White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

CAROL MELTON, POWER WOMAN

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Carol Melton and Dana Bash. Photo courtesy Dana Bash.

A DC Cheer to Carol Melton, Time Warner’s Executive Vice President for Global Public Policy, for being named to Moves Magazine annual Power Women list.

Honored at a year-end celebration gala held in Manhattan on November 10th, Melton is one of 25 women chosen this year who represent Moves Magazine mission of advocating for women’s rights, social fairness and equal opportunity.

The gala was hosted by acclaimed actors, Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Isabelle Huppert, and the audience was treated to a live performance from international opera star James Valenti and Michelin star dining by chef Laurent Tourondel.

Melton was chosen for leading by example and being a role model for future generations. As EVP for TimeWarner she is responsible for overseeing the Company’s policy offices in Washington, D.C., London, Brussels, Hong Kong and Buenos Aires.

Melton serves on the Board of Trustees of JBG Smith Properties (NYSE: JBGS), the Board of Directors and First Vice President of the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., as well as the Boards of start-up incubator Halcyon and the Phillips Collection. She is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

#movespowerwomen

Collins Dictionary 2017 Word of the Year: Fake News

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Photo courtesy Pixabay

British dictionary publisher Collins has announced their 2017 “Word of the Year”: Fake News.

Claiming the term saw and “unprecedented” rise in usage over the past year, the term has also become synonymous with President Donald Trump, who has often utilized the phrase to criticize the media and journalists, especially on stories he perceives to be negative toward his administration.

Collins says the term has been in use for at least a decade, and defines “fake news” as “… false, often sensational, information disseminated under the guise of news reporting.”  Collins stated the word had been ranked top in its annual assessment of the most used words in the English language, with an “unprecedented usage increase 365% since 2016.”  Next year, the phrase will have its own entry in the dictionary.

President Trump recently claimed to have coined the phrase “fake news” as well.  In an interview with Mike Huckabee, he stated that:

“One of the greatest of all [the] terms I’ve come up with is ‘fake.’  I guess other people have used it — the term ‘fake’ in conjunction with ‘media’ — perhaps over the years.  But I’ve never noticed it.  And it’s a shame.  And they really hurt the country.”

Other words that were in competition for “Word of the Year” include “echo chamber,” “gender-fluid,” “gig economy” and “insta.”

You can see a sketch performed by The Free Association in partnership with Collins on “fake news” here.

CONGRATS! Veep Wins “Best Comedy”, Julia Louis-Dreyfus Makes Emmy History

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Veep billboard in Times Square. Photo courtesy Ron Cogswell.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus scored Emmy history Sunday night by winning “Best Actress in a Comedy Series” for the sixth consecutive year in a row.  In addition, the smash HBO series Veep, wherein Louis-Dreyfus plays ex-President Selina Meyer, took the top award for Outstanding Comedy Series for the third year in a row.

“We had a whole story line about impeachment, but we abandoned that because we were worried someone else may get there first,” Louis-Dreyfus said in her acceptance speech.  “This continues to be the role of a lifetime and an adventure of utter joy.”

In winning Best Actress this year, Louis-Dreyfus now holds the record for most Emmys won by an actor in the same role.  That distinction had been held by both Candice Bergen, who won top recognition five times for her landmark character Murphy Brown, and historic Don Knotts for his portrayal of Barney Fife on The Andy Griffith Show.

Louis-Dreyfus is now also tied with the legendary Cloris Leachman for most Primetime Emmys wins by a single performer.  Both women have won eight Emmys.

“I don’t know what to say about it other than I’m numb,” Louis-Dreyfus noted after the awards ceremony.  “I can’t believe it.  I adore Cloris Leachman.  All I think about is her in Young Frankenstein going ‘He was my boyfriend.’  I’m just incredibly honored and amazed this has happened to me.  It’s all very baffling and a sh—ton of good luck.”

Louis-Dreyfus beat out other supremely talented actresses for the top billing in comedy:  Better Thing’s Pamela Adlon, Black-ish’s Tracee Ellis Ross, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’s Ellie Kemper, Grace and Frankie’s co-leads Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, and Mom’s Allison Janney.

Her series Veep also rocked the evening by taking home their third consecutive “Outstanding Comedy Series” Emmy.

Executive producer David Mandel joked about the comparison between his award-winning comedy series and the real-world White House.

“I guess I’m honestly just glad that in our world Selina lost so we get to do our own show.  Obviously the comparison is going to be drawn, but you’re not watching us do a scene in the Oval Office and then watching him do a scene in the Oval Office.  He ends up being the 30 Rock to our Studio 60.  I think they’re doing a better job being funnier,” Mandel said backstage at the awards ceremony.

The Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series faced tough competition from other fantastic shows this year, including HBO’s Silicon Valley, ABC’s Modern Family, FX’s Atlanta, Netflix’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, ABC’s Black-ish and Netflix’s Master of None.

Veep went into the evening as this year’s most nominated comedy series, with 17 total Emmy bids.  The show has been a nominee for best comedy series every year since its first season in 2012.

