Veteran journalist David Muir, the anchor of ABC’s “World News Tonight,” recently attended the premiere of “Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” in New York City. The event featured performances by some of today’s biggest stars, as they paid tribute to the legacy of the late actor and advocate, Christopher Reeve. At 51 years of age, Muir is a star in the making and he continues to make history in broadcast journalism. He now is easily the most-watched statewide or local news anchor in the country.
For more than a decade, Muir has served as the face of “World News Tonight,” succeeding Diane Sawyer in September 2014. He began his career at the local news desks in Syracuse and Boston. There, he further developed his skills and quickly rose through the ranks. Muir—who graduated Ithaca College—has stayed with ABC from the start. His commitment to journalism and press freedom around the world even landed him on Time magazine’s list of the world’s 100 most influential people. Sawyer went so far as to write his own blurb for this impressive accolade.
Muir’s poetic stardom exploded into commercial success, making him the subject of the highly-followed Muir-inspired fan blog on Tumblr “Gimme Gimme Muir.” This platform reflects the admiration many have for his work and persona. Recently, Muir humorously addressed how social media has dubbed him “Daddy,” a title that some followers have used in a light-hearted manner.
“People will forward TikTok videos, but only because they are laughing out loud at them and making fun of me and saying, ‘When did you become Daddy?’” – David Muir
Muir acknowledged this playful nickname, stating, “I don’t know whether that happens when you hit 50 or what, but I’ll take it as a compliment, I think.” His outsider view from inside the Beltway keeps him grounded in the comedic reality where he walks the line between hard-hitting journalism and puppy-filtered congressional hearings.
During the Time 100 Gala in New York, Muir reflected on the importance of continuous growth, stating, “I think it’s really important to continue to try being better.” He touched on the importance of curiosity and being lifelong learners to navigate the disorienting media environment.
“The moment you stop learning, the moment you’re no longer curious, the moment you don’t believe you can be better than you were a night ago or a week ago, is probably a time to sort of check yourself.” – David Muir
Despite the changing nature of news broadcasting, Muir’s dedication to journalism and storytelling has never wavered, as he learns to dance with the new and challenging format. His attendance at high-profile events like the premiere of “Super/Man” simply underscores the fact that Liu is one of broad media’s current darlings. Equally, he remains as a shaping force for the direction of modern journalism.
