I’m Gwen Ifill. Ask Me Anything

WAIT, I'm up against Kevin Hart? Can I send him a question too?

Around the time of McCain/Palin, you interviewed a man on the Newshour who was so virulent, so obviously racist he made my skin crawl. You never blinked, never lost control of your modulation let alone your professionalism, but his baiting surely must have grated on you as much as it did on me. I was astounded at your equanimity and reminded of nothing so much as Alex Haley's notorious 1966 Playboy interview with George Lincoln Rockwell, founder of the American Nazi Party. When asked if he'd been offended by Rockwell's animosity, Haley replied something to the effect, "I've surely been called 'nigger' before, but this was the first time I ever got paid for it."

My question: Have you ever cut an interview short because of a guest's rudeness or inability to STFU? (And I can't resist adding that you're one of my personal heroes, Ms Ifill.) Thank you so much for doing this AMA.

I honestly have no recollection of the guest you're referring to, but no, I've never been forced to cut a mic. Sometimes I wish folks would be more concise or answer the question more directly...but rude folks generally stay away from the NewsHour.

Has there been a story thst you felt you ought to have reported but didn't because of pressure from sponsors?

Never.

What do you think is the main difference between the PBS NewsHour and similar cable network shows?

Hi everybody! #excited. The chief difference between PBS and commercial outlets -- broadcast and cable -- is that we have the luxury of time. Because it's a noncommercial hour long broadcast, we actually get to dig pretty deep. When I worked at NBC, for example, a long story lasted about 2 minutes. At the NewsHour, a short one runs about 5. We also get the chance to indulge in storytelling on line and on air. We cover the Afghanistan war, but also Afghan poets. We track the Israeli elections, but also the plight of Eritrean refugees in Tel Aviv. Oh, and sometimes sports and cicadas. I learn something new every single day.

Did you ever get angry during the debates?

The terror crowds out the anger. You want to ask the right questions, the right way, keep track of the clock and make sure you do not humilate yourself in front of 67 million people. Anger is a luxury you can't afford when you have that many balls to keep in the air.

Can we get you to moderate all the debates for the next election cycle? ;) I'm only half-kidding. Your presence was sorely missed last time.

What, in your opinion, makes a good moderator? What qualities does he or she need to have? And what does he/she need to watch out for during a debate?

You are very kind, but why would you wish that kind of stress on me??

Every moderator brings different skills to the task, but he or she should always be able to manage that most difficult balance -- asking the question AND listening to the answer. That is so much harder than it looks.

What is standing in your way on making Washington Week an hour long broadcast? how come the "webcast extra" is only ~10 minutes when many weeks it seems like you guys could go on and on.

This many sound pretty mundane, but it's true. It costs money to do a longer show, and there's not a lot of that in abundance these days. I think it would be pretty great, though. Perhaps I can market CDs of me singing Prince during the next pledge drive? Any takers?

Just want to say - you are awesome

You are too, probably.

how much did you want to pop David Zurawik in the nose for his commentary that the PBS Newshour was not a "real nightly newscast" ?

How do you know I didn't?

Hey Gwen! Some networks have been criticized for their heavy reliance on Twitter vox pop fluff. What role do you see for "new media" - things like Twitter and Reddit - in the traditional media?

I think it's essential to seek out all platforms. You don't have to succumb to fluff to stay active in social media in a way that serves your mission.

Do you think the debates should go back to the way the League of Women Voters ran them before the modern commission took over (which basically kowtows to all party requests and has "memorandums of understanding".) From How Stuff Works:"The league used an open format, allowing follow-up questions among candidates. These types of questions are difficult to prepare for before a debate -- they're unpredictable."

Also, do you watch any of your local PBS programming? I'm in Pittsburgh and Rick Sebak is one of our heroes (along with the saint, Mr. Rogers.) Thanks for answering questions!

One needs the candidates to show up in order to have a debate. Candidates don't show up if they don't like the format. In my experience, national candidates have been unwilling to allow free for all questioning. Want that to change? Pressure the candidates, not necessarily the commission. I live in Washington, so can't watch local programming everywhere, but I am certain it is excellent. Right? Right?

If you had double (or triple) you budget on the NewsHour, what would you do with it?

What should I be reading?

I would open bureaus in four domestic cities and four international locations. I would double our production staff and dramatically expand our interactive presence online, including original video. And I would take a LOT more vacations. (See earlier answer about what I'm reading.)

What sort of roll do you think public programming has today with all the new media out there and all the different ways people are getting their information?

You won't be surprised to learn that I think public broadcasting is an essential piece of the information pie. We have lots more ways to get our news that we had only a few years ago. Yet, there is still room for thoughtful, engaged discussion. I can't tell you how many times people come up to me to thank me for not yellng. Not that I'm much of a yeller, but you know what I mean...

Along the same vein, do you think public broadcasting is branching out enough to keep their piece of the pie?

This AMA is an example. But are others utilizing new media enough?

We are doing a surprising amount. Download the PBS app and see what I mean.

Thank you for doing this AMA. Love the work you do on Newshour, great show.

