ABC News announced it would not renew the contract of longtime correspondent Terry Moran after he published a since-deleted social media post describing former President Donald Trump and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller as "world-class haters." The network stated the post violated its policies and reaffirmed its commitment to impartial reporting.
Moran acknowledged in a recent interview that ABC News is a liberal institution, attributing this to a lack of political viewpoint diversity in its newsroom. He stated that during the network’s coverage of Trump, "nobody had voted for him," highlighting challenges in understanding Trump’s supporters due to the absence of conservative perspectives among staff.
Moran said he attempted to address this imbalance by circulating internal messages advocating for fairer coverage of Trump, receiving limited support from colleagues such as engineers and occasional producers. An ABC News staffer, speaking anonymously, described Moran’s departure as "unfortunate" but noted that his public statements left the network with no alternative.
ABC News confirmed in a statement that Moran’s contract was not renewed due to the policy violation, emphasizing the network’s standards for impartial journalism. The decision follows Moran’s departure from the network after the controversial post, which he later removed.
Coverage of Trump and Political Diversity
Moran’s remarks underscore broader discussions about political diversity in mainstream media newsrooms. He suggested that the lack of conservative viewpoints contributed to difficulties in accurately covering Trump’s base of support. His internal advocacy for balanced coverage reportedly received minimal engagement from colleagues, reflecting the challenges of addressing viewpoint disparities within the organization.
Network Response and Policy Enforcement
ABC News stated that Moran’s post violated its policies, prompting the decision not to renew his contract. The network did not provide additional details about the specific policies involved but reiterated its commitment to impartial reporting. The spokesperson’s statement did not address Moran’s broader claims about viewpoint diversity within the newsroom.
Background on Moran’s Career
Terry Moran joined ABC News in 1994 and served as a correspondent for over two decades. His departure follows his public comments on the network’s liberal leanings and the challenges of covering Trump without conservative perspectives in the newsroom. The network has not publicly addressed whether Moran’s contract was terminated or allowed to expire.