Andrea Mitchell – “The Go-To Reporter,” United States

From the nuclear crisis at Three Mile Island to Hillary Clinton’s historic bid for the White House, IWMF Lifetime Achievement Award winner and NBC News and MSNBC correspondent Andrea Mitchell has kept audiences informed about the critical issues of the day — and the decisionmakers that influence them — for the past 50 years.

Few political correspondents can match her depth of experience: Mitchell has covered seven presidential administrations and served as chief NBC News correspondent for both the White House and Congress. She also hosts her own show at noon every weekday, MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports.” Mitchell, the network’s chief foreign affairs correspondent, regularly reports for “TODAY,” “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt,” and “Meet the Press,” as well as various MSNBC programs.

Mitchell’s foreign policy expertise is unparalleled. She reported on U.S.-Cuba relations for years, including interviewing Fidel Castro multiple times. Last year, she asked the final question during President Obama’s joint press conference with Cuban President Raul Castro — and Obama referred to her as “one of our most esteemed journalists in America.” Known as a gender pioneer, she has filed reports on the ground in Afghanistan, Jerusalem, Kosovo, Sudan, North Korea and elsewhere.

Mitchell started her career the way many of her peers did at the time — as a secretary, and then a copy boy. She moved through the ranks at local and national outlets through hard work and persistence, earning the respect of colleagues such as Tim Russert, who called her “smart, feisty and irreverent.” Whether challenging candidates in televised debates or exposing corruption in Sudan, Mitchell is known for refusing to take no for an answer.

IWMF’s 2017 Courage in Journalism Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes journalists like Mitchell who have devoted their lives to the pursuit of the truth — and who model bravery for those who follow.

“I feel a huge responsibility to give back to those who have mentored me by helping younger generations of women journalists just breaking through in their careers,” Mitchell said. “IMWF is a frontrunner in supporting women journalists and recognizing their vital contributions. I hope I can play a small part in your great work.”

Follow on Twitter: @mitchellreports

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