Jump to content

David Muir

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the ABC News journalist. For other uses, seeDavid Muir (disambiguation).

David Muir
Muir in 2021
Born
David Jason Muir

(1973-11-08)November 8, 1973(age 50)
Syracuse, New York,U.S.
Alma materIthaca College(BA)
Occupation(s)Television news anchor,television journalist,managing editor
Years active1994–present
EmployerThe Walt Disney Company
TelevisionABC World News Tonight(2007–present)
20/20(2013–present)
TermAnchor ofABC World News Tonight
PredecessorDiane Sawyer

David Jason Muir(born November 8, 1973) is an Americanjournalistand theanchorofABC World News Tonightand co-anchor of theABC Newsmagazine20/20,part of the news department of theABCbroadcast-television network, based inNew York City.Muir previously served as the weekend anchor and primary substitute anchor on ABC'sWorld News Tonight with Diane Sawyersucceeding her on September 1, 2014. At ABC News, Muir has won multipleEmmyandEdward R. Murrowawards for his national and international journalism.

According to theTyndall Report,Muir's news reporting received the most airtime in 2012 and 2013. He has become one of the most visible journalists in America.[1]As of 2019,World News Tonightwith David Muirhas become the most watched newscast in the United States.[2]

Early life and education[edit]

David Muir was born into aCatholicfamily[3]inSyracuse, New York,[4]and grew up onOnondaga Hill.Muir has one older sibling and two younger step-siblings, as well as six nieces and three nephews. As a child he watched ABC News' flagship program each night with his family and credits longtime anchorPeter Jenningsas his biggest journalistic influence. He graduated from Onondaga Central Junior-Senior High School in May 1991 and attended localIthaca College,graduatingmagna cum laudewith aBachelor of Artsdegree in journalism in May 1995.[5]During high school, he interned atWTVH-TVin Syracuse.[6]While in college Muir was inspired by a professor who told him he had "the cut of a TV newsman." He spent a semester at the Institute on Political Journalism at theFund for American StudiesatGeorgetown Universityand another semester abroad at theUniversity of Salamancain Spain with theInstitute for the International Education of Students.[5][7]

Career[edit]

WTVH television[edit]

From 1994 to 2000, Muir worked as an anchor and a reporter atWTVH-TVin Syracuse, New York.[6]Muir's reports from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Gaza Strip following the 1995 assassination of Israeli Prime MinisterYitzhak Rabinearned him top honors from theRadio-Television News Directors Association.TheAssociated Presshonored Muir for Best Enterprise Reporting and Best Television Interview. TheSyracuse Press Clubrecognized Muir as anchor of the "Best Local Newscast", and he was voted one of the "Best Local News Anchors" in Syracuse.

WCVB television[edit]

From 2000 to 2003, Muir was an anchor and a reporter forWCVBtelevision inBoston,where he won the regionalEdward R. Murrow Awardfor investigative reporting and the National Headliner Award and Associated Press honors for his work tracing the path of thehijackersinvolved in theSeptember 11, 2001 attacks.[8]The Associated Press also recognized his news-anchoring and reporting.[9]

ABC News[edit]

Muir interviewingPresidentDonald Trumpin 2020
Muir interviewingPresidentJoe Bidenin 2021

In August 2003, Muir joinedABC Newsas anchor of the overnight news programWorld News Now.He also became anchor of ABC News' early morning newscastWorld News This Morning(America This Morning).Starting in June 2007, Muir was the anchor ofWorld News Saturday.In 2006, and occasionally thereafter, he co-anchored the newsmagazinePrimetime.In February 2012, Muir became anchor for the weekend newscasts, and the broadcast was namedWorld Newswith David Muir.Muir has been silently credited with a rise in the ratings of the weekend evening broadcasts.[10]In March 2013, Muir was promoted to co-anchor ABC's20/20withElizabeth Vargas.

