Welcome Yamiche Alcindor, Thanks To Gwen Ifill

Washington Week has been a Friday night staple (or now a Saturday morning DVR viewing) since I was a teenager. Over the decades Public Television consistently has provided this program with top reporters and journalists as they sift through the news of the week and provide analysis and perspective. This weekend a new chapter started for the show with Yamiche Alcindor taking the reins. I am very pleased with the choice for the anchor.

I really gravitated towards Paul Duke who anchored the show when I started watching in my high school years. He would continue for two decades. During those years I was fascinated by Duke for the reason he was substantive but always serene and laid back. People who commanded attention with such a calm demeanor have always appealed to me when it comes to news programming.

Then I simply loved the nearly 16 years that Gwen Ifill took on the role and dived into the issues each week. I just knew there was something smart and steady with her hand on the broadcasts. She became one of the first African American women to preside over a major national political show.  The announcement of her death came to me as I sat in a dentist chair with CNN broadcasting above my head.

She was not just another reporter or journalist I turned to for news.  She was more than a graceful and bright interviewer who added context to the headlines.  What made Ifill special was her presence on television, that even in bad times, made us aware there was a way to think it through and make sense out of what had happened.

America needs ‘stabilizers’ such as she proved to be for decades.  In times of confusion over complex Supreme Court cases, or after savage terrorism she had the ability to pry into the mix of facts and report so a deeper and more seasoned view could be had.  She had a keen sense for getting to the center of the story with her interviews.  And through it all, I just knew that she would be a pure delight off camera.

Now the leading chair at Washington Week features Yamiche Alcindor, a reporter that is fact-based, intelligent, and mindful of the journalism which needs to be done for the changing demographics and power structures in the nation. On her first broadcast, she paid tribute to the guiding hand of Ifill, and it was a most fitting hand in glove approach as the show moves forward.

Friday nights have obviously changed since my years as a teenager in Hancock, or the ones when as a young adult I watched the show in my first apartment. Now I have Saturday morning breakfast and view the broadcast recorded from the previous evening. No matter, however, where or when the show is watched the professional nature of Washington Week has never altered itself.

And so it goes.

Gwen Ifill Richly Honored With Postal Stamp

This news is something that we all can be pleased to learn about it today.  Long-time readers may recall my respect for Gwen Ifill as a journalist, and as a classy woman.

Today those reasons underscore why Ifill will be honored with a postal stamp. The stamp features a 2008 photo of Ifill with the words “BLACK HERITAGE” at the top and Ifill’s name at the bottom.  It is the 43rd stamp in the Black Heritage series and one of several new designs that will be issued next year.

Ifill worked at the NewsHour for 17 years, covering eight presidential campaigns and moderating two vice-presidential debates. She was also the moderator and managing editor of “Washington Week.”

She is really missed in these chaotic times.

Cheers For Judy Woodruff!

Eighteen months after the death of a truly beloved woman–Gwen Ifill–PBS NewsHour has named managing editor Judy Woodruff solo anchor of the nightly broadcast.  My deep admiration and respect go back to the years when she covered politics on CNN with another respected man, Bernie Shaw.  (How I miss Shaw, too.)

This time, in which the nation finds itself, requires the citizenry to be informed and educated about the events of the day.  Woodruff has proven her skills over the years and we look to her now for continued professionalism as we plow through each twist and turn of chaos and bombast.

Will Republican Officials Show Up For CNN Town Hall On Gun Violence?

To help facilitate the discussion, CNN has announced it will hold a nationally televised town hall with the victims’ classmates, parents and community members.

“Stand Up: The Students of Stoneman Douglas Demand Action” will air live on Wednesday, February 21 at 9 p.m., ET.

In addition, President Donald Trump, and Florida Gov. Rick Scott, along with the state’s Sen. Bill Nelson, Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Ted Deutch have all been invited to participate in the town hall and hear directly from the grieving community.

A CNN spokeswoman said CNN anchor Jake Tapper will moderate the event and noted that additional details would be released in the coming days.

Any guess how many of the “invited guests” show up?

Gwen Ifill And Her Unique Honor

Hat to James.

If you have read this blog over the years you are well aware of my deep respect for Gwen Ifill, the legendary TV and print journalist who was on PBS’ Newshour.  She died last year of cancer at the age of 61.  Now she will also be recalled for a unique honor.

Simmons College announced this week the Gwen Ifill College of Media, Arts and Humanities has been created in her honor.  She graduated from the private college with a communications degree in 1977.

