Jennifer Donahue is the political director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College. After a decade as a political reporter, analyst and producer, Donahue is known for appearing on National Public Radio, ABC World News Tonight, NBC Nightly News, Nightline (US news program), CBS Evening News, and Anderson Cooper 360°.
She is frequently quoted in the Newsweek, Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, Boston Globe, and participates in live interviews on National Public Radio.
Personal history
editA graduate of Cornell University, Donahue refers to herself as a political analyst.[1]
Political career
edit1990s
editJennifer Donahue began work at C-SPAN in Washington, D.C. under her first boss, Brian Lamb. Her chance to field produce the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings[2] in the Senate in 1991 sparked her interest in gaining access to "what was happening behind the scenes."[3]
In 1992 Donahue covered the presidential race for C-SPAN. After the 1992 presidential race, Donahue began a job as the press secretary for United States Senator Hank Brown.
From 1995 to 1999, Donahue worked as a producer, writer and interviewer for CNN's Inside Politics. In 1996, she covered the presidential race for CNN.
2000 election
editDuring the 2000 presidential election, Donahue covered the race as both a freelance reporter for Newsweek and an on-air political analyst for MSNBC. She also worked for New Hampshire's WNDS-TV as a reporter.[4] During the election cycle, Donahue interviewed all the major presidential candidates and moderated live debates and town hall meetings with Keyes, Bauer, Bradley and Gore.
New Hampshire Institute of Politics
editDonahue teaches a seminar titled "Pizza and Politics" on political news and analysis.[5]
In June/July of 2008, Donahue was named the political director for the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College[6]. Prior to that, Donahue was a senior adviser for political affairs.
Harvard University's Institute of Politics
editIn the fall of 2008, Donahue's study group for the Institute of Politics focused on an examination of the general elections campaign as it occured.