Television and film industries are in a bit of a flux as of late. With Netflix using streaming technology to shake up things and make a move on the viewer base, many other television and film companies have had to respond with some rather significant and pronounced activity. One of the biggest moves has been the decision by the Walt Disney Co. to cut jobs at its ABC entertainment arm. With this decision, there have been a number of reports of contention between Ben Sherwood, the head of ABC, and other executives from Disney. Ben Sherwood is no rookie to the world of entertainment, but most of you are probably unaware of who he is, so we decided to share five facts with you that will help you familiarize yourself with the man who is left to make sense of Disney’s decision to cut as many as 300 jobs at ABC.
1. He Has Worked on the Production Side of the Spectrum
Ben Sherwood has an extensive background operating on the production side of the equation, which is one of the reasons that he was deemed qualified for an executive position. He has served as a writer, a producer, and a journalist – creating a massive foundation of experience that allows him to possess an extensive understanding of how things work. It is not currently clear how long Ben will serve as the President of Disney-ABC Television Group, but it is clear that there are some significant differences between him and his bosses at Disney.
2. He was an Associate Producer at ABC
Sherwood’s history with ABC goes quite a way back. He served as an associate producer for the television news show Primetime, which was then called Primetime Live. Sam Donaldson and Diane Sawyer were the original hosts of the show. During the same time that Sherwood was producing this show, he was also serving as an active journalist for ABC. In fact, he built his foundation in the industry by being willing to go into places and report on situations that many reporters refused to go into.
3. He Came Under Sniper Fire in Sarajevo
While some of you may be too young to remember the conflict in Bosnia, many of you do. If you are able to remember this, then you probably remember reports of reporters consistently coming under sniper fire in Sarajevo in August of 1992. Well, Ben Sherwood was one of the journalists who snipers were shooting at. While he was never hit, the situation did reveal just how dangerous being a journalist could be, as well as how far Sherwood was willing to go to get the story.
4. He Has Trodden the Waters of Online Commerce
While more and more Americans are testing the waters of online commerce, Ben Sherwood jumped out there a long time ago. He launched a site called TheSurvivorsClub.org, which offered a wide range of support and resources for people who were facing all types of adversity and challenges. This site still exists today, and it is dedicated to making sure that people have the resources they need to overcome almost any adversity.
5. He Comes from Money
Ben was born into a wealthy Jewish family that lived in Los Angeles, California. Both parents were well-connected in the community, and it likely that young Ben used some of those connections to advance his career at certain points. His mother, Dorothy Lipsey Romonek, was on the board of trustees for the California Institute of the Arts, and his father, Richard E. Sherwood was a prominent attorney who was viewed as a leader of the American Jewish Committee.
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