ABC News selects Hanna Battah as Correspondent & Overnight Anchor for 'World News Now' & 'Good Morning America First Look'

ABC News has appointed Hanna Battah as the new overnight co-anchor for World News Now and Good Morning America First Look, joining Sophie Flay in the role. Battah most recently served as the anchor for KDFW-TVs top-rated afternoon and early-evening newscasts in Dallas. She also co-anchored The Ten, a largely unscripted show featuring extensive live interviews.

During her more than seven years in Dallas, Battah frequently covered major and breaking news events, including the 2024 presidential election results and the central Texas flood disaster.

In her new position at ABC News, Battah will co-anchor overnight programs, providing a lead-in to ABC Owned Television Stations and affiliates local morning shows. Ken Kneeland serves as executive producer of World News Now and Good Morning America First Look, with Simone Swink acting as senior executive producer for both overnight programs as well as the flagship Good Morning America and GMA3.

Throughout her career, Battah has reported on a wide range of stories, from state legislatures in the Midwest to devastating wildfires on the West Coast and tensions along the U.S. southern border. In 2018, she earned a Lone Star Emmy nomination for her teams breaking news coverage of a pickup truck intentionally crashing into the television station during a morning newscast, which led to a live bomb squad investigation.

Before joining KDFW-TV, Battah spent two years as an afternoon anchor and evening reporter for KBAK-TV/KBFX-TV in Bakersfield, California. She also worked as an anchor and multimedia journalist at KOMU-TV in Columbia, Missouri. A graduate of the University of Missouris School of Journalism, Battah began her career in radio with Missouri Digital News, covering the state legislature in Jefferson City.

Author: Sophia Brooks