Laura Foreman

Laura Foreman (June 11, 1943 – June 4, 2020) was an American journalist and the first woman political writer at The Philadelphia Inquirer. She was the first reporter who lost their job due to an affair.

Early life and education Laura Virginia Foreman was born on June 11, 1943, in Anniston, Alabama to Virginia and journalist Wilmer L. Foreman. She attended Emory University and graduated in 1965 with a degree in English literature.

Career After graduation, she worked at Southern Bell Telephone Company until 1967 when she became a reporter for The Associated Press in New Orleans. In 1969, she became a reporter for the United Press International. It was also reported she had received gifts from Cianfrani during her time at the paper. When asked about the relationship, Foreman is quoted as saying "I don't believe I have done anything wrong." The Inquirer developed their first ethics code which called for staff to avoid conflict, talk to their managers about any issues, and banned gifts from sources. Noting the harsh punishment in the case, critics saw a double standard, with different consequences for men and women in similar circumstances.

In 1977, Cianfrani was indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of corruption. He was convicted and imprisoned, and was released in 1980.

Time Life After the investigation, Foreman changed paths, and began work as a writer and editor at Time-Life Books. At the height of the position, she managed 20 people and freelanced for Discovery Publishing. In the 1990s, she left Washington for New Orleans where she freelanced, moving to Memphis after Hurricane Katrina.

Personal life On July 14, 1980, Foreman married Cianfrani. She died on June 4, 2020, in Memphis, Tennessee.