Judy Woodruff Biography
Judy Woodruff is a retired American broadcast journalist who has had an impressive career that spans over fifty years in local, network, cable, and public television news. She was the anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour until the end of 2022. Throughout her career, Woodruff has covered every U.S. presidential election and convention since 1976, interviewed countless world leaders, and even moderated presidential debates.
After earning her degree from Duke University in 1968, Woodruff kicked off her career in local television news in Atlanta. In 1976, she took on the role of White House correspondent for NBC News, where she worked for six years. She joined PBS in 1982, continuing her White House coverage for PBS NewsHour—then called The MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour—while also contributing to various other programs.
In 1993, Woodruff made a move to CNN, where she co-anchored Inside Politics and CNN WorldView alongside Bernard Shaw. She stayed with CNN until 2005 before making her way back to PBS and NewsHour in 2006. In 2013, she became co-anchor with Gwen Ifill, taking over from founding anchor Jim Lehrer. After Ifill’s passing in 2016, Woodruff stepped up as the program’s sole anchor.
In May 2022, she shared her decision to retire at the end of the year, wrapping up her time as anchor on December 30, 2022.
Age
Judy Woodruff was born on November 20, 1946, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, making her 79 years old as of 2026. She proudly holds American nationality.
Education
Judy Woodruff graduated from Duke University.
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Husband
Woodruff is happily married to Al Hunt, who is a columnist and a former reporter. They call Washington, D.C. home but also have a cozy place in nearby Maryland. Their paths first crossed back in 1976 during a friendly softball game that brought together journalists and staff from the Jimmy Carter presidential campaign in Plains, Georgia.
The couple tied the knot on April 5, 1980, at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church. They are proud parents of three children: Jeffrey, born in 1981; Benjamin, born in 1986; and Lauren, who joined the family in 1989. A memorable moment for Woodruff was when she gave birth to Jeffrey just hours after being on air.
Judy Woodruff Son’s Health
Her son Jeffrey was born with a mild case of Spina bifida. Unfortunately, after a surgery in 1998 that led to serious complications, he was left with disabilities and brain damage. This challenging experience prompted Woodruff to reduce her workload at CNN. Their youngest child, Lauren, was adopted from South Korea when she was just four months old.
Judy Woodruff Career
Judy Woodruff is a seasoned correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour. With a remarkable career spanning five decades, she has reported on politics and various news stories for NBC, CNN, and PBS.
From 1983 to 1993, she served as the chief Washington correspondent for the respected MacNeil/Lehrer NewsHour. During this period, she also hosted the well-regarded documentary series “Frontline with Judy Woodruff” from 1984 to 1990.
In 1993, Woodruff joined CNN, where she spent 12 years as an anchor and senior correspondent, including her role as the host of the weekday program “Inside Politics.” She made her return to PBS in 2007, co-anchoring the NewsHour alongside Gwen Ifill, making history as the first female duo to lead a national news broadcast. After Ifill’s passing, Woodruff became the sole anchor.
In 2011, Judy took the lead on the PBS documentary “Nancy Reagan: The Role of a Lifetime,” showcasing her skills as both an anchor and a reporter. Additionally, her 2007 project, “Generation Next: Speak Up. Be Heard.,” delved into the perspectives of young Americans, resulting in a series of hour-long documentaries aired on PBS. Her findings were also shared through various reports across media platforms like NPR, USA Today, and Yahoo News.
Between 2006 and 2013, Judy hosted a monthly show on Bloomberg Television called “Conversations with Judy Woodruff.” In 2006, she was a visiting professor at Duke University’s Terry Sanford Institute of Public Policy. Prior to that, in 2005, Woodruff was a visiting fellow at Harvard University’s Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy.
Judy Woodruff Wiki
At NBC News, Woodruff was a White House correspondent from 1977 to 1982. For one year after that, she served as NBC’s Today Show chief Washington correspondent. She wrote the book, This is Judy Woodruff at the White House, published in 1982 by Addison-Wesley. Her reporting career began in Atlanta, Georgia, where she covered state and local government.
Woodruff holds the esteemed position of founding co-chair of the International Women’s Media Foundation, a global organization committed to advancing and empowering women in journalism and communication fields. She actively contributes to several boards, including those of the Freedom Forum, The Duke Endowment, and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Additionally, she serves as a director for Public Radio International and the National Association to End Homelessness. Woodruff has previously held roles such as a member of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics, director of the National Museum of American History, and trustee of the Urban Institute.
Judy Woodruff Salary
Woodruff received an annual salary ranging from $72,544 – to $120,769. However, details about the exact salary she earned are currently unavailable.
Judy Woodruff’s Net worth
Judy Woodruff, a senior correspondent and the former anchor and managing editor has an estimated net worth of $8 million.