Diane Sawyer

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Diane Sawyer BIO

Diane Sawyer is an ABC News anchor, tackling some of the biggest issues of our time in new ways with original reporting, prime-time specials, long-form interviews and in-depth investigations. One of the most respected journalists in the world, she has traveled the globe delivering thorough and breaking news reports, and has conducted interviews with almost every major newsmaker of our time. Her prime-time documentaries have won critical acclaim for shedding light on difficult and previously underreported topics, including her comprehensive reporting on the U.S. foster care system and realities of poverty in America. In 2017, she helped lead ABC News to win an Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence in Television.

This year, Sawyer continued to produce stories that resonated with Americans when she documented hard-working women facing sexual harassment and assault at their jobs. The one-hour special featured potential solutions and gave a voice to women whose lack of time, money and social media influence hinder their willingness to file complaints out of fear of losing their jobs.

Under Sawyer's leadership, the acclaimed and award-winning "Hidden America" series has expanded into an ongoing series of reports across ABC News to shine a light on the people, places and stories of struggle and hope that are not well known or apparent to many in America. The reports also spotlight the creative and innovative actions of some extraordinary Americans to help people in their communities.

She and her team of producers spent two years in the hills of Appalachia reporting the February 2009 special, "A Hidden America: Children of the Mountains," which won a Peabody Award and a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. In 2011, Sawyer continued her reporting on poverty in America focusing on the American Indian population with "A Hidden America: Children of the Plains." In October 2012, Sawyer documented the violence plaguing Chicago - America's third-largest city - in "Hidden America: Don't Shoot I Want to Grow Up." In addition to extensive reporting from a war-torn community, she facilitated a solutions-based discussion between members of several rival gangs to see what, if anything, could be done to reverse the alarming pattern of violence and murder in the streets. In May 2013, Sawyer reported from Strawberry Mansion, one of the most dangerous schools in the United States for the last five years. With unprecedented access inside the Philadelphia high school, Sawyer gave viewers an up-close look at what it's like to teach, learn and try to gain a foothold in life there, resulting in a Deadline Club Award win for ABC News. In 2015, she investigated incarceration for the third time in almost two decades in "A Nation of Women Behind Bars"; and in 2016, Sawyer delivered another hard-hitting investigation with her fourth special on prisons and jails with "Hidden America: Inside Rikers Island." The piece was a critical look at the notorious institution's history of violence and proposed reforms, including an interview with Commissioner Joseph Ponte. The next year, she chronicled a new reality of people working harder than ever but struggling to stay in the middle class. In "My Reality: A Hidden America," Sawyer traveled coast to coast to explore issues of opportunity, income inequality and community solutions.

Highlights throughout her career include her 2017 interview with Olympic gold medalist and television personality Caitlyn Jenner two years after the groundbreaking ABC News special where Jenner talked publicly about her transgender journey for the first time, which won the GLAAD Outstanding TV Journalism and Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Awards; her sit-down with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the first televised interview on her book, "Hard Choices"; her exclusive with Jaycee Dugard five years after their first sit-down to discuss life after captivity; the interview with President Barack Obama as he made the case for military strikes in Syria; a one-on-one with Amanda Knox, the college junior who became the center of a dramatic murder trial in Italy; the first joint interview with outgoing Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and General David Petraeus in Afghanistan; and the first interview with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton after the U.S. took military action in Libya.

Among other highlights, Sawyer brought viewers audio recordings of the never-before-heard interviews with former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy recorded in the months after her husband's assassination and spoke exclusively with Caroline Kennedy in 2011. In addition, when Japan was hit with a devastating combination of earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency in March 2011, Sawyer was the only evening news anchor to report on the aftermath live from Japan. She also reported from Southeast Asia in the wake of the deadly 2005 tsunami; from Moscow, where she made her way into the office of Boris Yeltsin at the pinnacle of the Soviet coup; from Egypt during the Gulf War, where she interviewed President Hosni Mubarak; and Amman, Jordan, where she interviewed King Hussein and Queen Noor. During the Iraq War, she conducted an exclusive interview with one of the main architects of Saddam Hussein's biological weapons program, Dr. Rihab Taha, nicknamed "Dr. Germ."

