David Wright (journalist)

David Wright is a Canadian-American broadcast journalist who worked as a correspondent ABC News. His work has appeared on Nightline, World News Tonight, Good Morning America and 20/20.

David Wright
Wright interviewing Pope Francis
Born
Buffalo, New York, U.S.
Alma materHarvard University (BA)
Merton College, Oxford (MA)
OccupationJournalist
EmployerABC News
Spouse(s)Victoria Brannigan (m. 2005)
Children3

Early life and education

Wright was born in Buffalo, New York. His father, Dr. John Wright, is a former professor and dean at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine.[1] His mother, Deanna Wright, is deceased.[2][3] Wright graduated from Williamsville East High School. He earned his bachelor's degree magna cum laude from Harvard University and a master's degree from Merton College, Oxford.[4][5]

Career

Wright began his career in public radio as a reporter at WBFO-FM Buffalo, WBUR-FM Boston, and KQED-FM San Francisco, where he hosted the award-winning statewide broadcast The California Report and was also a frequent contributor to NPR nationally.[6][7][8] His first job in TV news was as a reporter at KRON-TV, then the NBC affiliate in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Wright has filled in as host of "The Madeleine Brand Show" on Southern California Public Radio, On Point on NPR, and the weekend edition of All Things Considered.[9][10][11]

As a correspondent for ABC News, Wright has reported from six continents, interviewed six U.S. presidents, and covered two papal transitions.[12] He joined ABC News in November 2000 and has been posted to bureaus in London, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and New York City.[13][14][15]

As a foreign correspondent, Wright has reported from conflict zones,[16][17] including Gaza,[18] Lebanon,[19] Iraq,[20] Afghanistan,[21][22] Congo[23] and Sudan[24][25] His work in Afghanistan in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks shared a Peabody Award as part of ABC's overall coverage of 9/11.[26] He has made more than a dozen trips to Iraq,[27][28] starting with the UN weapons inspections in 2002 before the US invasion,[29] and his stories from Baghdad and Fallujah in 2003 [30][31] shared a News & Documentary Emmy Award[32] His reporting from the Darfur region of Sudan won an Emmy[33] and the David Kaplan Award from the Overseas Press Club.[34]

Wright has covered the Holy See and the Catholic Church for ABC News since the final years of Pope John Paul II. He reported from Rome during Pope John Paul's final days and the conclave that followed,[35] part of the ABC News team that shared a 2006 Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award.[36] When Pope Benedict XVI resigned in 2013, he covered the conclave that ended with the election of Pope Francis.[37] Wright has traveled on multiple trips with Popes Benedict and Francis in Europe, the Middle East,[38] Africa,[39][40][41] and the Americas.[42][43] He covered Pope Francis' historic trip to Ireland, as he sought to atone for the clerical sexual abuse crisis.[44] He also covered the testimony of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò that led to calls for Pope Francis to resign.[45] Wright conducted the only national TV interview with the embattled Bishop of Buffalo, his hometown, over his mishandling of sexual abuse claims.[46][47]The Catholic Herald reported the Nightline interview "piqued Rome's interest"[48]and was likely a factor in Malone's eventual ouster.

In 2008, he covered then Senator Barack Obama's historic bid for the Democratic nomination. [49][50] During the general election that year, was assigned to cover Republican John McCain.[51]

Wright was Nightline's lead political reporter during the 2016 United States presidential election from the New Hampshire primaries to the Presidential transition of Donald Trump.[52][53][54][55] He led ABC's weekend coverage of the Trump Administration for most of his term in office.[56]

Wright's Nightline reports on sexual assault allegations against yoga guru Bikram Choudhury were nominated for a 2015 Emmy Award.[57][58][59]

Wright has also reported on wildlife and conservation efforts around the world. He has traveled to see Giant Pandas in China, Spirit bears in British Columbia, polar bears in Hudson's Bay, and mountain gorillas in Congo.[60][61][62]