My question is about the Friday opinion round table. David Brooks and Mark Shields are both thoughtful and interesting, but they are also both in general supporters of President Obama.

Do you feel this forum provides a complete representation of public opinion?

As a conservative I often feel my viewpoint is not represented.

I guess I don't agree. The difference between Shields and Brooks and a lot of the other right-left debates out there, is that each one respects the other and is willing to concede a point without being disagreeable. That may sound like they're on the same side, but they're not. I suspect a lot of liberals don't like it when Mark criticizes the President either -- and he does.

Gwen - thanks for this. The Newshour is really one of the least sensationalized (read: trivialized) television news sources we have in the country.

That said, I do have to agree that David Brooks, while an excellent contributor, doesn't represent the views many people further to the right (I say this as a center left Democrat). Is there a place for someone with the views of say, Ted Cruz, on the Newshour?

Always. Rand Paul was on the program just this week.

Who are your journalist heroes?

Frederick Douglass, Ethel Payne, Charlayne Hunter Gult, Tim Russert, Mary McGrory, Ida B. Wells...the list is loooong.

I love you, Gwen. You should have gotten the Meet the Press gig. You're one of the few respectable reporters we have left.

But can't you tell I love what I do?

Hey Gwen, you're one of the most respected journalists in the industry, and obviously it takes many years to build a reputation like the one you have now. At any point in your career, did you feel that as a woman or a person of colour, you were discriminated against, and what was that experience like for you?

I have a gift. I don't hold on to the bad stuff. So, although someone somewhere may have tried to derail me for narrow reasons, I don't carry it around with me. What's the point, really, in staying bogged down in resentments when you know the perpetrators were wrong?

What was your favorite moment while on TV?

You know, I don't think I actually have a favorite moment...but since this is Reddit and I know no one's listening, I will confess to my LEAST favorite one...that's when I screwed up a live shot and blurted out the words, "Oh crap!" on the night of the New Hampshire primary. Not a shining moment.

How do you decide what will be covered each night/week?

On the NewsHour, the news of the day drives decisions for roughly the first half of the show. Then we kind of sort through a stack of ideas for smart big think conversations, features, and far flung tape pieces for the rest. At Washiington Week, we keep track of what our usual stable of a couple dozen reporters are writing all week, then sit down on Thursdays to figure out how to tell the stories well. There is a fair amount of pixie dust involved.

what is your favorite Stevie Wonder song?

Love "Master Blaster" for the horns, "Overjoyed" for the melody, "Knocks Me Off My Feet" for the romance. "As" for the lyrics...shall I go on?

Did you feel criticism of you moderating the Vice-Presidential debate, while you were working on a book "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama" were fair? Would you have done things differently? How do you separate personal views from journalistic fairness?

Read the book and get back to me on that. It's still for sale.

In the digital age where everyone already sees what's going on in Washington and there's plenty of noise, loud debate, fact checking and the political system often looks broken, why is Washington Week still relevant?

Video response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5qncZHhRlEM

[deleted]

Video response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb6jUSGtd0M

What book are you reading these days? Any favorite authors?

Am reading a little fiction - Elinor Lipman's latest, "The View from Penthouse B," and a little nonfiction, an advance copy of Dan Balz's new campaign book "Collision 2012." But you should also check out what out Washington Week panelists are reading this summer. Great stuff. http://to.pbs.org/11QakZR

How did you become a political analyst? Did you study PoliSci in college?

Nope. I always wanted to be a journalist -- a newspaper reporter, actually -- so I majored in communications at Simmons College in Boston. Covering politics came much later, when I discovered that almost everything that does and doesn't happen in life is dictated by political choices. Much, much, later -- like 4 newspapers later -- came television.

Since The Breakthrough, how do you think thing have changed for black politicians? That book also profiled black male politicians, so what do you think that black female politicians would face?

Have you thought about writing another book? I greatly enjoyed The Breakthrough.

So nice to hear from someone who actually read the book. "The Breakthrough" was a snapshot of where things stood in 2008. In the updated paperback version, I did beef up the section about Kamala Harris, who was at the time San Francisco D.A. and is now California's Attorney General. A lot of other fortunes have shifted as well. Artur Davis lost the Alabama governor's race. Harold Ford has given up politics. Former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is on his way to jail. But South Carolina Rep. Bakari Sellars just announced his candidacy for Lt. Governor, and Newark Mayor Cory Booker is running for the U.S. Senate. So things keep changing, which is as it should be...

What was the prep process like for the VP debate? How much control did you have over questions, for example? Were they left 100% to your discretion, or were they approved by party representatives and/or the network?

All on me. Including the terror before and after -- but not during.

What do you think journalism will look like 10-15 years from now?

Video response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6UKVwOo3AA

What is the favorite intro you've ever written for Washington Week's opening? The "Somebody's Watching Me" one was just waiting to be said.

Video response: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNY5pm_SWwI&feature=youtu.be

When the day comes (hopefully not any time soon!), who would you like to see replace you on Washington Week as moderator?

Are you saying you're available?