The newly formed college is scheduled to launch in fall 2018. It’s one of four colleges recently formed to help restructure Simmons College’s range of academic studies. It will feature several of the late journalist’s personal affects and papers. About 800 students are expected to enroll in the new college.

Ifill, along with her PBS NewsHour co-anchor Judy Woodruff, were the first women to co-host a nightly news program. Before joining PBS in 1999, Ifill spent years covering politics for The New York Times, The Washington Post and NBC News—often one of few, if any, black women in those newsrooms.

I still miss her smile.

I Simply Loved Gwen Ifill For Being A ‘Stabilizer’ In An Unsettled World

I thought my day was at its low point.  After all, I was in a dentist chair, my face felt totally frozen, and the visit was not slated to be a short one.  The drilling was done and CNN above my head was on.  And then the Breaking News alert was flashed.

I could not believe what was being reported.  Gwen Ifill had died at the age of 61 from endometrial cancer.

She was not just another reporter or journalist I turned to for news.  She was more than a graceful and bright interviewer who added context to the headlines.  What made Ifill special was her presence on television, that even in bad times, made us aware there was a way to think it through and make sense out of what had happened.

America needs ‘stabilizers’ such as she proved to be for decades.  In times of confusion over complex Supreme Court cases, or after savage terrorism she had the ability to pry into the mix of facts and report so a deeper and more seasoned view could be had.  She had a keen sense for getting to the center of the story with her interviews.  And through it all I just knew that she would be a pure delight off camera.

I have always fancied the perfect dinner party and once the guests have all left there are always one or two that lingers for another cup of coffee and a more comfortable chair for a longer talk.  Gwen Ifill would have been one of those who I would want to stick around, shoes kicked aside, feet curled in chair.  That is how she always came across the camera to me.

I first came to know Gwen Ifill from reading The New York Times where she covered politics and campaigns.  She was notable for her access to people and her ability to see around the corners of a news story and offer insight into what might be coming next.  That is a mark of a great reporter.

I started watching Washington Week In Review every Friday when I was a teenager. During those years I was fascinated by Paul Duke for the reason he was substantive but always serene and laid back. People who commanded attention with such a calm demeanor appealed to me when it came to news.  In 1999 when Ifill took over as host I just knew there was something smart and steady about this reporter.  With her hosting she became one of the first African American women to preside over a major national political show.  Her years at NewsHour made that weekday show a must see.

There is no end to the praise I have given her over the past ten years on this blog.  In March 2016 I wrote the following.

I want to do a well deserved shout-out this evening to one of America’s top and brightest broadcasters. While watching NewsHour on PBS (the Supreme Court case in particular) I was struck yet again by the ability of Gwen Ifill to so illuminate the world and the issues of our time. I simply love her. A few years back when there was an opening for the host on “Meet The Press” I had hoped she would land the position. But to not have her probing questions and reporting skills nightly would have meant one of our most cerebral journalists would have had reduced air time. Her work on PBS allows us to better understand the facts of the story, and the dynamics behind the headlines. She is a solid and substantive reporter and anchor.

Friday nights will not be the same without her smile and grace.  Though sad, are we not glad to have had the chance for her to visit our homes so often?

Peace and Godspeed, Gwen.    And thanks.

Gwen Ifill’s New Look Is Fantastic

I want to do a well deserved shout-out this evening to one of America’s top and brightest broadcasters. While watching NewsHour on PBS (the Supreme Court case in particular) I was struck yet again by the ability of Gwen Ifill to so illuminate the world and the issues of our time. I simply love her. A few years back when there was an on opening for the host on “Meet The Press” I had hoped she would land the position. But to not have her probing questions and reporting skills nightly would have meant one of our most cerebral journalists would have had reduced air time. Her work on PBS allows us to better understand the facts of the story, and the dynamics behind the headlines. She is a solid and substantive reporter and anchor. And her new glasses and hair style are fantastic!

No Elected Republican Would Agree To Appear On Sunday Morning Talk Shows To Talk About Gun Shooting

All in bold lettering for a reason!

What does it tell America that not one single Republican office holder who was asked to make an appearance on Face The Nation, or Meet The Press took up the offer to talk about the Newtown elementary school shooting?

How deeply controlled are the members of the GOP by the NRA?

Both CBS anchor Bob Schieffer, and David Gregory of NBC reported that while many Republicans were asked to speak to the issue of gun violence in the aftermath of the school shooting all declined.

Had the attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi been the topic there would have been so many half-crazed Republicans swarming the microphones they would have had to be restrained.

But 20 small kids mowed down by gun violence, and not a Republican can be found to speak.

Just simply another shameful episode in gutless and spineless politics.