Suspension and removal from political coverage

On February 26, 2020, ABC News suspended Wright, who was video taped without his knowledge in a bar by Project Veritas complaining about the network's coverage. In the hidden camera video, Wright allegedly said of Trump: "We don’t hold him to account. We also don’t give him credit for what things he does do." He also complained about the fluffy content on ABC, giving as an example Walt Disney characters on Good Morning America. ABC is a division of The Walt Disney Company. The video was described as choppy and Project Veritas has a history of deceptively editing videos.[63][64]

A February 26 statement by ABC News said, in part, "Any action that damages our reputation for fairness and impartiality or gives the appearance of compromising it harms ABC News and the individuals involved." It added that Wright would be reassigned from political reporting after serving his suspension "to avoid any possible appearance of bias."[65][66] On a shareholder call, Disney CEO Bob Chapek elaborated: "He (Wright) said some things that made us question his objectivity and obviously when you're reporting the news, there's no place for someone who's got a heavily subjective opinion. So internally we dealt with that situation."[67]

ABC/Disney's capitulation to Project Veritas brought a strong rebuke from respected journalists. Erik Wemple of the Washington Post wrote: "If ABC News has any concerns about Wright’s alleged bias — even the appearance of such — then it should present the evidence."[68] Former Nightline anchor Ted Koppel and former Nightline Executive Producer Tom Bettag called Wright one of the network's finest correspondents, adding: "Here’s the bottom line: Mr. Wright deserves to be judged on the accuracy and objectivity of what he delivers to ABC News and puts on the air. Based on our collective experience of more than 100 years in broadcast journalism, Mr. Wright is a reporter who provides an unbiased product. He’s an excellent writer, too!"[69]

Personal life

Wright met his wife, former Sky News producer Victoria Brannigan, in Rome when they were both covering the funeral of Pope John Paul II. They were married in a Roman Catholic ceremony at the Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere on October 29, 2005.[3] They have three daughters and live in Manhattan.[70]

