PBS journalist Gwen Ifill dies of cancer

PBS journalist Gwen Ifill dies of cancer

NEW YORK

Gwen Ifill, the veteran journalist and co-anchor of PBS’ “NewsHour” with Judy Woodruff, died Monday of cancer, the network said.

She was 61.

A former newspaper reporter, Ifill switched to television and worked for NBC News and PBS. She moderated two vice presidential debates.

She took a leave from her nightly show for health reasons earlier this year, never making public her illness. A week ago, she went out on leave again, taking her away from election night coverage.

Sara Just, PBS “NewsHour” executive producer, called Ifill “a standard bearer for courage, fairness and integrity in an industry going through seismic change.”

Pitt back in China after reported ban

SHANGHAI

Brad Pitt made his first promotional appearance for a movie in China since reportedly being banned over a film about Tibet almost 20 years ago.

He spent 40 minutes giving autographs to Chinese fans Monday and 20 minutes at a tightly controlled media event promoting his latest movie.

The Chinese government reportedly didn’t like his 1997 film, “Seven Years in Tibet,” about an Austrian explorer’s relationship with a young Dalai Lama, because of its portrayal of harsh Chinese rule in the Himalayan region.

Associated Press