Hillary Clinton opened her speech to a room full of political reporters by acknowledging an awkward, if obvious, fact: she's not known for being media-friendly. But Monday night, she also pledged to make a change.
"I am well aware that some of you may be a little surprised to see me here tonight," she said. "My relationship with the press has been at times, shall we say, complicated."
The former secretary of State spoke at the Toner Prize for Excellence in Political Reporting ceremony, and her address was part olive branch—and part not-so-subtle suggestions about the need for "serious" and "substantive" journalism going forward.
"I am all about new beginnings: a new grandchild, another new hairstyle, a new email account," she quipped, "Why not a new relationship with the press? So here goes. No more secrecy. No more zone of privacy." (She then joked that ceremony attendees could find non-disclosure agreements under their chairs.)
Following the nearly 20-minute speech, she did not take questions.
Washington Post reporter Dan Balz, who won this year's award, made Clinton an offer: "I am happy to yield my time back to you if you want to take some questions," he said, making Clinton laugh.
The speech was the last on Clinton's schedule, and the next time she appears publicly, it will likely be to kick off her 2016 presidential campaign.