The WHCA represents the White House press corps in its dealings with the administration on coverage-related issues.
A nine-member board of directors, elected by correspondents, addresses access to the chief executive; coverage arrangements; work space arrangements; logistics and costs for press travel to accompany a president on the road. Information about our OFFICERS and BOARD MEMBERS is available on our site.
The association also holds an ANNUAL DINNER to raise money for WHCA SCHOLARSHIPS and honor the professional recipients of the WHCA's JOURNALISM AWARDS. The next WHCA dinner is scheduled for April 28, 2012.
SCHOLARSHIPS for promising journalism students play an important part in the associations' mission. Read about the talented recipients who were honored and learn about our expanded scholarship program.
We are proud to sponsor several prestigious professional journalism AWARDS that highlight our colleagues' significant accomplishments in the field. A CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS goes out in January, and awards are presented in the spring at the annual dinner. The 2011 recipients are listed on our 2011 AWARDS page, and links to their winning entries have been posted.
Learn about the HISTORY of the WHCA. Over the years, many of our association's activities have been documented by C-SPAN, which is hosting a video archive of the White House Correspondents' Association dinners and related historical footage.
To qualify for regular MEMBERSHIP, a correspondent must be employed on the editorial staff of a newspaper, magazine, wire service, radio, TV, cable TV, or other broadcast organization or news gathering organization that regularly reports on the White House. His or her principal journalistic assignments must involve White House coverage with such activities as attending briefings or participating in the in-town pool rotation.The applicant must have permanent White House press credentials. There is also a non-voting associate membership. Read the WHCA BY-LAWS to determine your eligibility. If you are interested in joining, download a MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. If you are already a member, visit the membership page for additional information about MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS.
We are posting PRESS RELEASES and links to some representative NEWS BLOGS produced by our members, to help keep you up-to-date on the most pressing issues of the day.
We're usually the ones asking questions, but you may have a few for us. If so, please CONTACT THE WHCA. We'd enjoy hearing from you.
White House press briefing, photo/Doug Mills, New York Times
2011 JOURNALISM AWARDS
Four reporters have been named winners of three of journalism's most prestigious awards. They were honored at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner at the Washington Hilton. At the annual dinner, the association also gives out more than $100,000 in scholarships for journalism students.
Dan Balz of The Washington Post and Jake Tapper of ABC News have won the Merriman Smith Award for excellence in presidential coverage under deadline pressure in the print and broadcast categories, respectively. The award carries a $2,500 prize.
Peter Baker of The New York Times has won the Aldo Beckman award, which recognizes a correspondent who personifies the journalistic excellence and personal qualities of Aldo Beckman, a former president of the White House Correspondents' Association and correspondent for the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune and the association, which established the award in 1981, will give a prize of $1,000.
Michael Berens of The Seattle Times won the Edgar A. Poe Award that recognizes excellence in coverage of news of national or regional significance, with a single award for either a print or broadcast journalist. A prize of $2,500 comes with the award, which was established by the New Orleans Times-Picayune and Newhouse Newspapers in honor of their distinguished correspondent Edgar A. Poe.
The AWARDS were presented during the annual fundraising dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association at the Washington Hilton Hotel on April 30, 2011.
2011 WHCA SCHOLARSHIPS Wondering who won White House Correspondent's Association scholarships? A full list of the recipients and their awards is posted on the SCHOLARSHIPS page.
The White House Correspondents’ Association distributed nearly $100,000 to eighteen journalism students from five prestigious universities, and honored the recipients at its annual scholarship luncheon on Friday, April 29th, 2011.
Since 1991, the WHCA has awarded more than $465,000 in scholarship money to more than 60 graduating high school seniors and college-level students. The success of this dinner allows members of the White House press corps to give back to the next generation of reporters.
In the fall of 2010, the WHCA also formed a new partnership with George Washington University’s Prime Movers Media (PMM) Program. A $20,000 grant will allow the mentor program to continue, bringing together journalists and G.W. students to Washington, D.C. high school students.
