“Mark’s encyclopedic knowledge of American politics and history, his sense of humor, fierce love of justice and country, and intolerance for phonies, has earned him a permanent place in our hearts and the hearts of our viewers. “It has been one of the great joys of my life at the NewsHour to follow Jim Lehrer in talking with Mark and David every Friday evening,” said Woodruff. Regular moderators for the weekly segment have included late PBS NewsHour anchor and co-founder Jim Lehrer and PBS NewsHour anchor and managing editor Judy Woodruff. Shields’ tenure at the table overlapped with six American presidents and countless political headlines, including the Persian Gulf War, the Iran-Contra affair, 9/11 and the start of the War on Terror. Finally to the loyal viewers of the NewsHour who have regularly informed, corrected, and encouraged me, thank you.”

To Judy Woodruff - my dear friend since the 1976 Ford-Carter campaign - and to all our dedicated professionals at the PBS NewsHour, this has been, in addition to great fun, the most rewarding professional experience of my, admittedly checkered, career. “I am grateful to my PBS colleagues, valued friends, beginning with David Gergen through the last joyful 20 years with David Brooks. “For 33 years, thanks to a large risk taken by Jim Lehrer and Robert MacNeil in 1987, I’ve had the best job in Washington journalism,” said Shields. His Friday successor has yet to be named. Shields will remain with the NewsHour as a senior contributor.

A regular on the NewsHour since 1987, Shields has provided political analysis and commentary on Friday nights and for national conventions and election specials alongside David Brooks since 2001, and previously David Gergen and the Wall Street Journal’s Paul Gigot.

All Press Releases Mark Shields to Step Down as Friday Night Regular on PBS NewsHourĪRLINGTON, VA (December 14, 2020) - After more than 33 years, syndicated columnist Mark Shields will step down on December 18 from the PBS NewsHour’s weekly Shields & Brooks discussion segment.

David brooks article about mark shields