History of David Muir in Timeline

David Muir is a prominent American journalist and anchor, currently leading ABC World News Tonight and co-anchoring 20/20. Based in New York City, he works for the ABC broadcast-television network's news department. Prior to his current role, Muir served as the weekend anchor and primary substitute anchor for World News Tonight with Diane Sawyer before officially taking over from her on September 1, 2014.

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Full Timeline

November 8, 1973: David Muir Born

On November 8, 1973, David Jason Muir was born. He is an American journalist and anchor for ABC World News Tonight and co-anchor of the ABC News magazine 20/20.

May 1991: Graduated High School

In May 1991, David Muir graduated from Onondaga Central Junior-Senior High School.

1994: WTVH-TV Anchor and Reporter

From 1994, David Muir worked as an anchor and reporter at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York.

May 1995: Graduated from Ithaca College

In May 1995, David Muir graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Ithaca College.

1995: Reports from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Gaza Strip

In 1995, David Muir's reports from Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Israel, and the Gaza Strip following the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin earned him top honors from the Radio-Television News Directors Association.

2000: Anchor and Reporter for WCVB

From 2000, David Muir worked as an anchor and reporter for WCVB television in Boston.

2000: Left WTVH-TV

In 2000, David Muir ended his time as anchor and reporter at WTVH-TV in Syracuse, New York.

September 11, 2001: Hijacker Path Investigation

On September 11, 2001, David Muir traced the path of the hijackers involved in the attacks and was later recognized with awards for his work.

August 2003: Joined ABC News

In August 2003, David Muir joined ABC News as anchor of the overnight news program World News Now.

2003: Left WCVB

In 2003, David Muir ended his time as anchor and reporter for WCVB television in Boston.

2003: Joined ABC News

In 2003, David Muir joined ABC News and reported from various international hotspots.

September 2005: Reported from New Orleans During Hurricane Katrina

In September 2005, David Muir reported from inside the New Orleans Superdome as Hurricane Katrina hit, covering the unfolding humanitarian crisis and deteriorating conditions.

October 2006: Reported from Israeli-Lebanon Border

In October 2006, David Muir reported from the Israeli-Lebanon border on the Israeli war with Hezbollah.

2006: Co-anchored Primetime

In 2006, David Muir co-anchored the newsmagazine Primetime.

March 2007: Covered Hamas Coup in Gaza

In March 2007, David Muir covered the Hamas coup from inside the Gaza Strip.

June 2007: Anchor of World News Saturday

In June 2007, David Muir became the anchor of World News Saturday.

October 2007: Reported on Earthquake in Peru

In October 2007, David Muir was dispatched to Peru after the worst earthquake to hit that country in more than two decades.

September 2008: Reported from Ukraine after Chernobyl

In September 2008, David Muir reported from Ukraine, more than two decades after the Chernobyl nuclear accident.

April 2009: Reported on Guns in America

In April 2009, David Muir and Diane Sawyer reported a 20/20 hour about guns in America getting "disturbing results" .

May 2009: Reported on Homeless Children Increase

In May 2009, David Muir's reporting on 20/20 revealed a significant increase in the number of homeless children in America.

September 7, 2009: Outpaced by World News Tonight

On September 7, 2009, NBC Nightly News was the country's most watched evening newscast, before being outpacing by World News Tonight with David Muir in April 2015.

January 2010: Reported from Haiti After Earthquake

In January 2010, David Muir traveled to Haiti in the wake of the devastating earthquake, covering the destruction and the impact on the population.

February 2011: Anchor for Weekend Newscasts

In February 2011, David Muir became an anchor for both weekend newscasts, and the broadcast was named World News with David Muir.

June 2011: Reported from Tahrir Square and Fukushima

In June 2011, David Muir reported from Tahrir Square during the political revolution in Egypt, and from Fukushima, Japan following the deadly tsunami and nuclear power plant accident.

November 2012: Lead Correspondent for 2012 Election

In November 2012, David Muir served as one of ABC's lead correspondents for the 2012 U.S. presidential election.

December 2012: Anchored Sandy Hook Elementary School Shooting Coverage

In December 2012, David Muir anchored several hours of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting coverage as it unfolded and reported from the scene as President Obama visited the town.