Back home in the U.S., Sawyer reported from New Orleans on the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in fall 2005. She also conducted a live, exclusive interview with President George W. Bush in the midst of widespread criticism of his administration's handling of the storm. On Sept. 11, 2001, along with Charles Gibson, Sawyer began the network's award-winning coverage of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In the days that followed, she reported live from ground zero and later interviewed more than 60 widows who gave birth after the World Trade Center disaster.

From 2009 to 2014, Sawyer was the anchor of "World News with Diane Sawyer," leading ABC's flagship broadcast to new heights. During her final season as anchor, the program delivered its most-watched season in six years. In 2011, Sawyer created the broadcast's signature Made in America series that focused on products manufactured in the United States and ways to support American jobs and the economy. The series notably reported that the 2012 USA Olympic team's opening ceremony uniforms had been made overseas.

Sawyer's reporting has been recognized with numerous awards, including duPonts, Emmys(r), Peabodys, the grand prize of the premier Investigative Reporters and Editors Association, an IRTS Lifetime Achievement Award and the USC Distinguished Achievement in Journalism Award. In 1997, she was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame.

Sawyer joined ABC News in February 1989 as co-anchor of "Primetime." In addition to that role, she was named co-anchor of "Good Morning America" in January 1999, and held the post until taking over the "World News" anchor chair in December 2009.

Prior to joining ABC News, Sawyer spent nine years at CBS News, making history as the first female correspondent of "60 Minutes." She also co-anchored the "CBS Morning News" and was CBS News' State Department correspondent. While at CBS she covered the 1980, '84 and '88 national conventions as a floor and then podium correspondent.

Sawyer was part of the President Nixon transition team from 1974 to 1975 and assisted Nixon in the writing of his memoirs in 1974 and 1975. She began her career in broadcasting in 1967 in Louisville, Kentucky, where she was a reporter for WLKY-TV until 1970.

A native of Glasgow, Kentucky, and raised in Louisville, Sawyer received a Bachelor of Arts from Wellesley College and completed a semester of law school before embarking on a career in broadcasting.

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ON THE BRINK Special With Diane Sawyer And Rachel Scott Coming to ABC News

ABC News Studios announced that the “Impact x Nightline” original report “On the Brink,” led by ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott, will now air as a primetime special. The special report first premiered on Hulu.

ABC News Studios' 'IMPACT X Nightline' Announces New Episode ON THE BRINK Exploring The Effects Of U.S. State Abortion Bans

ABC News Studios' “IMPACT x Nightline” announced a new special report, “On the Brink,” led by ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer and senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott. This news special uncovers the stories of pregnant women who have medical emergencies in states with laws restricting abortions and the physicians caught in a legal web.

Review: World Premiere True Crime Musical RUN BAMBI RUN Rocks the MILWAUKEE REP

True crime connoisseurs, lovers of local lore, fans of the Violent Femmes: the Milwaukee Rep has a world premiere rock musical with your name written all over it.

ABC News Renews IMPACT x NIGHTLINE For Season Two on Hulu

Featuring hard-hitting investigative reporting from ABC News anchors Diane Sawyer, Juju Chang and Janai Norman, plus correspondents Rachel Scott, Matt Rivers, Selina Wang, Megan Ryte and more, the new season takes viewers into the field each week to examine the headlines, giving audiences new insight.

Review: FULLY COMMITTED at The Barnstormers Theatre

Doug Shapiro does an amazing job of creating over 40 characters in this solo performance show.

Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA Comes to Flat Rock Playhouse

Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella, the Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The King and I and The Sound of Music comes to Flat Rock Playhouse just in time for summer!

Photos: Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton & More Attend BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER Premiere

BOOK CLUB: THE NEXT CHAPTER stars Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen and Don Johnson, director, co-writer and producer Bill Holderman, co-writer and producer Erin Simms and more attended last night’s New York Premiere at AMC Lincoln Square. Check out photos from the event now!

ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer Sits Down With Actor Jeremy Renner for First Exclusive Interview Since Snowplow Accident

ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer has an exclusive interview with actor Jeremy Renner, the first since his life-threatening accident on New Year’s Day. Renner, who was run over by his seven-ton snowplow in an attempt to save his nephew’s life, was critically injured ― breaking more than 30 bones and puncturing a lung. Watch the video trailer now!

