By Randy Showstack
The United States Postal Service has issued a commemorative forever stamp to honor journalist Gwen Ifill. The Postal Service unveiled the stamp at a first day of issue dedication ceremony held on Jan. 30, 2020, at the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C.
Speakers at the ceremony included Judy Woodruff, who had co-anchored the PBS NewsHour with Ifill; Washington Post contributing columnist Michele Norris; and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser read a proclamation declaring Jan. 30, 2020, as Gwen Ifill Day.
Ifill was inducted into the SPJ DC Pro Chapter’s journalism Hall of Fame in June 2009. She died in 2016 after battling cancer.
The Postal Service included a statement from SPJ DC Pro in its press kit.
As a reporter and moderator, Gwen was dedicated to two principles: getting the story right and getting the right stories out. As a mentor, supportive friend and family member, she was determined, not only to open doors for those of us previously locked out of opportunity, but also to provide floor plans to help us find our way through.
— Bert Ifill, Gwen’s brother and Ifill family spokesperson
The Postal Service press release about the ceremony, stamp series and Ifill’s career contains a lot of interesting and helpful information, especially for stamp enthusiasts. A video of the event is available here, posted by USPS.
Woodruff is also a member of the DC Pro journalism Hall of Fame.
Statement of DC Pro included in press kit for event
Statement by Randy Showstack, President, Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, on the occasion of the First Day of Issue Dedication Ceremony of the U.S. Postal Service’s Commemorative Forever Stamp to Honor Gwen Ifill
January 30, 2020
The Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is honored to provide a statement about this very important memorial to Gwen Ifill, a great journalist.
We are so pleased that the U.S. Postal Service has included Ms. Ifill on a stamp. She joins the ranks of important journalists such as Nellie Bly, Ida M. Tarbell, Marguerite Higgins, Ethel L. Payne, Ernie Pyle, Walter Lippmann, Ruben Salazar and Martha Gellhorn.
Ms. Ifill was inducted into the Washington D.C. SPJ Journalism Hall of Fame in June 2009 because she exhibited the best of our trade.
- She enriched the craft of journalism
- She made significant contributions to journalism
- She helped the public understand why free and independent journalism is important to a functioning democracy.
Ms. Ifill was always known as a tough but fair reporter. She asked the questions that needed to be answered by business and political leaders.
She also knew she had a responsibility to pass on the ideals of good journalism to the next generation. There are numerous stories of how she made herself available to new reporters and producers to offer advice and help. She mentored many of the journalists who today provide us with vital information.
One of her producers at the PBS NewsHour said Ms. Ifill was “a journalist’s journalist.” We agree and we miss her.
When people use this new stamp honoring our colleague, we hope they will reflect on how she made society better because of her contributions to fair, honest, and independent journalism.
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Washington, D.C. Pro Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists
Spjdc.org