Gwen Ifill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gwen Ifill
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At the 2012 Republican National Convention for PBS NewsHour
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| Born | September 29, 1955 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | November 14, 2016 (aged 61) Washington, D.C., U.S.
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| Alma mater | Simmons College (BA) |
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| Years active | 1977–2016 |
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Notable credit(s)
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The New York Times PBS NewsHour The Washington Post Washington Week |
| Family | Sherrilyn Ifill (cousin) |
Gwen Ifill (/ˈaɪfəl/ EYE-fəl; September 29, 1955 – November 14, 2016) was a famous American journalist, TV news anchor, and author. In 1999, she made history as the first African-American woman to host a national TV show about public affairs in the U.S. This show was called Washington Week in Review. She was the main host and editor for Washington Week. She also co-anchored and co-edited PBS NewsHour with Judy Woodruff. Both shows aired on PBS. Ifill was a political expert and led the 2004 and 2008 vice-presidential debates. She also wrote a popular book called The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Gwendolyn L. Ifill was born in Jamaica, Queens, a part of New York City. She was the fifth of six children. Her father, Oliver Urcille Ifill Sr., was a minister from Panama with family roots in Barbados. Her mother, Eleanor Ifill, was from Barbados. Because her father was a minister, her family moved often. They lived in several cities across New England and the East Coast.
As a child, Gwen lived in church homes in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. She also lived in government-supported housing in Buffalo and New York City. She finished high school in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1973. In 1977, she earned a degree in communications from Simmons College in Boston. Simmons College was a women's college at the time.
A Career in Journalism
While studying at Simmons College, Gwen Ifill worked as an intern for the Boston Herald-American newspaper. One day, she found a racist note on her desk. She showed it to her editors, who were shocked. They offered her a job after she graduated in 1977. Her friend Michele Norris said that Gwen didn't let the note stop her. She focused on her work, and that's how she earned the job.
Ifill later worked for the Baltimore Evening Sun from 1981 to 1984. Then she moved to The Washington Post from 1984 to 1991. She left the Post and was hired by The New York Times. There, she covered news from the White House from 1991 to 1994. Her first job in television was with NBC in 1994. She reported on news from Capitol Hill for the network.
In October 1999, Gwen Ifill became the host of the PBS show Washington Week in Review. This made her the first black woman to host a national political talk show on TV. She was also a main reporter for PBS NewsHour. Ifill appeared on many other news shows, like Meet the Press and Face the Nation. In 2017, the Committee to Protect Journalists renamed an award in her honor. It is now called the Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award.
Moderating Debates
Gwen Ifill was known for moderating important political debates. On October 5, 2004, she led the vice-presidential debate. This debate was between Republican Vice President Dick Cheney and Democratic candidate John Edwards. People agreed that Ifill did a great job as the moderator. She was the first African-American woman to lead a vice-presidential debate.
Ifill also moderated the vice-presidential debate on October 2, 2008. This debate featured Democratic Senator Joe Biden and Republican Governor Sarah Palin. It took place at Washington University in St. Louis. The debate allowed Ifill to ask questions about both U.S. and international topics.
Before the 2008 debate, some people questioned Ifill's fairness. This was because she had a book coming out called The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama. The book was about African-American politicians, including Barack Obama. However, John McCain, the Republican presidential candidate, said he trusted Gwen Ifill to do a professional job. After the debate, Ifill received much praise for her performance. The Boston Globe reported that she treated both candidates fairly.
Ifill's work as a debate moderator even became part of pop culture. She was parodied on the TV show Saturday Night Live, with Queen Latifah playing her.
Later Career Highlights
In August 2009, Gwen Ifill appeared as a guest expert on the TV show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?". She helped a contestant answer a question about a quote from Shakespeare.
In August 2013, NewsHour announced that Ifill and Judy Woodruff would be co-anchors and co-managing editors. They shared the anchoring duties from Monday to Thursday. Woodruff was the sole anchor on Fridays.
In February 2016, Ifill and Woodruff moderated a debate between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. This made them the first team of women to moderate a Democratic presidential debate.
Published Works
Gwen Ifill's book, The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama, was released on January 20, 2009. This was the same day President Obama was sworn into office. The book focused on several African-American politicians. These included Obama and other rising stars like Artur Davis, Deval Patrick, and Cory Booker. The publisher said the book showed "why this is a pivotal moment in American history." It included interviews with important black leaders and Ifill's own thoughts. The book became a New York Times best-seller.
Awards and Honors
Gwen Ifill received many awards for her excellent work in journalism.
- In 2000, she won the Women in Film and Video Women of Vision Award.
- In 2004, she received the Gracie Allen Tribute Award.
- She won a Peabody Award in 2008 for her work on Washington Week.
- In 2009, Harvard University honored her with the Goldsmith Career Award for Excellence in Journalism.
- In 2012, Ifill was inducted into the National Association of Black Journalists Hall of Fame.
- In 2015, she received the Lifetime Achievement award from the Women's Media Center.
- She also received more than 20 honorary doctorates from universities.
After her death, her alma mater, Simmons College, announced they would name a new school after her. It is called the "Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts and Humanities." On January 30, 2020, Ifill was honored on a U.S. postage stamp. In June 2021, a park in Queens, New York City, was renamed Railroad Park in her honor.
Personal Life
Gwen Ifill attended Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church for many years. She was very close to her large extended family. She also spent time with important people in Washington, D.C., and helped mentor young journalists. Her cousin, Sherrilyn Ifill, said that Gwen "represented the most American of success stories."
In her free time, Ifill loved to read. She never married and did not have children.
Death
Gwen Ifill died from cancer on November 14, 2016, at the age of 61. She spent her last days in a hospice in Washington, D.C., surrounded by her family and friends.
On the day she passed away, PBS NewsHour dedicated their entire show to her. Over the next week, they continued to honor her with a series called "Remembering Gwen." Sara Just from PBS called Ifill "a journalist's journalist."
President Barack Obama sent his condolences to Ifill's family. He said he "always appreciated [her] reporting even when [he] was at the receiving end of one of her tough interviews." Speaker of the House Paul Ryan also expressed his sadness, calling Ifill "an incredibly talented and respected journalist." First Lady Michelle Obama was among the many people who attended Ifill's funeral.
Images for kids
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Ifill in 2010
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Ifill at the 2009 Peabody Awards ceremony