January 2013: Reported from Iran

In January 2013, David Muir reported from inside Iran, leading up to the nuclear talks.

March 2013: Co-anchor of 20/20

In March 2013, David Muir was promoted to co-anchor ABC's 20/20 with Elizabeth Vargas.

June 27, 2014: Named Anchor and Managing Editor of ABC World News

On June 27, 2014, ABC News announced that David Muir would succeed Diane Sawyer as the anchor and managing editor of ABC World News.

September 1, 2014: Succeeded Diane Sawyer

On September 1, 2014, David Muir succeeded Diane Sawyer as anchor on ABC's World News Tonight.

2014: George Stephanopoulos was Lead Anchor of Breaking News for ABC News

From 2014 to 2020, George Stephanopoulos was the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News, before being replaced by David Muir.

April 2015: Most-Watched Evening Newscast

In April 2015, World News Tonight with David Muir became the country's most-watched evening newscast, outpacing NBC Nightly News for the first time since September 7, 2009.

2015: Hillary Clinton Private Email Admission

During one of David Muir's interviews with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in 2015, she admitted it was a mistake to use a private e-mail server and offered her first apology to the American people.

2015: Most Watched Newscast

Since 2015, World News Tonight with David Muir has been the most watched newscast in the United States.

March 2016: Released Report on Heroin Crisis

In March 2016, David Muir released a year-long report on the heroin crisis in America, winning a CINE Golden Eagle Award for his reporting.

January 25, 2017: Interviewed President Donald Trump

On January 25, 2017, David Muir interviewed then President Donald Trump in the White House, five days after his inauguration. It was Trump's first interview as president.

May 6, 2020: Interviewed President Trump about COVID

On May 6, 2020, David Muir interviewed President Donald Trump about the COVID Pandemic.

2020: Interviewed Biden and Harris

Ahead of the 2020 presidential election, David Muir conducted the first joint interview with Democratic nominee Joe Biden and his running mate, then-Senator Kamala Harris.

2020: George Stephanopoulos was Lead Anchor of Breaking News for ABC News

From 2014 to 2020, George Stephanopoulos was the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News, before being replaced by David Muir in 2021.

2020: Ratings Exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic

In 2020, David Muir's ratings exploded during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, averaging around 12 million viewers, and becoming the most watched TV Program.

December 2021: Pressed Biden on COVID Preparedness

In December 2021, at the White House, David Muir pressed President Biden on whether the U.S. was prepared for the Covid surge.

2021: Lead Anchor of Breaking News for ABC News

In 2021, David Muir became the lead anchor of breaking news and special event coverage for ABC News.

2021: Reported on Climate-Change Driven Famine in Madagascar

In 2021, David Muir traveled to Southern Madagascar to report on what the United Nations World Food Program warned was the first climate-change driven famine in the world.

February 2023: Interviewed Biden on Ukraine Support

In February 2023, David Muir conducted two interviews with President Biden, one in Warsaw on U.S. support for Ukraine.

2023: Reported on Flooding and Malnutrition in South Sudan

In 2023, David Muir traveled to South Sudan to report on the historic flooding that had destroyed communities, leading to severe malnutrition.

2023: Emmy and Murrow awards

In 2023, David Muir won the Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program and the Edward R. Murrow Award for Network TV Newscast.

June 6, 2024: Interviewed Biden in Normandy

On June 6, 2024, David Muir interviewed president Biden in Normandy, pressing him on whether he would pardon his son, Hunter Biden.

September 10, 2024: Moderated Presidential Debate

On September 10, 2024, David Muir and Linsey Davis moderated a presidential debate on ABC News between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

December 1, 2024: Biden Reversed Course, Pardoning Son

On December 1, 2024, President Biden reversed course and pardoned his son, Hunter Biden, after telling David Muir in an interview that he would not.

2024: Walter Cronkite Award and Emmy and Murrow awards

In 2024, David Muir was the recipient of the Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Journalism. He also won the Emmy for Outstanding Live News Program in both 2023 and 2024 and won the Edward R. Murrow Award for Network TV Newscast in the same years.