Gwen Ifill, co-anchor of PBS NewsHour, has died.
“It is with extremely heavy hearts that we must share that our dear friend and beloved colleague Gwen Ifill passed away this afternoon following several months of cancer treatment,” PBS said in a statement.
PBS says Ifill was surrounded by her family and friends when she died.
Our sister site TVNewser reports the 61-year-old Ifill last appeared on-air on Oct. 9, the night of the second presidential debate.
“Gwen was a standard bearer for courage, fairness and integrity in an industry going through seismic change,” said Sara Just, PBS NewsHour executive producer and WETA SVP. “She was a mentor to so many across the industry and her professionalism was respected across the political spectrum. She was a journalist’s journalist and set an example for all around her.”
“So many people in the audience felt that they knew and adored her,” said Just. “She had a tremendous combination of warmth and authority. She was stopped on the street routinely by people who just wanted to give her a hug and considered her a friend after years of seeing her on tv. We will forever miss her terribly.”