It has been reported that Gwen Ifill, the moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week” and co-anchor of “PBS NewsHour” has died at the age of 61.
Ms. Ifill had had a long-term battle with cancer, which was the confirmed cause of her death according to the WETA president and CEO Sharon Percy Rockefeller. The executive producer, Sara Just, said in a statement, “Gwen was a standard bearer for courage, fairness and integrity in an industry going through seismic change. She was a mentor to so many across the industry and her professionalism was respected across the political spectrum.”
Some may recognize Ifill’s discography as the woman who moderated both the 2004 and 2008 vice presidential debates. Others may recognize her as one of the moderators for the Democratic party between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders.
She was also a former report for The New York Times as well as a published author, her notable piece being “The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama,” which was published on inauguration day in 2009. Her work in the community brought her notoriety and an honorary award from Columbia University which was to be delivered on November 16th. The ceremony has now been postponed.
As social media has filled down timelines with her remembrance and legacy as a seasoned journalist who garnered a lot of political and professional connections, let us take a moment to remember the life and legacy of Gwen Ifill. Let us also thank her for paving the way for many young African-Americans working in the world of politics and journalism, proving that hard work could substantiate a hard-fought career.