HBO announced earlier this month that Season Eight of Veep will be its last.  The final season will air in 2018.

Miss North Dakota Cara Mund Crowned Miss America 2018

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Photo courtesy Cara Mund via Twitter.

Celebrations and congratulations flowed Sunday night in Atlantic City as Miss North Dakota, Cara Mund was crowned 2018’s Miss America.  Last night was the first time in pageant history that Miss North Dakota has ever won the coveted tiara.

A Brown University graduate heading to law school following her reign, Mund said she hopes to one day become the first woman elected governor of North Dakota.  She showed political savvy and determination when asked about President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris climate accords earlier this year.

Referencing the decision to withdraw from the climate accords, the newly-crowned Miss America said: “It’s a bad decision.  There is evidence that climate change is existing, and we need to be at that table.”

She told reporters at Boardwalk Hall following the ceremony that it was her desire to provide a factual and honest answer to the question posed, instead of glossing over her answer.

“My onstage question answer was just my personal opinion,” she told The Associated Press in an interview. “I think everyone has a right to think what they want. But it’s important to have a spot at the negotiating table. This isn’t necessarily: ‘Does climate change exist or not?’ but rather the fact that we’re going to keep our Earth clean for future generations, and I just think it’s really important that we have a seat there. To pull out, I think, is just really unfortunate.”

Behind Mund, the other top five 2018 Miss American contestants were first runner-up Miss Missouri Jennifer Davis, second runner-up Miss New Jersey Kaitlyn Schoeffel, third runner-up Miss District of Columbia Briana Kinsey, and fourth runner-up Miss Texas Margana Wood.

The panel of judges for the 2018 pageant included country singer Thomas Rhett, actress and author Molly Sims, Grammy-nominated singer Jordin Sparks, People Magazine’s editor in chief Jess Cagle, CEO of AfterBuzz TV Maria Menounos, Miss America 2014 Nina Davuluri and Olympic gold medalist, Tara Lipinski.

The Miss America Organization, alongside The Miss America Foundation and its 52 licensed organizations, is the nation’s largest provider of scholarship assistance to young women, awarding millions annually for young female scholars across the country and around the world.  The Foundation provides academic and community-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate studies, as well as endowed scholarships for young women entering medical school, working in special areas for military service awareness and the performing arts.

Emmy Predictions! Entertainment Insiders Choose ‘Veep’ as Front-runner for Best Comedy Series

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Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

More and more experts are expecting the political comedy Veep to be victorious in winning the Emmy for Best Comedy Series this year.

According to the website GoldDerby.com, which tracks and analyzes entertainment award nominations, ten of the 16 entertainment journalists that have made predictions so far have revealed the smash HBO comedy has the advantage come September.

This year marks the sixth year in a row Veep has been nominated for Best Comedy Series, including winning the category both of the past two years.

The show has far more nominations than any other comedy this year, setting a high mark this time with 17 nominations, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Best Comedy Actress, Anna Chlumsky for Best Comedy Supporting Actress, Tony Hale and Matt Walsh each for Best Comedy Supporting Actor, Morgan Sackett, David Mandel and Dale Stern each for Best Comedy Directing, and Billy Kimball and David Mandel each for Best Comedy Writing.

The ten insiders predicting a Veep win this year include: Variety’s Debra Birnbaum, NPR’s Eric Deggans, TV Guide’s Joyce Eng, Gold Derby’s Tom O’Neil, TV Guide Magazine’s Matt Roush, Gold Derby’s Paul Sheehan, IndieWire’s Anne Thompson, Yahoo’s Ken Tucker, ESPN’s Adnan Virk, and LA Times’ Glenn Whipp.

 

Trumps Will Skip Kennedy Center Honors

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Photo courtesy Wikimedia.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump will not attend this year’s annual Kennedy Center Honors in December.

According to a White House statement, “The President and First Lady have decided not to participate in this year’s activities to allow the honorees to celebrate without any political distraction.”

Several honorees had said they would boycott the White House reception.  Both dancer Carmen de Lavallade and television producer Norman Lear had announced they would not attend that portion of the celebration.

“In light of the socially decisive and morally caustic narrative that our existing leadership is choosing to engage in, and in keeping with the principles that I and so many others have fought for, I will be declining the invitation to attend the reception at the White House,” de Lavallade said last week, prior to the White House announcement.

In a joint statement, Kennedy Center Chairman David M. Rubenstein and President Deborah F. Rutter said the center “respects the decision made today by the office of the President of the United States.  In choosing not to participate in this year’s Honors activities, the Administration has graciously signaled its respect for the Kennedy Center and ensures the Honors gala remains a deservingly special moment for the Honorees.  We are grateful for this gesture.”

This will be the fourth time a sitting president is not in attendance at the Honors, following Presidents Jimmy Carter in 1979, George H.W. Bush in 1989 and Bill Clinton in 1994.  All three former presidents had attended the annual celebration other years while in office.

White House Correspondents Association Receives Press Freedom Award

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Photo courtesy AFS-USA Intercultural Programs.

