Ann Devroy Explained

Ann Devroy
Birth Name:Ann Mary Devroy
Birth Date:9 October 1948
Birth Place:Green Bay, Wisconsin, US
Death Place:Washington, D.C., US
Education:B.A., Journalism, 1970
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire
Occupation:Political journalist
Spouse:Mark Matthews
Children:1

Ann Mary Devroy (; 9 October 1948  - 23 October 1997) was an American political journalist. She was a White House correspondent for 15 years, for the Gannett Company, USA Today (1979–1985), and The Washington Post (1989–1997). She covered four presidents including Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush and Bill Clinton, and 10 White House chiefs of staff.[1]

Life and career

Ann Mary Devroy was born October 9, 1948, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. While she was a journalism student at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, she interned at the Milwaukee Journal and worked as a reporter for the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram. After she received her bachelor's degree in 1970, Devroy began working for the Courier News, a New Jersey newspaper owned by the Gannett Company. In 1977, she moved to Gannett's Washington bureau. She covered Congress for two years before becoming White House correspondent for Gannett and its new national newspaper, USA Today.

In 1985, Devroy joined The Washington Post as political editor on the national news desk—a job that would allow her to spend more time with her young daughter.[2] As deputy national editor, Devroy directed coverage of the 1988 Presidential campaign.[3] In 1989, she returned to the White House beat. Andrew Rosenthal of The New York Times, who was Devroy's main competition, described her as "the scariest and most generous reporter I've ever known. She would kick your butt 24 hours a day."

She was also a prolific reporter. Over 2,300 stories carrying Ann Devroy's byline appeared in The Post from 1989 through 1995.[4]

Devroy was not part of the Washington TV punditocracy.[5] She turned down frequent requests to appear on camera participating in press panels. Devroy made a rare television appearance as Tim Russert's guest on his CNBC show March 28, 1994.[6]

As a cost-saving measure, The Post once floated the idea of ending expensive press charter flights to out-of-town presidential events, proposing instead that its reporters fly commercial. Devroy fired off a response concluding that the short-sighted move to economize "diminishes our commitment to White House coverage ... and erodes a lesson I have spent a career beating into every White House I cover: Don't screw with The Post. When no one else pays attention, we do."[2]

"Ann Devroy was the toughest and fairest White House reporter I knew," said George Stephanopoulos, senior adviser to President Clinton in his first term. "She knew when she had a story, and she knew when to kill one. She revered the office of the presidency and the role that reporters play in keeping it honest."[7]

In May 1994, Devroy received a journalism award from the Gerald R. Ford Foundation, for distinguished reporting on the presidency. She received the foundation's seventh annual prize for her articles on President Clinton's foreign policy and his effort to sell his domestic program, Vice President Al Gore's record and an evaluation of former president George H. W. Bush.[8] [9]

Devroy died at her home in Washington October 23, 1997, age 49, of uterine cancer.[10] President Bill Clinton issued a statement that day on learning of her death: "For more than a decade, no journalist dominated and defined the White House beat with the kind of skill, shrewd analysis and gruff grace that Ann brought to her reporting."[11]

Legacy

After Ann Devroy's death, The Washington Post created an annual journalism fellowship at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.[12] Featured speakers at the Ann Devroy Memorial Forum are listed below.[13]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Smith . J. Y. . October 24, 1997 . Ann Devroy Dies; Covered White House for Post . . 2016-10-14 .
  2. News: Broder . David S. . David S. Broder . October 24, 1997 . The Core of the Press Corps; Ann Devroy Fiercely Embraced a Tough Job . The Washington Post . 2016-10-14 .
  3. [John McCaslin|McCaslin, John]
  4. [Robert G. Kaiser|Kaiser, Robert G.]
  5. Shepard . Alicia C. . Alicia Shepard . September 1995 . The Pundit Explosion . . University of Maryland, College Park. . https://web.archive.org/web/20120601050022/http://www.ajr.org/Article.asp?id=1634 . June 1, 2012 . 2016-10-14 .
  6. https://archive.today/20120723213134/http://tv.msn.com/tv/episode/tim-russert/untitled.74/ March 28, 1994, episode information
  7. Web site: George Stephanopoulos Pledges $25,000 to UW-Eau Claire Foundation's Devroy Fund . News Bureau . May 10, 2004 . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . https://web.archive.org/web/20140520224746/http://www.uwec.edu/newsbureau/release/2004/04-05/0510pledge.htm . May 20, 2014 . 2016-04-05.
  8. Web site: Past Reporting Prize Recipients . June 2006 . Gerald R. Ford Presidential Foundation . 2016-10-14.
  9. News: May 7, 1994 . Two Post Reporters Win Ford Journalism Awards; Presidential, Pentagon Coverage Cited . The Washington Post . 2016-10-14 . Ann Devroy was honored for presidential coverage and Barton Gellman for coverage of the Pentagon and defense issues..
  10. News: . Ann Devroy, 49, who covered the White House. The Baltimore Sun. October 24, 1997 . 2015-07-19 .
  11. [Bill Clinton|Clinton, William J.]
  12. Web site: History of the Forum . Ann Devroy Memorial Forum . Communication and Journalism Department, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304113326/http://www.uwec.edu/CJ/news/devroy/history.htm . March 4, 2016 . 2016-10-14.
  13. Web site: Devroy Forum Presenters . Ann Devroy Memorial Forum . Communication and Journalism Department, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . 2018-01-07 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180107232941/http://www.uwec.edu/academics/college-arts-sciences/departments-programs/communication-journalism/explore-opportunities/scholarships/ann-devroy-memorial-forum/presenters/ . 2018-01-07 . dead .
  14. Web site: Devroy Memorial Forum to feature Washington Post White House reporter Ashley Parker . Wermund . Emily . March 16, 2018 . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . April 13, 2018 . http://web.archive.org/web/20180413185948/https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/devroy-memorial-forum-to-feature-white-house-reporter-ashley-parker-2881/ . April 13, 2018.
  15. Web site: Devroy Memorial Forum to feature Washington Post managing editor Tracy Grant. Wermund . Emily . March 19, 2019 . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . 2020-05-19 .
  16. Web site: Washington Post Correspondent Rucker Slated to Speak at UWEC's Devroy Forum. Berthiaume . Judy . April 14, 2021 . Volume One . 2021-04-15 .
  17. Web site: Ann Devroy Memorial Forum to feature deputy managing editor at The Washington Post . Berthiaume . Judy . April 11, 2022 . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . April 28, 2024 . http://web.archive.org/web/20220925110725/https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/ann-devroy-memorial-forum-to-feature-deputy-managing-editor-at-the-washington-post-5101/ . September 25, 2022.
  18. Web site: Ann Devroy Memorial Forum scheduled for April 27. Johnson . Gary . April 19, 2023 . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . April 28, 2024 . http://web.archive.org/web/20230425150624/https://www.uwec.edu/news/news/ann-devroy-memorial-forum-scheduled-for-april-27-5702/ . April 25, 2023.
  19. Web site: Forum to feature Patrick Marley and announcement of 2024 Devroy Fellow. Wojohn. Ambrosia. April 17, 2024 . The Spectator . University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire . April 28, 2024.

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