Gwen Ifill, Judy Woodruff Named Co-Anchors of the ‘PBS NewsHour’

By Alex Weprin 

At the Television Critics Association Summer Press tour in Beverly Hills this afternoon, PBS named Gwen ifill and Judy Woodruff as the co-anchors and managing editors of the “PBS NewsHour,” making them the first all-female co-anchor team in broadcast news.

Ifill and Woodruff will formally take the reins of the program in September, replacing the rotating anchor format that the program has utilized over the last few years.

Woodruff will anchor the program solo on Fridays, as “Washington Week,” which Ifill also hosts, tapes that day. The pair had been the most frequent anchors on the program since Jim Lehrer stepped down in 2011, and they also anchored the program’s debate, convention and election coverage.

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PBS also added specific responsibilities to a number of correspondents. Hari Sreenivasan–who will be anchoring the upcoming weekend edition of the program–will serve as senior correspondent, with Jeffrey Brown becoming chief correspondent for arts, culture and society, Ray Suarez chief national correspondent and Margaret Warner chief foreign correspondent.

The changes come as the “NewsHour” seeks to reinvent itself for the 21st century. While it is adding a weekend edition produced by WNET, the show also saw a number of layoffs in June, including the shuttering of its U.S.  bureaus.

More below.

PBS NEWSHOUR NAMES GWEN IFILL AND JUDY WOODRUFF CO-ANCHORS AND MANAGING EDITORS

Jeffrey Brown, Ray Suarez and Margaret Warner Named Chief Correspondents; Hari Sreenivasan Named Senior Correspondent

Los Angeles, Calif. — Aug. 6, 2013 — Today at the Television Critics Association Press Tour, it was announced that Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff will be co-anchors and managing editors for the PBS NEWSHOUR. Ifill and Woodruff will anchor the broadcast together Monday through Thursday each week. On Fridays, Woodruff will anchor solo as Ifill hosts WASHINGTON WEEK that evening. This will mark the first time a network broadcast has had a female co-anchor team.

It was also announced that Hari Sreenivasan will serve as Senior Correspondent for the PBS NEWSHOUR with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff, reporting several times a week from WNET’s Tisch Studios in New York, along with his duties anchoring PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND Saturdays and Sundays beginning September 7.

In addition, three PBS NEWSHOUR correspondents have been given specific areas of content responsibility and will be contributing on a daily basis to both the broadcast and online operation. Jeffrey Brown was named Chief Correspondent for Arts, Culture, and Society. Ray Suarez was named Chief National Correspondent. And Margaret Warner was named Chief Foreign Correspondent.

“This marks an exciting new chapter in the history of PBS NEWSHOUR,” said Linda Winslow, executive producer for PBS NEWSHOUR. “Gwen and Judy have been the heart and soul of NEWSHOUR for years, so it’s wonderful to formalize these new roles and give them an opportunity to provide even more input on the content and direction of the show. It’s also great to have talented correspondents like Jeff, Ray, Hari and Margaret available to help us get out in the field to explore topics that point up their in-depth knowledge of the subjects they’ll be covering.”

“I am so pleased to be taking on this new role alongside my colleague and dear friend Judy Woodruff,” Ifill said. “We’ve successfully worked side-by-side for many years covering conventions, elections and countless other news events. We make a great team.”

“Gwen and I love working together and appreciate the trust viewers put in the PBS NEWSHOUR, both on TV and online,” said Woodruff. “Working with Linda and this entire terrific team, we’ll do our best to make sure the next chapter for the NEWSHOUR upholds its reputation for excellence, independence and integrity.”

“We are so pleased about these new roles for Gwen, Judy and the NEWSHOUR team,” said Beth Hoppe, PBS Chief Programming Executive and General Manager, General Audience Programming. “Together with the weekend edition from New York, PBS NEWSHOUR is solidly positioned to continue its long track record of providing context, in-depth reporting and analysis as one of the most important programs in public broadcasting.”

This announcement follows the recent announcement of PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND, which will feature a summary of the day’s national and international news, using renowned experts to offer analysis. Each weekend broadcast will contain original, in-depth field reporting on topics including education, healthcare, the economy, energy, science and technology, religion, finance and the arts. PBS NEWSHOUR correspondent Hari Sreenivasan will anchor PBS NEWSHOUR WEEKEND every Saturday and Sunday from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center.

These changes will go into effect in September.

About The PBS NEWSHOUR with Gwen Ifill and Judy Woodruff
 PBS NEWSHOUR is seen by over five million weekly viewers and is also available online, via public radio in select markets and via podcast. The program is produced with WETA Washington, D.C., and in association WNET in New York. Major corporate funding for the PBS NEWSHOUR is provided by BAE Systems and BNSF Railway. Funders include: Carnegie Corporation of New York, the MacArthur Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the Starr Foundation, S. D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, Gruber Family Foundation, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Joyce Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, National Science Foundation, Orfalea Family Foundation, Park Foundation, Poetry Foundation, The SCAN Foundation, Skoll Foundation, Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, George and Camilla Smith, Starr Foundation, The Summit Fund of Washington, Wallace Foundation, The Nicholas B. Ottaway Foundation and the John And Wendy Neu Family Foundation with additional support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting , the Friends of the NewsHour and others.

About PBS PBS, with its nearly 360 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and online content. Each month, PBS reaches nearly 123 million people through television and more than 21 million people online, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’ broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. PBS’ premier children’s TV programming and its website, pbskids.org, are parents’ and teachers’ most trusted partners in inspiring and nurturing curiosity and love of learning in children. More information about PBS is available at www.pbs.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the Internet, or by following PBS on Twitter, Facebook or through our apps for mobile devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Pressroom on Twitter.

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