Daily News Lesson

SHOW ALL

Jan. 3, 2023, 11:22 a.m.

Judy Woodruff’s farewell message to viewers as she departs NewsHour anchor desk

Summary

Watch the farewell video OR read this New York Times piece on Judy Woodruff to learn more about her life as a journalist. Watch the compilation video Judy Woodruff's colleagues made about what she meant to them from the start of the video until 5m:09s . To hear thoughts directly from Judy, start the video at 5m:10s and watch until the end (about 3 minutes). Then answer the discussion questions. To read the transcript, click here .

Five Facts

Judy Woodruff signed off as NewsHour anchor Friday night with a special message to viewers. While her time as anchor has ended, she will devote 2023 and 2024 to a new national reporting project, "Judy Woodruff Presents: America at a Crossroads."
  1. Who is Judy Woodruff?
  2. What news show did Woodruff anchor for many years?
  3. When did Woodruff retire?
  4. Why did Woodruff become a journalist?
  5. How do Woodruff's colleagues describe her?

Focus Questions

Read the excerpt by Judy Woodruff. Then answer the question: How do journalists make sure they are reporting the news and not giving commentary (opinion)? Why do you think this value is so important to Woodruff?
Through it all, I have tried to stay true to what the program's founders, Robin MacNeil and Jim Lehrer, believed so fiercely, that we're here to report, to tell you as accurately and fairly as we can what's going on in the world, and to let you make up your minds about what to think, and to have the courage, as my beloved co-anchor, Gwen Ifill, did, to ask the tough questions, to hold people in power accountable, and, I would add, to care enough about each one of you to respect you and your beliefs, what your lives are like.

For More

How do you show appreciation for someone you admire? The PBS NewsHour staff put together this compilation saying what they will remember most about their colleague Judy Woodruff. Who is someone you admire? Who would you ask to be in their video honoring their life's accomplishments?

Recent Daily News Lessons

meltingglaciers

Daily News Lesson

The scientist and his family tracking melting glaciers for nearly half a century

As concern grows for glaciers worldwide, one man and his family have spent decades monitoring their decline

springsteeen-1024x576

Daily News Lesson

Bruce Springsteen on 'critical patriotism' and the power of protest music

Learn more about "the Boss's" efforts to simultaneously express his devotion to the United States and hold its leaders accountable

Illustration shows Claude app icon

Daily News Lesson

Anthropic disables new AI model after White House security directive

Learn about the current challenges facing the U.S. government’s broad use of powerful yet largely unregulated AI models

Image 6-23-26 at 2.42 PM

Daily News Lesson

Plagued by algae and peeling paint, reflecting pool set to undergo more repairs

Learn about the controversy surrounding repairs to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ahead of America's 250th anniversary

SUPPORTED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU. ADDITIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:

PBS News Hour Classroom

Copyright © 2025 News Hour Production LLC. All Rights Reserved

Illustrations by Annamaria Ward