Diane Sawyer Replacing Charlie Gibson As ABC "World News" Anchor

Diane Sawyer Replacing Charlie Gibson As ABC "World News" Anchor

Diane Sawyer will replace Charlie Gibson as ABC "World News" anchor, the New York Post's Michael Starr first reported.

Sawyer will become the second woman to solo-anchor the evening news, joining Katie Couric, who helms the "CBS Evening News." The move will make Brian Williams the lone man anchoring the network evening newscasts.

Gibson told colleagues Wednesday that he would be leaving the program in January. He has anchored since 2006. The New York Times' Bill Carter reports that Gibson decided to step down "after long conversations with ABC News president David Westin."

"It has not been an easy decision to make," Gibson told colleagues in an e-mail. This has been my professional home for almost 35 years. And I love this news department, and all who work in it, to the depths of my soul.

"There is no one like Charlie Gibson and it is an enormous honor to be asked to join the terrific broadcast he and the great team of journalists have built at 'World News,' Sawyer said. "Until then, I'll be getting up early and spending mornings, as always, counting myself so lucky to be with Robin, Chris and Sam and the incredibly smart, talented and dedicated team of 'Good Morning America.'"

"Diane Sawyer is the right person to succeed Charlie and build on what he has accomplished," Westin said. "We are fortunate to have a journalist of Diane's proven ability and passion to step into the important position of anchor for World News."

Below, see photos of Diane Sawyer through the years:

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