Dwayne Yancey, founding editor of Cardinal News, was inducted Thursday into the Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association Hall of Fame.
VCCA President Markus Schmidt said that for decades, Yancey “has set the standard for political journalism in Virginia, covering the commonwealth’s evolving political landscape with depth, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to the truth.”
“His keen analysis, sharp storytelling, and dedication to elevating voices across the state — particularly in Southwest and Southside Virginia — have left an indelible mark on our profession,” Schmidt said. “As the driving force behind Cardinal News, Dwayne not only built an independent newsroom dedicated to high-quality, nonpartisan coverage but also expanded the reach of journalism in regions often overlooked by traditional media.”
Yancey is a graduate of James Madison University and lives in Fincastle. Before co-founding Cardinal News in 2021, he spent 39 years with The Roanoke Times as a reporter, editor and editorial page editor.
“This is quite flattering for someone who grew up on a chicken farm in the Shenandoah Valley,” Yancey said Friday of the VCCA recognition, which was announced at the association’s annual gala in Richmond. “I hope this underscores the important role that Cardinal is playing and the statewide influence we have. Last night multiple legislators from across the state, from both parties, came up to me and said they read Cardinal every day.”
Luanne Rife, Cardinal News’ executive director and chief development officer, called the Hall of Fame induction “quite an honor and well-deserved recognition of Dwayne’s lifetime of work in understanding all the nuances of Virginia politics and translating and explaining them in a way anyone can understand.”
“When Dwayne is in a room with legislators, he often knows more than they do about the issues,” Rife said. “Not to slight them, but few can keep up with Dwayne’s insatiable appetite for studies and information. His work on shifting demographic patterns for Cardinal is just a small example of this. I hope our readers join me in congratulating Dwayne on this recognition.”
Cardinal News Executive Editor Jeffrey Schwaner said that Yancey’s columns “are proof that you can have in-depth high-quality journalism that is read eagerly by people on both sides of the political aisle here in Virginia.”
“He’s living proof of the great value of a curious mind and a sense of humor and humanity applied to our most important issues,” Schwaner said. “He’s also just a great guy and a role model for all of us here at Cardinal News.”
The Richmond-based Virginia Capitol Correspondents Association is made up of approximately three dozen online, print and broadcast journalists who cover the Virginia General Assembly.
Formally incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in 2009, the VCCA represents its members as they report on state government while “advancing the ideals of free and responsible news media,” according to its website.
Yancey’s VCCA Hall of Fame induction is the latest honor in a list that also includes being a two-time recipient of the Virginia Press Association’s D. Latham Mims Award for Editorial Leadership and being inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame.
His writing doesn’t just appear on the digital pages of Cardinal News. He is the author of “When Hell Froze Over,” a book about Virginia politics, and an internationally produced playwright.
In addition to Yancey, the VCCA on Thursday also inducted Anita Kumar, senior managing editor of the national politics website Politico, into its Hall of Fame, bringing the total number of inductees to nearly three dozen.