In September 2005, Muir was inside theNew Orleans SuperdomeasHurricane Katrinahit, and stayed in New Orleans to report on the unfolding humanitarian crisis. Muir's reports revealed and highlighted the deteriorating conditions inside the Convention Center and Charity Hospital, as Muir and his photographer waded through chest-deep waters for blocks to find patients trapped inside the hospital.[5]

Muir reported from the Israeli-Lebanon border in October 2006 on theIsraeli war with Hezbollah.Muir was in Gaza in March 2007 to cover the Hamas coup, reporting from inside theGaza Strip.[5]In October 2007, Muir was dispatched toPeruafter theworst earthquaketo hit that country in more than two decades.

In September 2008, Muir reported fromUkraine,more than two decades after theChernobylnuclear accident. In April 2009, David Muir and Diane Sawyer reported a20/20hour about guns in America getting "disturbing results" as described by theNew York Daily News.[11]

In May 2009, Muir's reporting on20/20revealed a significant increase in the number of homeless children in America. Muir made multiple trips to theGulf of Mexicoto investigate theBP oil spill.In April 2011, Muir reported fromHaitiafter the hurricane and returned to report on the attacks against women.[5]

In January 2010, David traveled to Haiti in the wake of thedevastating earthquake,which orphaned tens of thousands of children and destroyed the country's buildings and basic services. More than 220,000 people died, and many others were injured in the 7.0-magnitude quake.[12]He has returned to Haiti multiple times since the earthquake hit, uncovering attacks on women and the unfolding mental health crisis inPort au Prince.[13]

In June 2011, Muir reported fromTahrir Squareduring thepolitical revolution in Egypt,and fromFukushima,Japan following thedeadly tsunamiandnuclear power plant accident.Muir wrote about his reporting from Mogadishu, Somalia, and his subsequent return, "Inside Somalia's Crippling Famine", for the Daily Beast.[14]Muir also anchored several hours of theSandy Hook Elementary School shootingas it unfolded, and then reported from the scene as President Obama visited the town. Muir also reported from themovie theater mass shootingsin Aurora, Colorado; from Joplin, Missouri in the aftermath of adestructive tornado;and from Tucson, Arizona after theshootingof CongresswomanGabby Giffordsthat left six others dead.[5]

In November 2012, Muir served as one of ABC's lead correspondents for the2012 U.S. Presidential election.Muir's interviews with Republican candidateMitt Romney[15]generated national headlines on the issues of economics and immigration policy in the United States.[16]Muir's Emmy-nominatedMade In Americaseries on the American economy is a continuing feature onhis broadcast.Muir has brought the series to other television programs, including ABC'sThe View,where he has served as guest co-host.[17]

In January 2013, Muir reported from inside Iran, leading up to the nuclear talks.[18]Muir was the first Western journalist to report fromMogadishu,Somaliaon the famine.[19]Muir and his team came under fire while reporting from Mogadishu. In 2013, he received theEdward R. Murrow Awardfor his reporting.

On June 27, 2014, ABC News announced that Muir would succeedDiane Sawyeras the anchor and managing editor ofABC World News.Muir made his debut broadcast on September 1, 2014. In April 2015, "World News Tonight with David Muir" became the country's most-watched evening newscast, outpacing NBC Nightly News for the first time since September 7, 2009.[20]

In March 2016, Muir released a year-long report on the heroin crisis in America winning aCINE Golden Eagle Awardfor his reporting.[21]

Muir interviewedthen President Donald Trumpon January 25, 2017 in the White House. It was Trump's first interview as President.[22]

In 2020, Muir's ratings exploded during the beginning of theCOVID-19 Pandemicalong with the other Evening News programs.[23][24]Averaging around 12 million viewers, and becoming the most watched TV Program.[25]On May 6, 2020 Muir interviewed President Donald Trump about the COVID Pandemic.[26]The interview was met with some criticism as some felt Muir didn't adequately push back on Trump's falsehoods, or ask him enough follow-up questions.[27][28][29]

