ABC News

Let me be the first to tell you. ABC News is going to name 20/20 lead Elizabeth Vargas and correspondent Bob Woodruff co-anchors of World News Tonight as successors to Peter Jennings.

I had that sudden intuitive certainty watching the two of them work the Katrina story together recently.

Woodruff has the long lean look, and a presence similar to Jennings’. He is a former attorney who came to the business somewhat later, and his experience in the field matches the kind Jennings brought to the anchor desk when he returned there after a brief horrendous time when he was too young, too unformed. Woodruff is calm and has a compelling manner. Check out his eyes as well. When I was in television we’d talk about the few people who pour through the camera, and pray we might find and hire them. Woodruff does that. When he’s there he’s really there.

Vargas is well known for her work on 20/20 and as a sub for Jennings, especially when he got so sick, and then after his death. She has a strong background working stories for the newscasts, and in the longer magazine and special report format as well. When she reported from Louisiana during the immediate aftermath of the hurricane I was struck by her strength and ability to carry the coverage. She is a hard-hitting deliverer of copy, and has a sympathetic demeanor when necessary. She also appears extremely confident and at ease with herself.

So there you have it. Breaking news...film at 11.