Inside Media: A Breakthrough Administration

Guest: Gwen Ifill

By Maureen Freeman, programs coordinator

Just days after President Barack Obama’s historic inauguration, "Washington Week" moderator and managing editor Gwen Ifill put his political rise in perspective and analyzed the current political landscape.

She cited her new book "The Breakthrough: Politics and Race in the Age of Obama," which describes a new generation of African-American political leaders — whom she called "breakthrough candidates — that include Obama.

Ifill, also senior correspondent for "The NewsHour With Jim Lehrer" on PBS, discussed newsroom diversity, moderating the 2008 vice-presidential debate between Sen. Joe Biden and Gov. Sarah Palin, and the public’s expectations for the Obama presidency.

Earlier in her career, she was chief congressional and political correspondent for NBC News and covered politics and the White House for The New York Times.

"Inside Media" is produced by the Newseum and is open to all visitors. Seating is on a space-available basis.