EPISODE 254 WIT' NEWS REPORTER CORRESPONDENT, APRIL RYAN.
Bio
April Ryan, a 26-year journalism veteran, has been the White House correspondent for American Urban Radio Networks (AURN) since January of 1997, covering three Presidents. Along with daily responsibilities at the White House, Ryan hosts the daily feature, The White House Report, which is broadcast to AURN’s nearly 475 affiliated stations nationwide. Ryan also hosts a new Digital television program for Colours TV called the White House Report with April Ryan where minority America is given the White House perspective on matters specific to their community. Ryan is also a regular panelist on Washington Watch with Roland Martin for TV ONE.

Prior to working for AURN, Ryan worked for several radio stations in Baltimore, including WXYV-FM, where she was news director. Over the past 14 years, Ryan has conducted one-on-one interviews with then Presidential candidate Barak Obama and Michelle Obama, President George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, Senator Hillary Clinton, Vice President Al Gore, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Senator John Kerry and a host of others. Ryan has been credited by a White House historian as having the most radio interviews with then President Bill Clinton during his White House years. In January 2009, Ryan provided presidential perspectives and insights on the inauguration of Barack Obama for TVOne and its historic covered of the ceremony. In February 2008 April Ryan conducted an exclusive interview on Africa with President Bush in the Oval Office. Ryan traveled to Mexico and Trinidad with President Obama in May 2009. April also traveled aboard AirForce One and Interviewed President and Mrs. Bush while flying to the Gulf Coast for the Hurricane Katrina One year anniversary. In 2006, Ryan has also traveled with First Lady Laura Bush to Mississippi to meet with New Orleans Hurricane Katrina survivors. In September 2005, Ryan flew to Haiti with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. While under the protection of the United Nations Blue Helmet Security forces, Ryan reported on America’s support for democratic elections there. April Ryan has also traveled to Africa on presidential missions with President Bill Clinton, Vice President Al Gore and President George W. Bush. Ryan provided exclusive coverage of the Presidential activities in Africa, and gathered newsworthy information for a 10-part series AURN broadcast in June, 1998 for the Clinton historic six nation African tour. An exclusive interview with Hillary Clinton followed and was not only broadcast by AURN, but was featured on the CBS evening news, among other national television and radio broadcasts. April Ryan’s career has also afforded April the opportunity to travel to China and Switzerland. Over the years many of her breaking news stories and interviews have found their way to the pages of some of the nation’s top newspapers. Those stories have also been featured in television newscasts on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC and FOX. In September 2005 Ryan’s breaking news coverage with First Lady Laura Bush was also highlighted on NBC’s Today show.