YGL 2015 Brianna Keilar, 34
is CNN’s lead reporter covering Hillary Clinton and the Democratic field for the 2016 campaign. Keilar does double duty as Wolf Blitzer’s primary fill-in anchor for the Situation Room and previously served as CNN’s senior White House correspondent. Whom do you admire professionally and why? “My colleague Dana Bash, CNN’s chief congressional correspondent. She’s a tireless reporter, a hilarious and supportive friend and a very engaged mom.”
Kristen Welker, 38
has traveled the globe with the president and first lady as White House correspondent for NBC News.Welker graduated cum laude from Harvard University with a bachelor’s degree in American History. What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment? “Serving in my current role as a White House correspondent for NBC News. Given the gridlock in Washington and the unrest overseas, it is a fascinating time to cover the White House and politics. The terrorist attacks in Paris are just one of many recent reminders that journalism matters and that free speech has to be defended.”
Manu Raju, 35
is a senior congressional reporter for Politico. Raju, along with a team of colleagues from Politico, is a past recipient of the Merriman Smith Award for presidential reporting for coverage of the debt ceiling crisis. If you could have dinner with any historical figure dead or alive, who would it be? “Michael Jordan. As a Chicago-area native and a rabid sports fan, he was my idol growing up. So how could I pass up breaking bread with His Airness?!”
Judy Kurtz, 30
writes The Hill newspaper’s must-read “In the Know” column and serves as a contributor to Fox 5.The District native is a former television news reporter who began her career with a stint at People magazine. Whom do you admire professionally and why? “Cheesiness alert: my dad (journalist Howard Kurtz) is the smartest and hardest-working person I know. Plus, I have his and my grandfather’s genes to thank for a full head of TVfriendly hair.”
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WA S H I N G T O N L I F E
| fe b r u a r y
2015
| washingtonlife.com