FIRST OFF . . .

William Lord, executive producer of ABC News “World News Tonight” for more than three years, has told his bosses he is weary of his job’s grind and requested reassignment, an ABC spokesman said Wednesday. Lord--whose departure from the program has been rumored for a month--has set no deadline for his departure, nor has ABC News President Roone Arledge decided on Lord’s replacement. Among those said in the running for Lord’s job are ABC News executives Dorrance Smith and Paul Friedman. ABC executives deny the resignation was related to feuds between Lord and ABC anchorman Peter Jennings. Said one: “There would be something very wrong if an executive producer and his anchor didn’t go to battle once in a while. It happens at all the networks.”