What island in the West Indies do you claim?

Parents' family hails from Barbados.

How do you fill your excellent panels for Washington Week? Your regular cast of panelists is very familiar to viewers of the show, but most of those folks aren't often seen on TV away from your desk. Also, I've noticed that most weeks women outnumber men on your panel, which is not typical in other venues. Is this a conscious effort you make to make sure female voices are get their fair time on the air?

We actually make a conscious effort to use the smartest voices we can find on the air. I've always believed that means diversity of gender, skin color, hair length, print, broadcast and shoe size. We just want to make sure we are telling the stories well.

Will you be mad at me if I tell you that on tomorrow's Washington Week we have three guys and one gal? NYT's Peter Baker, Bloomberg's Indira Lakshmanan, WashPo's Ed O'Keefe and NPR'sTom Gjelten.

Would you rather fight 20 duck sized horses or one horse sized duck?

What took so long to get this question, people???

I would rather fight 15 smoked duck sandwiches. I draw the line at horsemeat.

What is your favorite play?

I don't think I've seen it yet.

As a moderator, it must be frustrating for you to ask questions to people whose job it is to be as vague and noncommittal in their answers as possible.

Though I think you do a good job with your role, and thank you for that, how do you think the rules of debates could be changed to make for a better and more substantial discussion?

There are a million different ways to skin that cat. OK, a few. But the guidelines change a bit every time. I imagine they will again. But you know, I am not sure debates which occur so late in the process change many minds any more. Aren't we watching them by then for other reasons?

What's your favourite book?

The next one in the stack.

Hi Gwen, I'm a Simmons alumna too- go sharks! What are your favorite memories of Simmons? Do you think single-sex education has helped you in the long run?

I didn't really mean to go to a women's college, but it turned out to be one of my best decisions. In our classrooms, we were the participants and the leaders. No one had to tell us to lean in. It came naturally, and my Simmons education has always served me well.

What's your response to critiques that the media has a "short attention span", or "doesn't cover the important stuff" like current Riots or the current NSA revelations? In other words, do you think that something is wrong, or is there a different reason?

I think the media universe is now broad enough that you can learn as much or a little as you want...from Justin Bieber and his Ferrari to street protests in Instanbul and Rio. (Hint: the PBS NewsHour skipped Justin.)

Hi Gwen! I had the opportunity to see you speak at my undergrad university and it was honestly just such a fantastic experience that I wanted to share that.

You answered a question about the difference between PBS and cable news networks but I'm curious what you think about the similarities and differences between PBS and NPR.

NPR and PBS are both engaged in public broadcasting, but we're actually very different animals. The bulk of NPR's programming is news and information, including their flagship morning and evening broadcasts. At PBS, we have broad swaths of children's programs, entertainment and long form shows and documentaries. But I think we are serving the same audience -- as we say -- viewers like you.

In retrospect, how do you feel you did as a moderator for the vice presidential debate? Would you have done anything differently? Did you have any choice or influence over the questions being asked? how hard did you want to smack Sarah Palin?

I can honestly say I have never been moved to smack any candidate. At least not on live television. That said, there are very few things in life I would not do differently given more time, more information, whatever. But I have to take the blame/credit for anything I did or did not do in the debates I've moderated. I've picked, wrote and ordered all the questions.

Wow -- this is the first time I've been tempted to actually ask someone a question on AMA. Thanks for doing this, Gwen!

I love watching you on the Newshour and Washington Week because you and PBS do such a good job of creating interesting political content that doesn't turn into a bunch of people screaming at each other. What is it about you/your shows that makes people remain civil? Are you just better at choosing commentators that are well behaved or is that people are expected to act a certain way when they are on PBS?

Also, I saw recently that the Newshour will face some layoffs soon. Do you think it will have a big impact on your show's quality?

Thanks and keep up the good work!

To answer your last question first, yes, practically every other news organization I can think of, we have had to make some cuts. And it will affect our work, but not the quality you have come to expect. We do prize civility on our program. In the early days, they joked that we dared to be boring. I think now it's more that we dare to be engaging. And we think enough of the viewers and consumers who come to us for in depth, fair coverage to make sure we provide cogent, smart analysis. We do it every day, go to sleep, and get up to do it again.

What would you be doing if your present career hasn't panned out? Thank you for doing this!

In would be somebody's background singer. Preferably in sequins.

What kind of makeup do you use? Serious question. You're lovely!!

I use MAC studio fix and drugstore stuff for every day. And our very excellent makeup artist Marge uses mystery potion for when I am on the air. (I'm not really black, you know.)

What's your favorite PBS show?

Mine!!

Knowing you fancy Mr Bates, what D.A. plot lines would you hope to see in season 4? Hey you said ask you ANYTHING!

I am a Mr. Bates fan, although I don't think they did much with him last season. And I met the actor who plays Thomas, and found him much hotter than I expected. That said, I was pretty disappointed with last season's ending. I know it's a soap opera but, really, a car wreck?

Why do you defend Eric Holder so vehemently?

Why do you make untrue statements without evidence to support it?