James Longman was named chief international correspondent for ABC News, a new role for the veteran overseas journalist.
“His intrepid reporting and powerful storytelling have elevated ABC News’ global coverage since he joined seven years ago, and in this new, well-deserved role, James will continue to deliver best-in-class journalism for our audiences across all programs and platforms,” said Almin Karamehmedovic, president of ABC News, in a statement.
Longman, who joined ABC News as a foreign correspondent in 2017, Longman has reported from war-torn Ukraine and from Israel Israel immediately following the Oct. 7 terror attack. His coverage of the frist two weeks of the war in Gaza for the live-streaming outlet ABC News Live was part of the Disney-backed outlet’s winning entry for a News Emmy in September.
He has covered news stories ranging from the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II to the Thai soccer team stuck in a rainforest cave. He previously worked for the BBC where he served as a general news reporter and the corporation’s Beirut correspondent. Longman is a fluent Arabic and French speaker.
Longman has also expanded his reporting to examining the genetics of mental illness in a new book, “The Inherited Mind,” which documents his family’s history of schizophrenia and depression and is set to be published in January 2025. He was honored with a David Bloom Award for his reporting on LGBTQ+ abuses in Chechnya.
“I’ve witnessed firsthand his talent,” said Karamehmedovic, who noted that Longman’s “compassionate storytelling ability and straightforward approach help to earn our audience’s trust time and again. “
