Ann Devroy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Ann Mary Devroy (1948-10-09)October 9, 1948 |
| Died | October 23, 1997(1997-10-23) (aged 49) 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 (/ˈdɛvrɔɪ/DEV-roy; October 9, 1948 – October 23, 1997) was an Americanpolitical journalist. She was aWhite House correspondent for 15 years, for theGannett Company,USA Today (1979–1985), andThe Washington Post (1989–1997). She covered four presidents includingJimmy Carter,Ronald Reagan,George H. W. Bush andBill Clinton, and 10 White House chiefs of staff.[1]
Ann Mary Devroy was born October 9, 1948, inGreen Bay, Wisconsin. While she was a journalism student at theUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, she interned at theMilwaukee Journal and worked as a reporter for theEau Claire Leader-Telegram. After she received her bachelor's degree in 1970, Devroy began working for theCourier News, a New Jersey newspaper owned by theGannett 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 joinedThe 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 the1988 Presidential campaign.[3] In 1989, she returned to the White House beat.Andrew Rosenthal ofThe 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."[1]
Don't screw with The Post.
When no one else pays attention, we do.
She was also a prolific reporter. Over 2,300 stories carrying Ann Devroy's byline appeared inThe 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.[2] Devroy made a rare television appearance asTim Russert's guest on hisCNBC 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," saidGeorge 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 theGerald R. Ford Foundation, for distinguished reporting on the presidency. She received the foundation's seventh annual prize for her articles onPresident Clinton's foreign policy and his effort to sell his domestic program, Vice PresidentAl Gore's record and an evaluation of former presidentGeorge 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]
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]
Ann Devroy was honored for presidential coverage andBarton Gellman for coverage of the Pentagon and defense issues.