I am Gwen Ifill
From Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum · 2025
Summary
Yadina wants to report on everything happening around her but isn't sure how to get people to listen. Meeting a young Gwen Ifill — the pioneering journalist and PBS NewsHour anchor who became the first Black woman to moderate a vice-presidential debate — teaches her that asking the right questions is the most important skill. The episode (which also features Matthew Henson) celebrates journalism and truth-seeking.
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Discussion
Gwen Ifill became one of America's most respected journalists and a trailblazer on television news.
- What does a journalist do? Why is journalism important?
- What barriers did Gwen Ifill face in her career, and how did she respond?
- What makes a question a 'good' question?
- Where do you get news? How do you know if it's trustworthy?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: journalist, anchor, debate, trailblazer, press.
Try it: Pretend you're a reporter. Write three questions you would ask a student about their favorite subject in school. What would make each question interesting?