References
  1. "John Wright Named Dean of UB Medical School - University at Buffalo". Buffalo.edu. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  2. "WRIGHT DEANNA - Winnipeg Free Press Passages". Passages.winnipegfreepress.com.
  3. "Victoria Brannigan and David Wright". Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  4. "Bio - Wright, David - WEDF". Wedf.org. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  5. "David Wright Official Biography". ABC News. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  6. "WBFO Alumni". Wbfo.org. 17 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 September 2012.
  7. "San Francisco Mayoral Debate | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org.
  8. "AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION GAVEL AWARD WINNERS : 1990s" (PDF). Americanbar.org. Retrieved 24 November 2018.
  9. "TV News Themes". Npr.org.
  10. "Exploring The World Of Psychedelics With Michael Pollan". Wbur.org.
  11. Radio, Southern California Public (18 July 2012). "The Madeleine Brand Show for July 18, 2012". Scpr.org.
  12. "David Wright Official Biography". ABC News. 2018-06-19. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  13. "Who Is News". Tvweek.com.
  14. "ABC News Rejiggers Correspondent Assignments". Adweek.com.
  15. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-11-24. Retrieved 2018-11-08.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. "Journalism and Trauma: The Silent Epidemic?". Tvtechnology.com.
  17. "See No Evil". Fair.org. 1 January 2002.
  18. News, ABC. "Video: Pause in Fighting Between Israel and Palestinians Over". ABC News.
  19. "ABC's David Wright Needs A Flak Jacket". Adweek.com.
  20. "Iran, Iraq bar CNN reporter". Deseretnews.co. 10 October 2002.
  21. "David Wright Does Nude Scenes – Adweek". Adweek.com.
  22. "THE ODD POWER OF UNSETTLING TV". Nydailynews.com.
  23. "ABC News Nightline Congo: The Hidden War". Amazon.com. 20 September 2007.
  24. "ABC News Nightline The Sudan by David Wright". Amazon.com.
  25. GlobalAffairsABC (15 December 2017). "Nightline Darfur Golf". Vimeo.com.
  26. "ABC News Coverage of September 11, 2001". Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  27. "Under Threat". Cpj.org.
  28. "PARAMETERS, US Army War College Quarterly - Summer 2006". Ssi.armywarcollege.edu.
  29. "Iraq Expels Some Foreign Journalists – Editor & Publisher Magazine- Newspaper & News Publishing Industry News".
  30. "Guest Listing - Charlie Rose". Charlie Rose.
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  34. "2004 OPC Award Winners - OPC". Opcofamerica.org. 22 April 2005.
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  36. "Columbia News ::: Winners of 2006 Alfred I. duPont-Columbia Broadcast News Award Announced". Columbia.edu.
  37. Shales, Tom. "Kind of like 'Top Chef,' but with holy smoke - Tom Shales At Large - Roger Ebert". Rogerebert.com.
  38. "Nets Put Burden on Pope, Not Muslim Leaders, for Violence --9/19/2006". Mrc.org. 19 September 2006.
  39. Contributor, DUNIA (25 November 2015). "Pope Francis has arrived in Kenya for first trip to Africa". Duniamagazine.com.
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  44. "Pope decried sex-abuse crisis in Ireland but some said, 'What you need is action'". ABC News. 27 August 2018.
  45. "Archbishop's explosive charge against pope exposes divisions in church: ANALYSIS". ABC News. 30 August 2018.
  46. https://abcnews.go.com/US/buffalo-bishop-returned-priest-accused-abuse-ministry-investigation/story?id=64579938
  47. https://buffalonews.com/opinion/columnists/buffalo-native-david-wright-has-been-reporting-on-priest-sex-abuse-since-the-1990s/article_e4646447-8fee-5423-9992-a305e231ff9d.html
  48. https://catholicherald.co.uk/will-rome-finally-intervene-in-the-troubled-diocese-of-buffalo-2/
  49. Taranto, James. "Invidious Bill". Wsj.com.
  50. Sheehy, Gail. "Hillaryland at War". Vanityfair.com.
  51. "ABC News' Charlie Gibson to Anchor 'World News' from New Orleans". Observer.com. 31 August 2008.
  52. "Elderly 'Bernie Bro' Accosts ABC Reporter: 'I am Very Angry'". Mediaite.com.
  53. News, ABC. "Video: President-Elect Trump's WH Appointments Draw Criticism". ABC News.
  54. News, ABC. "Video: Donald Trump and Anger Management on the Campaign Trial". ABC News.
  55. News, ABC. "Video: Donald Trump Fights Backs in New Hampshire". ABC News.
  56. News, ABC. "Video: Trump criticized for delayed response to Charlottesville protests". ABC News.
  57. "NOMINEES FOR THE 36th ANNUAL NEWS & DOCUMENTARY EMMY® AWARDS ANNOUNCED - The Emmy Awards - The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences". Emmyonline.com.
  58. "Nightline Reports on Bikram's Rape Accusations • Yoga Basics". Yogabasics.com.
  59. News, ABC. "Video: Bikram Yoga Founder Accused of Sexual Assault". ABC News.
  60. News, ABC. "Nightline Video". ABC News. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  61. News, ABC. "Video: Hunt for the Rare Spirit Bears". ABC News. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  62. News, ABC. "Video: Panda Researchers Dress Up to Help Cubs". ABC News. Retrieved 2018-07-19.
  63. Cummings, William. "ABC News suspends veteran correspondent over comments captured in undercover Project Veritas video". USA TODAY.
  64. Darcy, Oliver. "ABC News suspends correspondent for remarks that were secretly recorded by right-wing group". CNN.
  65. Farhi, Paul. "ABC News suspends correspondent David Wright after comments about Trump coverage, socialism, in Project Veritas sting". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-02-26.
  66. Kensler, Chris, and Brian Flood, "ABC News suspends David Wright for remarks made in Project Veritas video", Fox News, February 26, 2020
  67. Vlessing, Etan (11 March 2020). "Disney CEO Bob Chapek on Replacing Bob Iger: "I Do Understand the Gravity"".
  68. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/26/abc-news-hands-james-okeefe-scalp/
  69. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/david-wright-should-be-judged-on-the-accuracy-and-objectivity-of-his-work/2020/03/03/02ebc534-5ca7-11ea-ac50-18701e14e06d_story.html
  70. "Victoria Brannigan and David Wright". The New York Times. 2005-10-30. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-03-02.
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