The network evening newscasts reported on the death of Gwen Ifill.
NBC’s Pete Williams, who was a good friend of Ifill’s since the two worked together at NBC’s Washington bureau in the 1990s and who often filled in for her on her PBS show Washington Week, reported for Nightly News at the end of the first block. Both the CBS Evening News and ABC’s World News Tonight ended their broadcasts with the news: Michelle Miller reported for CBS and David Muir reported ABC’s story. CBS’s Scott Pelly called Ifill “among the best we’ve ever had.” FNC’s Bret Baier fondly remembered Ifill about mid-way through Special Report.
Ifill’s NewsHour, of course, also remembered the award-winning journalist devoting most of the program to her tonight.
“Our lead tonight is news we hoped we’d never have to report,” said Judy Woodruff. “Our managing editor, my co-anchor and dear friend Gwen Ifill died earlier today after an almost-year long battle with cancer. She was a supernova in a profession loaded with smart and talented people.”
The program gathered some of Ifill’s colleagues, friends and those she mentored, who shared their favorite stories. There is also a growing Storify memorial on the NewsHour website.
I first met Gwen Ifill when she was a reporter at @nytimes. She became a pioneering journalist at NBC + PBS. My prayers are with her family.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) November 15, 2016