ABC News announced that David Muir, a 1993 graduate of the TFAS Institute on Political Journalism, will replace Diane Sawyer as the lead anchor and managing editor of the network’s evening newscast.

Muir joined ABC News in August 2003 as anchor of the overnight news program “World News Now” and quickly moved on to become one of the network’s lead correspondents on several major domestic and international stories. Muir will take over the “World News” program on Sept. 2, and will continue to anchor ABC’s “20/20” with Elizabeth Vargas.

Before becoming a rising star at ABC, Muir was a stand out student in the TFAS IPJ program during the summer of 1993. The then Ithaca College student was selected among his peers to deliver a student testimonial during their commencement ceremony.

In a 2007 interview, Muir credited his TFAS experience with preparing him for the fast paced environment of reporting. “The intensity in the few short weeks at IPJ helped me prepare for a career that has taken me to the Middle East for the war in Iraq, to Capitol Hill for President Clinton’s impeachment trial and to Florida for the disputed 2000 Presidential race,” Muir said. “There are few programs that can inspire and engage aspiring journalists quite like the Institute on Political Journalism.”

In addition to receiving multiple Emmy and Edward R. Murrow awards for his reporting, Muir can count the TFAS Alumni Achievement Award among his accolades. TFAS presented Muir with the award during the Institute on Political Journalism Awards Ceremony at the National Press Club in 2008. During his acceptance remarks, Muir offered inspirational remarks to the budding journalists in the audience about his career and work with renowned reporters.

“We are proud to call David one of our own,” said Joe Starrs, director of the Institute on Political Journalism. “His success is a testament to the quality of our programs and the importance of our mission to prepare outstanding college students, like David was, for honorable leadership.”

Muir is one of 14,000 TFAS alumni who are forging careers in journalism, politics, government, public policy, business and philanthropy. The TFAS Institute on Political Journalism seeks to develop journalists with economic literacy and high ethical standards. Through its internships program, IPJ gives aspiring journalists a leg up in their careers and helps them land positions in high profile mainstream media organizations.

To learn more about the IPJ program, visit www.DCInternships.org/IPJ