Sad news in the world of journalism. Robin Toner, the first female national political correspondent for the NYTimes, died today at the young age of 54:
In a career of nearly 25 years at The Times, and in an age of increasing specialization, Ms. Toner reported authoritatively on almost every domestic issue, whether it was taxes, welfare, Social Security, immigration or health-care policy.
You may best be familiar with Ms. Toner's work from the 1992 campaign for the Presidency, although she has worked on 5 presidential campaigns. One thing is for certain: you know her work. Her name appeared in the byline of over 1,900 articles. Additionally, she led the political coverage for the NYTimes behind-the-scenes, leading, mentoring, and guiding countless reporters from the around the country.
Some tributes:
“When you watched her work — relentless on the phone, gnawing her fingernails to the nub, a perfectionist on the keyboard — you’d think: a workhorse, not a showhorse,” said Bill Keller, executive editor of The New York Times. “Then you’d read the result and it would be elegant. She was one of the best.”
Dan Balz, her frequent competitor at The Washington Post, said her articles were “grounded in her knowledge of what makes a good campaign, but not tethered to the language or minutiae of politics.”
And Senator Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts said in a statement: “Robin was a reporter’s reporter who deeply cared about the people and the issues she covered. There was rarely a day during our health care debates that I didn’t open the paper to read Robin’s story and learn how what we were doing impacted people.”
Best wishes to her husband and two twin children.