In 2021 he traveled to SouthernMadagascarto report on the malnutrition and hunger in the country the famine is caused byClimate Changeand is considered the first "Climate Change Famine." After the report, there was a massive surge of donations and support to theWorld Food Programwhich received 1.8 million dollars by 25,000 donors.[30][31][32]

In 2021, Muir became the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News, a role previously held by GMA anchorGeorge Stephanopoulosfrom 2014 to 2020.[33]The move reportedly angered Stephanopoulos.[34]

Honors[edit]

Muir delivered the commencement address atIthaca Collegein New York in May 2011; he urged graduates to use their voices.[35]On March 13, 2015, the college awarded Muir, an alumnus, an honorary Doctor of Letters degree and the Jessica Savitch Award of Distinction for Excellence in Journalism.[36]

In 2013,TV Weekcalled Muir one of the "12 to Watch in TV News".[37]He was listed as one ofPeople's Sexiest Men Alive in 2014.[38]

On May 8, 2015, Muir delivered the commencement address atNortheastern Universityin Massachusetts. During the ceremony, he was given an honorary Doctor of Media degree.[39]

On May 12, 2018, Muir delivered the commencement address at theUniversity of Wisconsin-Madisonin Madison, Wisconsin.[40]

On May 15, 2022, Muir delivered the commencement address atSyracuse UniversityinSyracuse, New York.[41]

