IWMF Names Yamiche Alcindor Recipient of 2020 Gwen Ifill Award

PBS NewsHour correspondent honored for courageous pursuit of the truth

 [WASHINGTON, DC – September 28, 2020] – The International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) today announced Yamiche Alcindor as the recipient of the 2020 IWMF Gwen Ifill Award. Alcindor, a White House correspondent for the PBS NewsHour and a political contributor for NBC News and MSNBC, is being recognized for her coverage at the intersection of race and politics, and her career-long commitment to diversity in journalism.

“Through countless attacks, Yamiche remains focused on the pursuit of the truth,” said Elisa Lees Muñoz, executive director of the IWMF. “She mirrors Gwen Ifill’s tenacity and talent. At such a critical moment for press freedom, it is an honor to celebrate Yamiche and the barriers she has broken for young journalists of color following in her footsteps.”

Now in its fourth year, the IWMF’s Gwen Ifill Award honors a remarkable woman journalist of color whose work embodies Ifill’s legacy of supporting and uplifting women of color in news media. Ifill, who passed away in November 2016, was a friend of the IWMF and trailblazer in the news media industry.

“It is truly an honor and a blessing to receive this award from the IWMF during such a critical and historic year,” said Alcindor. “Gwen Ifill was a journalism icon who exemplified all the virtues of the craft that we need now – fairness, bravery and truth-telling at all costs. Gwen, her dear friend Athelia Knight, and a number of other women and men in my life have helped me navigate my career and embrace my passion for civil rights journalism on many beats and in all forms. I am forever grateful for their support as I accept this award.”

Alcindor is a force in the White House Press Corps, building a reputation as a reporter who will always ask her question despite the Trump administration’s hostility toward the media. Dedicated to shedding light on injustice and inequity, Alcindor frequently covers police brutality and systemic racism in the United States.

“All of us at the NewsHour are deeply proud of our colleague, Yamiche; it is entirely fitting to see her recognized with the award created in Gwen’s memory,” said Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour and a co-founder of the IWMF. “Gwen spotted Yamiche as a young journalist of great promise, and it’s thrilling to watch her grow in stature as she covers some of the most consequential stories of our time. The NewsHour is strengthened in its journalism and Americans are better informed as a result of her unflinching dedication to reporting the facts as she finds them every day.”

In addition to this annual award, the IWMF continues Ifill’s legacy of mentorship through its Gwen Ifill Mentorship Program, which recently announced its second year of mentors and mentees. The program pairs young women journalists from underrepresented backgrounds with senior media professionals to address the lack of diversity and women in leadership positions in U.S. newsrooms. Together, these efforts reflect Ifill’s impact, recognizing and uplifting the next generation of women journalists of color.

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About the International Women’s Media Foundation
Founded in 1989, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, reporting opportunities and funding avenues offered specifically for women-identifying journalists. We are making more women’s bylines possible and work tirelessly to ensure a greater diversity of voices represented in the news industry worldwide. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, and Instagram on @TheIWMF.

Media Contact
Charlotte Fox
Director of Communications
cfox@iwmf.org
(202) 567-2615