Newsman Donaldson is a reference to Sam Donaldson, an American broadcast journalist who served as ABC News' White House Correspondent from 1977 to 1999. He was also the co-anchor of the network's Sunday news program, This Week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts. Donaldson is known for his aggressive questioning of government officials and his willingness to challenge authority. He has won numerous awards for his work, including two Emmy Awards and the Edward R. Murrow Award.