Veteran AP Correspondent Kim Gamel Dies at 57 After Lymphoma Battle

Kim Gamel, a seasoned senior editor and correspondent for the Associated Press, passed away on Wednesday, 19 June 2026, in Idaho at the age of 57, according to her brother‑in‑law, Lee Ruff.

Gamel’s career stretched over two decades and took her to some of the world’s most volatile frontiers. After earning a Russian degree from Bates College in Maine, she cut her teeth in print journalism at the Moscow Tribune before completing a master’s at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism.

From 2004 to 2014 she was a staff member of the AP, serving as news editor in Baghdad and Cairo and steering coverage of the Arab Spring uprisings that toppled several regimes in 2011. In Iraq she chronicled the war’s toll on civilians and followed the story of Shams Karim, a young girl blinded and disfigured by a 2006 car bombing that also killed her mother. Gamel’s reporting drew international attention to Karim’s plight, sparking donations and medical treatment abroad.

After leaving the AP, Gamel accepted a Knight‑Wallace fellowship at the University of Michigan, then joined Stars and Stripes, reporting on Asian affairs from Seoul and later Hawaii.

Colleagues remember her as a dedicated reporter who blended professional rigor with personal compassion. Robert H. Reid, former AP Middle East regional editor, recalled that she “made contacts easily, from military members and diplomats to store clerks and day laborers.” He added that she mentored junior journalists and often shared coffee brewed from fine grounds she brought from the United States.

Paul Haven, vice president of Global Newsgathering at the AP, described Gamel as a “human‑story seeker” whose work “made a difference in people’s lives.” He noted that her coverage of the Arab Spring and the early years of the Syrian civil war highlighted the human dimension of conflict.

Gamel’s personal traits were reflected in her daily routine. She kept a coffee machine at her desk in Baghdad and offered medication to colleagues who were ill, bringing supplies from the U.S. Her willingness to support others earned her a reputation as a caring colleague.

She died after a prolonged battle with lymphoma. A native of Idaho, she is survived by her mother, Bobbie Gamel; sister, Seana Ruff; brother‑in‑law, Lee Ruff; a nephew and a niece.

The AP has not released an official statement, but former staff members have paid tribute to her legacy. Her work is remembered for its depth, accuracy, and the way it brought the realities of war to a global audience.

The obituary highlights the broader context of conflict journalism in the Middle East. Since the early 2000s, reporters like Gamel have faced dangerous conditions while documenting the Iraq war, the Arab Spring, and subsequent regional instability. Their reporting has informed international policy, humanitarian aid, and public understanding.

Gamel’s career also illustrates the role of American news agencies in covering international events. The AP, founded in 1846, operates 235 bureaus worldwide and distributes news to more than 1,300 newspapers and broadcasters. Its coverage of the Middle East has been crucial in shaping global perceptions of the region’s conflicts.

In the wake of her passing, the journalism community reflects on the importance of on‑the‑ground reporting and the personal sacrifices journalists make to bring stories from conflict zones to the world.

The AP and its colleagues continue to honor Gamel’s memory by upholding the standards of accurate, compassionate journalism she exemplified.