News Releases

RTNDF Mourns John McWethy

For a quarter century McWethy covered the Pentagon beat and served as a national security correspondent for the network. On September 11, 2001, he evacuated the Pentagon after it was struck by a hijacked plane and continued reporting live throughout the day and evening. He also served as lead correspondent during the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. McWethy retired from ABC in 2003 and recently moved from his home in the Washington area to Boulder, CO. He served as a special correspondent for the network until 2006.

Since 2004, the Emmy-award winning reporter had served as moderator for RTNDF's News and Terrorism Workshops, held at locations throughout the country to bring journalists, public officials and scientists together to discuss crisis coverage. As moderator, McWethy would facilitate a terrorism scenario with representatives from each group, allowing participants to examine communication during an emergency—what works and what doesn't.

The program is produced by RTNDF in association with the National Academies and the Department of Homeland Security. McWethy led a News and Terrorism session at the 2004 RTNDA convention in Las Vegas, and he led the most recent workshop last month in Charlotte, NC, plus seven others in the nationwide series.

"John was an outstanding correspondent," said Barbara Cochran, president of RTNDA and RTNDF. "He covered one of the most difficult and sensitive beats fairly but tenaciously. We were very fortunate to be able to call on his talents to lead our News and Terrorism workshops. Our sympathies go out to his family and colleagues."

RTNDA is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTNDA represents local and network news executives in broadcasting, cable and other electronic media in more than 30 countries. RTNDF provides training, research and scholarship aid for professional and aspiring electronic journalists.