Diane Sawyer stepping down as ABC News anchor

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

iane Sawyer attends A Celebration of Barbara Walters at the Four Seasons Restaurant on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 in New York.
Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP-AP

NEW YORK (WLS) -- ABC News announced Wednesday that Diane Sawyer is stepping down as ABC "World News" anchor, to be replaced by David Muir.

According to ABC, Sawyer will lead new programming, and will concentrate on interviews and specials. Muir, currently the anchor of "20/20," will become anchor and managing editor of "World News" beginning Sept. 2.

George Stephanopolous was also promoted to chief anchor of ABC News, handling special reports and breaking news.

Sawyer has anchored "World News" for nearly five years. The network says that she will lead a team to "create and commission original reporting and major interviews for all ABC News programs and platforms." She will also anchor and produce television specials.

"After wonderful years at 'World News' I decided it is time to move to a new full time role at ABC News," Sawyer said. "I'll be joined by an incredible team of journalists dedicated to enterprise reporting, innovative approaches to breaking news and new ways of thinking about big issues and events around the world."

She also congratulated her colleagues on their promotions.

"And to my friends and colleagues George and David - congratulations," she said. "I look forward to exciting work together and great times ahead."

David Muir, who currently anchors "20/20," has been a frequent substitute for Sawyer on ABC "World News," and a fixture on the show for a decade, first reporting for "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings." He garnered acclaim as the first American journalist to report from Mogadishu, Somalia on the famine plaguing the East African nation, and was nominated for an Emmy for his "Made in America" series.

George Stephanopolous, who has anchored "Good Morning America" for the last four years, will add the duties of chief anchor to his current responsibilities. In his new role, Stephanopolous will lead ABC News' special reports and breaking news, as well as its election coverage beginning with the 2014 mid-term elections.

PHOTOS: DIANE SAWYER THROUGH THE YEARS