its staff — or about 400 jobs. For years, bosses has demanded that Westin make ABC News profitable, a goal the division sometimes fell short of despite the ad money from “Good Morning America,” an ABC News staffer told The New York Times.

Perhaps the Caylee Anthony story reflects the problem: How do they spend money at ABC News?

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2010/09/abc-news-president-to-leave-profit-an-issue-and-who-can-forget-caylee-anthony-licensing-agreement.html