Chris Rice-Thomson Joins Long Island Nonprofit Benefit Concert

 Hindi's Libraries, a literary nonprofit that donates new and gently used children's books to recipients at no cost, has announced Chris Rice-Thomson as the master of ceremonies for its benefit concert featuring singer, songwriter and actor Martin Kaye.

Scoop: LOVE ACTUALLY: 20 YEARS LATER on ABC - Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Get all the scoop on LOVE ACTUALLY: 20 YEARS LATER, airing on ABC on Tuesday, November 29, 2022! ABC News anchor Diane Sawyer will have a primetime special to mark the 20th  anniversary of the making of the holiday classic “Love Actually.” Watch a video preview of the upcoming special now!

ABC Announces 2022 Holiday Programming Schedule

Two dazzling specials featuring some of the biggest names in music will bring melodies in December: “A Very Backstreet Christmas” celebrates the holidays with The Backstreet Boys, and “Finding Harmony” is an uplifting story featuring EGOT winner John Legend and David Brown, founder of the Columbus-based Harmony Project in Ohio.

Diane Sawyer Sits Down With Matthew Perry for Exclusive ABC Broadcast Interview; Watch Now

Matthew Perry, known for his role on the hit television show “Friends,” shares his experience with success, fame, his struggle with addiction, and life now. The one-hour special features never before shared details from behind the scenes of “Friends” and Perry’s near-death experience that left him in a coma for nearly 14 days.

Bryant Park Picnic Performances to Continue With Juneteenth Celebration as Part of the Contemporary Dance Series

Bryant Park Picnic Performances presented by Bank of America will continue on June 18 with the final performance of the Contemporary Dance Series, a special Juneteenth Celebration.

TAKE ME OUT To Host Post-Show Talk Back With Cast Members, Billy Bean, and Sports Journalists

The Tony-nominated Best Revival, TAKE ME OUT, will host a special post-show talkback on Tuesday, May 17 featuring members of the cast; Billy Bean, one of only two Major League Baseball players to come out as gay; as well as sports journalists Howard Bryant and Kat O’Brien.

Judith Light to Be Honored With the GLAAD's Excellence in Media Award

Special guests for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York will include Ariana DeBose, Cody Rigby, Peppermint, Amber Tamblyn, Anthony Rapp, Cynthia Nixon, Lily Rose, Nyle DiMarco, Wilson Cruz, GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, and more.

VIDEO: Watch Stars Hit the Red Carpet for Opening Night of THE MUSIC MAN on Broadway!

Last night, the hugely anticipated revival of Meredith Willson’s The Music Man, starring two-time Tony Award, Grammy Award, and Emmy Award-winning star Hugh Jackman as Professor Harold Hill and two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Marian Paroo opened triumphantly on Broadway.

Photos: The Stars Arrive at Opening Night of THE MUSIC MAN

The Broadway revival of The Music Man opened at the Winter Garden Theatre last night, February 10, starring Tony-winners Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster. Check out photos from the red carpet here!

VIDEO: 60 Minutes Highlights the Life of Stephen Sondheim

Stephen Sondheim, theatre legend, sadly passed away on November 26th, 2021. His mark on the world was not lost on anyone, and he outpour of love and appreciated for him as a person, lyricist, and composer has been nonstop since the news was broken. CBS News' 60 Minutes is highlighting the great Sondheim's life by releasing an archived interview the composer did with host Diane Sawyer back in 1988.

THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR SHOW Returns To Theatres For Autumn/Winter Tour Next Month

One of the most iconic characters in children's literature will wiggle back to the stage next month! Following multiple seasons in London and New York, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show returns for an Autumn/Winter tour, opening at Theatre Royal Winchester on Sunday 17 October.

ABC News Presents 9/11 TWENTY YEARS LATER: AMERICA REMEMBERS

The special coverage will reflect on all that happened since that tragic morning and feature the live ceremony taking place in lower Manhattan. Other interviews, specials, and documentaries will be released throughout the week.

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