President Barack Obama speaks at a press conference in the White House on June 24, 2009. Official White House Photo/ Chuck Kennedy
2011 WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER
The 2011 WHCA DINNER took place on April 30 at the Washington Hilton. Saturday Night Live's Seth Meyers was the featured speaker. Videos from C-SPAN are available on our 2011 WHCA DINNER page. A slideshow of reception and dinner photos will be posted soon. Learn more about the 2011 AWARDS and SCHOLARSHIPS.
2011 photos/Brendan Smialowski
Use the sidebar links at the right to view earlier WHCA dinners, scholarships, and awards presentations.
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk down Pennsylvania Avenue en route to the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2009. Photo/Doug Mills, New York Times
CALL FOR ENTRIES
The White House Correspondents' Association is presenting three major journalism awards at the annual dinner on Saturday, April 28, 2012, to recognize distinguished reporting. The awards are among the most prestigious in our field. Prizes range from $1,000 to $2,500. Members of the WHCA are encouraged to review your 2011 reporting and consider entering the competition. The three contests are open to print and broadcast journalists. The submission deadline is March 2, 2012, at 5:00 p.m. READ MORE ABOUT THIS YEAR'S CONTESTS.
SAVE THE DATE:
WHCA DINNER - APRIL 28, 2012
Late-night comic Jimmy Kimmel to headline White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
WASHINGTON - The White House Correspondents’ Association is pleased to announce that Jimmy Kimmel, host of the ABC late-night talk show “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” will headline the WHCA's 98th annual dinner on Saturday, April 28, 2012.
"Jimmy's humor is sophisticated and edgy while appealing to a wide audience," said Caren Bohan, a Reuters journalist and president of the White House Correspondents' Association. "We are thrilled that Jimmy has accepted our invitation to be the featured comedian at our annual dinner."
The WHCA dinner is traditionally attended by the President and First Lady as well as many other senior government officials and members of the press corps. Proceeds from the dinner go toward scholarships and awards aimed at supporting aspiring journalists and recognizing excellence in the profession.
TICKET INFORMATION
Only WHCA members and their organizations are eligible to purchase tickets for the annual dinner. Please visit the MEMBERSHIP PAGE of our site to review eligibility requirements.
WHCA OFFICERS 2011-2012
President: Caren Bohan, Reuters
Vice President: Ed Henry, Fox
Secretary: Julie Mason, SiriusXM
Treasurer: Don Gonyea, NPR
BOARD MEMBERS 2011-2012
Carol Lee, Wall Street Journal
Michael Scherer, Time
Doug Mills, New York Times
April Ryan, American Urban Radio Network
Steven Thomma, McClatchy Newspapers
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF THE 2011 AWARDS
Four reporters have been named winners of three of journalism's most prestigious awards, and will be honored at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on April 30 at the Washington Hilton. At the annual dinner, the association also gives out more than $100,000 in scholarships for journalism students.
WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES RECIPIENTS OF2011 SCHOLARSHIPS $103,000 to be awarded as part of White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Weekend
Students honored at Annual Scholarship Luncheon on Friday, April 29.
SLIDESHOW: 2010 DINNER PHOTOS
View approximately 300 images of the 2010 dinner by photographer Paul Morse. Slideshow is available in Flash and non-Flash formats.
WHCA 2009 AWARDS The Merriman Smith Award for presidential coverage under deadline pressure, the Aldo Beckman award for sustained excellence in White House coverage, and the Edgar A. Poe Award for excellence in coverage of news of national or regional significance.
WATCH A FLASH SLIDESHOW of the 2008 reception and awards dinner. Flash and a java-enabled web browser are required to view the show.
SLIDESHOW - THE 2007 DINNER
A SLIDESHOW of the 2007 reception and dinner remains online
VIDEO ARCHIVE
A number of videos featuring past dinners dating back to the early '90s, including Presidential remarks, awards and scholarship presentations, interesting historical footage, and political humor are available on C-SPAN.ORG.
THE SCHOLARSHIP ARCHIVE contains information about earlier recipients and links to additional information about these awards.
Visit the AWARDS PAGE sidebar for quick links to prior coverage of journalism awards, winning entries, and press releases dating back to 2000. NEWS
For recent White House Correspondents' Association news, visit the NEWS/BLOGS page
