Photo: Perry Hagopian

Perry Hagopian

Elizabeth Vargas‘ career at ABC has spanned nearly two decades, so when she decided to leave her long-time job, the decision wasn’t easy.

Perry Hagopian

Perry Hagopian

After hostingWorld News Tonightand20/20,Vargas officially left ABC at end of May to start a new role as the host ofA&E Investigates, where she’ll be working on the network’s new documentary programs.

Taking just two days off between jobs, her first project for the network,Cults and Extreme Beliefs(Tuesdays at 10 p.m. ET), focuses on controversial groups including NXIVM and The Family. For Vargas, having the the opportunity to devote more time to projects like this was one of the deciding factors in leaving ABC.

“I love doing live breaking news, but I’ve been doing that for 25 years,” she says, having reported live from disaster zones and covered unforgettable tragedies like 9/11 and Ronald Reagan’s death. “The storytelling we’re doing now involves that in-depth, long-term digging.”

A&E

Elizabeth Vargas hosting A&E’s Investigates: Cults and Extreme Beliefs

But mostly, Vargas says she feels grateful for her many years at ABC and her new beginning at A&E.

“It’s a tough business and I realize that a lot of talented people don’t make it,” she says. “So I feel very fortunate that I’ve had the long career that I’ve had.”

source: people.com