On September 19, 2023, he was named the winner of the 40th Cronkite Award byArizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.[42]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^"ABC's David Muir Was The Most-Used Reporter On Broadcast News In 2012".Mediaite.RetrievedJuly 9,2023.
  2. ^"Evening News Ratings: Week of August 14".Adweek.August 22, 2017.RetrievedFebruary 23,2019.
  3. ^Pacheco, Patrick (June 25, 2014)."What Diane Sawyer Thinks of David Muir's 'World News' Success".Gotham.
  4. ^"David Muir: Syracuse native was always on a path to the top of network news".The Post-Standard.Syracuse. July 23, 2014.RetrievedJuly 1,2015.
  5. ^abcdef"David Muir, February 14, 2013".ABC News.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  6. ^abHerbert, Geoff (November 30, 2016)."David Muir's success, reporting driven by Syracuse upbringing".The Post-Standard.Syracuse.RetrievedMarch 5,2021.
  7. ^"A Journalist in the Making: David Muir (Salamanca, Spring 1994) ABC News Anchor and Correspondent".International Education of Students.September 9, 2014. Archived fromthe originalon August 25, 2017.RetrievedApril 7,2017.
  8. ^Ford, David (February 20, 2013)."ABC News Anchor David Muir Reports from Iran".ABC News.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  9. ^"News Correspondents: David MuirArchivedJanuary 31, 2010, at theWayback Machine".ABC News.Accessed February 6, 2010.
  10. ^Fung, Katherine (August 24, 2011)."'ABC World News With David Muir' Sees Ratings Improvement ".Huff Post.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  11. ^Huff, Richard (April 9, 2009)."ABC News gets disturbing results with 'If Only I Had a Gun'".New York Daily News.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  12. ^"David Muir: 27 memorable reporting moments".ABC News.RetrievedJuly 9,2023.
  13. ^"David Muir".ABC Audio.Archived fromthe originalon April 21, 2021.RetrievedApril 21,2021.
  14. ^Muir, David (August 8, 2011)."Inside Somalia's Crippling Famine".Daily Beast.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  15. ^"David Muir Mitt Romney Interview".ABC News.July 29, 2012.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  16. ^Little, Morgan (July 29, 2012)."Romney unsure if he's paid less than a 12.9% tax rate in the past".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  17. ^"David Muir Brings 'Made in America' Gifts to 'The View'".ABC News.January 25, 2013.RetrievedMarch 11,2013.
  18. ^Ford, David (February 20, 2013)."ABC News Anchor David Muir Reports from Iran".ABC News.RetrievedFebruary 2,2014.
  19. ^Fung, Katherine (July 28, 2011)."ABC's David Muir On Famine In Somalia: 'It's Heartbreaking'".Huff Post.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  20. ^Steinberg, Brian (April 7, 2015)."ABC's World News Steals Most-Watched Crown From NBC's Nightly News".Variety.RetrievedApril 7,2015.
  21. ^Ariens, Chris (April 29, 2017)."David Muir's Heroin Reporting Wins CINE Golden Eagle Award".AdWeek.RetrievedSeptember 27,2017.
  22. ^"TRANSCRIPT: ABC News anchor David Muir interviews President Trump".ABC News.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  23. ^Koblin, John (March 24, 2020)."The Evening News Is Back".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  24. ^"Network Newscasts Keep up Ratings Momentum During Pandemic".The Hollywood Reporter.April 22, 2020.
  25. ^Koblin, John (March 24, 2020)."The Evening News Is Back".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  26. ^"TRANSCRIPT: ABC News anchor David Muir interviews President Trump in Arizona".ABC News.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  27. ^Grove, Lloyd (May 6, 2020)."Trump Wanted a Softball Interview. ABC's David Muir Obliged".The Daily Beast.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  28. ^"ABC's David Muir misses an opportunity as Trump ventures outside the Fox-verse | CNN Business".CNN.May 6, 2020.
  29. ^Wemple, Erik (May 6, 2020)."Opinion | ABC News's David Muir is no match for Trump's falsehoods".Washington Post.ISSN0190-8286.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  30. ^"S. Madagascar on the verge of climate change-induced famine: How to help".ABC News.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  31. ^"The News That Caused People to Give Over $1M Dollars in 24 Hours".World Food Program USA.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  32. ^"World Food Program Raises $1.8 Million Following David Muir's Report on Madagascar's Climate Change Famine".adweek.November 4, 2021.RetrievedMarch 11,2024.
  33. ^Lincoln, Ross A. (March 1, 2021)."David Muir to Head Up Breaking News Duties for ABC News".TheWrap.RetrievedApril 12,2022.
  34. ^Stelter, Brian (March 2, 2021)."David Muir's new role at ABC News leads to drama with George Stephanopoulos and a visit from Bob Iger | CNN Business".CNN.RetrievedFebruary 8,2024.
  35. ^"ABC News Anchor David Muir Urges Ithaca College Graduates to Find Their Own Voices"(Press release). Ithaca College. May 23, 2011.RetrievedJuly 9,2023– via News Wise.
  36. ^Rochon, Thomas (March 17, 2015)."David Muir '95 Receives Honorary Degree".Ithaca College.Archived fromthe originalon March 29, 2015.RetrievedOctober 28,2020.
  37. ^"12 to Watch in TV News"(PDF).TV Week.December 17, 2012. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on December 7, 2013.RetrievedFebruary 1,2014.
  38. ^Connor, Jackson (November 20, 2014)."ABC News Dominates People Magazine's 'Sexiest Men Alive' List".Huff Post.RetrievedNovember 22,2014.
  39. ^"Award-winning journalist David Muir to deliver Northeastern University's 2015 Commencement address".Northeastern Global News.April 13, 2015.RetrievedOctober 28,2020.
  40. ^Erickson, Doug (February 21, 2018)."ABC News' David Muir, America's most-watched anchor, to be spring commencement speaker".University of Wisconsin News.RetrievedOctober 28,2020.
  41. ^"Syracuse Native David Muir, Anchor of 'ABC World News Tonight with David Muir,' to Address Syracuse University Graduates at Commencement 2022".Syracuse University News.April 21, 2022.RetrievedMay 15,2022.
  42. ^"'ABC World News' anchor David Muir chosen for Arizona State University's Cronkite Award ".Associated Press.September 19, 2023.RetrievedFebruary 8,2024.

External links[edit]

Media offices
Preceded by ABC World News Tonightanchor
September 1, 2014 – present 		Incumbent
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=David_Muir&oldid=1232415952"