ABC, the network that broke new ground for broadcast journalism in 1994 by adding a national religion correspondent to its news staff, is eliminating the beat in what the network describes as one of a series of cutbacks.
ABC’s Peggy Wehmeyer, the country’s first correspondent to report for a major network on religious and spiritual issues, received a phone call from ABC in late May notifying her that her contract, up in October, would not be renewed.
Wehmeyer was in Birmingham May 11 as guest speaker for the spring luncheon of the Samford Auxiliary.
Speaking on the topic, “Is There Room for God in Network News?,” Wehmeyer seemed secure in her job at that time.
“I am grateful for the seven years I had to tell stories that are really meaningful,” Wehmeyer said after finding out about her contract. “And I am sorry that now there doesn’t seem to be much appetite for religious stories in the news.”
Based in the ABC News Dallas bureau, Wehmeyer reports for “World News Tonight” with Peter Jennings and “20/20.”
ABC’s Jeffrey Schneider, vice president of media relations, confirmed the cutback.
“Mrs. Wehmeyer will be reporting for us until October. … We are still very committed to covering issues of religion and spirituality.”
‘Main force and vision’
Wehmeyer named Peter Jennings as “the main force and vision” for the idea of adding a religion correspondent to the ABC news team in 1994.
Jennings, longtime anchor and senior editor of ABC’s World News Tonight, was not immediately available for comment.
While in Birmingham, Wehmeyer also attributed Jennings as an influential person in her life and grateful for his push to obtain a religious correspondent at ABC.
“I felt that television was out of touch with the people they were covering,” Wehmeyer told the Samford group. “My job has been to translate the culture of network media and the culture of American religious life.”
During her tenure with ABC, Wehmeyer filed scores of exclusive stories on faith issues and their impact on society.
She interviewed national political personalities such as Bill Clinton, Al Gore and George W. Bush and her exclusive introduced the country to the parents of Columbine shooting victim, Cassie Bernall.
Wehmeyer, who lives in Dallas with her family, covered religious and social issues for Dallas’ ABC affiliate WFAA-TV for 10 years before going to the network.
Wehmeyer said she is “in no hurry to make a career decision. …I am tired. And I am looking forward to spending more time with my two children.”
(RNS, Jennifer Rash contributed)
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