Obituaries

Pioneering PBS Anchor Gwen Ifill Has Died

She had a storied nearly 40-year career that spanned various newspapers and television networks.

Pioneering PBS Anchor Gwen Ifill Has Died
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Article by Lauren Stephenson
SMS
November 14, 2016

PBS anchor and moderator Gwen Ifill has died.

Ifill had served as co-anchor and managing editor of "PBS NewsHour." She and colleague Judy Woodruff made history in 2013 when they became the first permanent female team to co-anchor a network broadcast.

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She had also moderated and served as managing editor of political roundtable show "Washington Week" since 1999.

Ifill moderated two vice presidential debates and interviewed many high-profile leaders, including President Barack Obama.

She started her career in the late 1970s as a newspaper reporter. Over the years, she worked as a reporter for various newspapers and networks — that includes being a White House correspondent for the New York Times and a congressional correspondent for NBC News.

She did not participate in last week's election coverage. In the spring, Ifill took a leave of absence to address health issues.

PBS said in a statement that Ifill died Monday "surrounded by family and friends." CNN reports Ifill had been battling cancer. She was 61.