Lois Romano
Encyclopedia
Lois Romano is an American journalist who served as a national political correspondent for the Washington Post for 29 years. She has covered eight presidential races, served as a columnist, and was a regional correspondent based in Tulsa. On April 5, 2011, she announced that she would be leaving the Washington Post for The Daily Beast
.
Romano started her Post career in the paper’s Style section, writing in-depth profiles on personalities like Jesse Jackson
and Gary Hart
. In 2004, she traveled with and covered Sen. John Kerry
during his presidential campaign. In 2000, she wrote a seven-part biographical series on George W. Bush
.
As a regional correspondent, she covered national issues including race relations, the fall of Enron
, the death penalty, and both Oklahoma City bombing
trials in Denver. In addition, Romano covered congressional and gubernatorial races.
In 1991, she created and designed the Posts personality column, "The Reliable Source," which became a well read and high impact feature at the paper. She was the first to report that Bill Clinton
brought a high-priced Beverly Hills hairdresser onto Air Force One
for a haircut.
In the spring of 2008, Romano was a fellow at the Institute of Politics
at Harvard College
and taught a study group on the general election. Later that year, she taught a course at American University, "How the News Media Have Shaped American History." In 2009, she was a fellow at the Hoover Institution
at Stanford University
.
After Barack Obama
was elected president, she created the Posts video series "The Obama Era: Voices of Power" to profile American politicians who impact the political process.[www.washingtonpost.com/voices-of-power/]
Romano has written freelance articles for a variety of publications, including Playboy
, Good Housekeeping
, and Redbook
. She has also been a regular guest and commentator on network and cable television. Romano graduated from Emmanuel College
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and has a Masters in international affairs from George Washington University
. She is married to Sven Erik Holmes
, a former federal judge and now executive vice-chairman of KPMG
.
The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is an American news reporting and opinion website founded and published by Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker as well as the short-lived Talk Magazine. The Daily Beast was launched on October 6, 2008, and is owned by IAC...
.
Romano started her Post career in the paper’s Style section, writing in-depth profiles on personalities like Jesse Jackson
Jesse Jackson
Jesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
and Gary Hart
Gary Hart
Gary Hart is an American politician, lawyer, author, professor and commentator. He served as a Democratic Senator representing Colorado , and ran in the U.S...
. In 2004, she traveled with and covered Sen. John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
during his presidential campaign. In 2000, she wrote a seven-part biographical series on George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
.
As a regional correspondent, she covered national issues including race relations, the fall of Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
, the death penalty, and both Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
trials in Denver. In addition, Romano covered congressional and gubernatorial races.
In 1991, she created and designed the Posts personality column, "The Reliable Source," which became a well read and high impact feature at the paper. She was the first to report that Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
brought a high-priced Beverly Hills hairdresser onto Air Force One
Air Force One
Air Force One is the official air traffic control call sign of any United States Air Force aircraft carrying the President of the United States. In common parlance the term refers to those Air Force aircraft whose primary mission is to transport the president; however, any U.S. Air Force aircraft...
for a haircut.
In the spring of 2008, Romano was a fellow at the Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics was created to serve as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and inspire Harvard students into careers in politics and public service, much as President Kennedy was inspired during his days as a student at Harvard. The IOP also brings together the academic...
at Harvard College
Harvard College
Harvard College, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, is one of two schools within Harvard University granting undergraduate degrees...
and taught a study group on the general election. Later that year, she taught a course at American University, "How the News Media Have Shaped American History." In 2009, she was a fellow at the Hoover Institution
Hoover Institution
The Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace is a public policy think tank and library founded in 1919 by then future U.S. president, Herbert Hoover, an early alumnus of Stanford....
at Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
.
After Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
was elected president, she created the Posts video series "The Obama Era: Voices of Power" to profile American politicians who impact the political process.[www.washingtonpost.com/voices-of-power/]
Romano has written freelance articles for a variety of publications, including Playboy
Playboy
Playboy is an American men's magazine that features photographs of nude women as well as journalism and fiction. It was founded in Chicago in 1953 by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother. The magazine has grown into Playboy Enterprises, Inc., with...
, Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
, and Redbook
Redbook
Redbook is an American women's magazine published by the Hearst Corporation. It is one of the "Seven Sisters", a group of women's service magazines.-History:...
. She has also been a regular guest and commentator on network and cable television. Romano graduated from Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College
Emmanuel College may refer to one of several academic institutions:in Australia* Emmanuel College, University of Queensland, part of the University of Queensland in Brisbane, Australia...
with a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and has a Masters in international affairs from George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
. She is married to Sven Erik Holmes
Sven Erik Holmes
Sven Erik Holmes is the Executive Vice Chair, Legal and Compliance for KPMG LLP, a national accounting firm, where he directs the office of general counsel, government affairs, security, external communications, office of internal audit, and ethics and compliance programs...
, a former federal judge and now executive vice-chairman of KPMG
KPMG
KPMG is one of the largest professional services networks in the world and one of the Big Four auditors, along with Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PwC. Its global headquarters is located in Amstelveen, Netherlands....
.