This week, journalist April Ryan was thrust into the spotlight after White House Press Secretary, Sean Spicer berated her, demanding she stop “shaking” her head after he refused to answer a question about the perception of the White House and the Russian probe.
Following the interaction, she was labeled by some, including various news organizations as “a Black reporter” who was attacked by Spicer.
Ryan responded to Spicer by saying “I did shake my head … in disbelief.”
“As an administration is calling us the enemy of the people, I guess we saw some of that thought process yesterday,” she continued.
But Ryan, who has been in the industry for more than two decades, has probably spent more time in the White House than the Trump administration has in the last three months.
Ryan, who serves as the Washington Bureau Chief/White House Correspondent at American Urban Radio Networks, has covered more than three presidents in her lifetime.
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She is a recipient of the Capital Press Clubs North Star, Voice of Black America Award. She’s been named by POLITICO as one of the top 50 in Washington to watch for 2011-2012 and in 2013, she was seated to the Board of Trustees of Cambridge College in Massachusetts.
Here’s everything you need to know about the veteran journalist, who has been making moves in the world of media.
She Has Been The White House Correspondent For American Urban Radio Network For More Than 20 Years:
Ryan began the role in January of 1997. Prior to that, she worked for various radio stations including WXYV-FM, where she served as their news director.
She’s an HBCU (Historically Black College/University) Graduate:
According to her LinkedIn, Ryan received her B.S. in Broadcast Journalism from Morgan State University, which is located in her hometown of Baltimore, Maryland.
She Has Worked At North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University (N.C. A&T):
Ryan’s LinkedIn shows that she previously worked at another HBCU, N.C. A&T. Earlier this month, she addressed a keynote speech during their Journalism Department’s National Association of Black Journalists short course program.
She’s A Best-Selling Author:
Ryan is the author of best-selling book The Presidency in Black and White: My Up Close View Of Three Presidents And Race In America. Her latest book is titled At Mama’s Knee: Mothers and Race in Black and White.
She’s Not New To This:
Notable interviews with Ryan have included a one-on-one with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, South African President Thabo Mbeki, and Senator John Kerry.