– Gwen Ifill, the veteran journalist and co-anchor of PBS' NewsHour with Judy Woodruff, died on Monday of cancer, the network said. She was 61. A former newspaper reporter, Ifill switched to television and worked for NBC News and PBS, the AP reports. 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. A sampling of how she's being remembered: Sara Just, PBS NewsHour executive producer: "Gwen was a standard bearer for courage, fairness and integrity in an industry going through seismic change," she said, per the Daily Beast. "She was a mentor to so many across the industry and her professionalism was respected across the political spectrum. She was a journalist’s journalist and set an example for all around her." Paula Kerger, President & CEO, PBS: "Gwen was one of America’s leading lights in journalism and a fundamental reason public media is considered a trusted window on the world by audiences across the nation. Her contributions to thoughtful reporting and civic discourse simply cannot be overstated. She often said that her job was to bring light rather than heat to issues of importance to our society. Gwen did this with grace and a steadfast commitment to excellence." The Washington Post: She made "her greatest mark as one of the most prominent African American TV anchors of her generation."