David Chalian

— -- David Chalian is the political director for ABC News. In this role, he helps to oversee the editorial content of all political news across ABC News' broadcasts and platforms. Chalian co-anchors "Top Line," a daily political webcast on ABCNews.com and on ABC News Now, the network's 24-hour digital outlet. In addition, he provides political commentary and analysis for "World News with Diane Sawyer," "Good Morning America," ABC News Radio and NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service.

During the historic 2008 presidential election, Chalian was responsible for guiding the editorial direction for all ABC News platforms from the primary season debates, the Iowa caucuses, the New Hampshire primary, and Super Tuesday to the protracted battle for delegates between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, the vice presidential picks, the party conventions, the fall debates between McCain and Obama, and the election. Throughout the cycle, he co-anchored "Politics Live," a daily political program, with ABC News veteran Sam Donaldson on ABC News Now.

As part of the team that traveled to Alaska to produce Sarah Palin's first television interview as the GOP vice presidential nominee (with ABC News' Charlie Gibson), Chalian received an Emmy Award nomination. In 2006, Chalian received the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University award as a part of the team at ABC News that produced the live coverage of the death of Pope John Paul II and the election of Pope Benedict XVI.

Prior to his current assignment, Chalian was ABC News' deputy political director. In that role, he co-authored the well-respected online morning political news summary, "The Note." His commentary and analysis was also heard on "The AfterNote," a daily podcast from the ABC News political unit to which he was a regular contributor.

Chalian covered the 2004 presidential election cycle as a member of the political unit. During that time, he reported for all ABC News platforms, including "World News Tonight," "Good Morning America," "Nightline," "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," ABC News Radio, abcnews.com, and ABC News Now. Chalian also co-anchored "Battlegrounds" from the Republican National Convention, a week-long series focused on the battleground states. He joined the network in March 2003 as a field producer with the political unit based in New York.

Prior to joining ABC News, Chalian produced "Inside City Hall," a widely acclaimed nightly political program for NY1 News. There he covered the 2001 New York City mayoral campaign, the 2002 gubernatorial campaign in New York, and the tragic events of September 11.

Chalian resides in Washington, D.C. He is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he majored in theatre and political science.

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