The White House Correspondents Association will be honored by the National Press Club and its nonprofit Journalism Institute with its John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award.

Named after the late president of the National Press Club and a renown journalist dedicated to press freedom, this award is presented annually to two recipients — one domestic and one foreign — at the annual Fourth Estate Gala, to be held in October.  The recipients are recognized for “demonstrating through their work the principles of press freedom and open government.”

In announcing the decision, the National Press Club said that

“While there are a number of worthy potential recipients this year, the Club and Journalism Institute chose the White House Correspondents’ Association for its tireless — and often thankless — efforts to maintain lines of communication with the leaders of our government and stand up for public access, all while enduring insults, public ridicule and not-so-veiled threats.”

The Club also noted that “the toxic environment for reporters in Washington is making it more difficult for journalists at a state and local level to keep the public informed.”

The press corps of Mexico is this year’s foreign recipient of the Press Freedom Award.

Volta Insider: White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 2017 Honors Military Veterans and a Free and Fair Press

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Rachel Greenberg interviews Mark Testoni, President & CEO of SAP NS2 | NS2 Serves. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

In the latest episode of Volta Insider, Rachel Greenberg interviewed several prominent attendees of the 2017 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch. This year’s Garden Brunch was dedicated to honoring military veterans and their families and celebrating a free press.

Greenberg provides insight into the themes of the Garden Brunch talking to elected officials, media titans, and some of the leading champions for military veterans.

Senator Mark Warner had a message for young people saying, “I think it’s more important than ever for young people to be involved.  Because if young people tune out, all you do is turn the keys over to the political extremes on the left or the right.  And for a nation that’s about 20 trillion in debt, to leave that kind of debt to the millenials, to our kids would be a disaster.  That is why your voices need to be heard.”

Rep. Darrell Issa had creative advice for those interested in pursuing a career in politics, “My advice [to young, aspiring journalists or politicians] … is to do something else first.  Really, the breadth of talent of people that go straight into politics, straight into journalism, there’s plenty of them.  The outliers — the people that make a difference — are the people that come with something to offer.  And so  particularly in the case for politics, life experience, real understanding.  Whether it’s working in soup kitchens or working on wall street, try to make sure you bring something other than a desire to vote.

Greenberg also spoke with CNN’s Brian Stelter on the new administration’s galvanizing effect on young journalism students, “There are so many problems in media right now, there are so many attempts to tear down the press, to delegitimize the press.  But it also makes it a more interesting time to be part of the solution.  And I see a lot of students nowawayds more motivated to be a part of it.”

Other interviews include Graham Moore, Academy Award winning screenwriter and author, Art Bilger, founder of the non-profit WorkingNation, and Meghan Ogilvie, CEO of Dog Tag Inc.

Check out the latest episode of Volta Insider here:

http://voltainsider.com/2017/05/16/episode-19-white-house-correspondents-garden-brunch-2017/

Dog Tag Bakery Alum Sedrick Banks Receives Visionary Award at White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

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Retired Sgt. Maj. Sedrick Banks speaks at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

The White House Correspondents Weekend is in full swing as Washington insiders and Hollywood stars gather at Connie Milstein’s Georgetown home for the annual Garden Brunch. This year’s theme is supporting two pillars of democracy: veterans and their families, and a free and fair press. That’s why the hosts have awarded U.S. Army Sergeant Major Sedrick A. Banks (Retired), a Dog Tag Bakery fellow the Visionary Award for overcoming his combat injuries and creating a successful small business.

Mark Testoni talks hiring veterans with NS2 Serves at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Mark Testoni, President of SAP National Security Services (NS2). Testoni founded NS2 Serves, a nonprofit that trains and employs veterans in high-tech careers and Ian Kahn who plays George Washington presented him with the award.

According to Testoni, “U.S. Army Sergeant Major Sedrick Banks embodies perseverance.  In 2010, Sergeant Major Banks survived a mortar attack while deployed in Iraq. Like so many, he was left with both visible and invisible wounds. Defying the odds, he joined Dog Tag Inc’s program in 2014 in the hopes of turning his entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Sergeant Major Banks launched the Genuine Life Institute – a motivational coaching program.”

Democracy Fund’s Joe Goldman Accepts White House Correspondents Garden Brunch Visionary Award

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Democracy Fund’s Joe Goldman at the Microsoft Wall at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

This year’s White House Correspondents Garden Brunch saw celebrities and Washington media gather to celebrate two important pillars of American democracy. One of those pillars, a free and fair press, is essential to keeping our leaders honest. That’s why Democracy Fund president Joe Goldman received this year’s Visionary Award for his work in supporting independent journalists.

Democracy Fund is a bipartisan foundation that supports independent journalists and newsrooms across America through grants. It was founded by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar.

Democracy Fund’s Joe Goldman stands beside Greta Van Susteren at the 2017 Garden Brunch. Photo courtesy Haddad Media.

Introducing Goldman was legendary commentator Greta Van Susteren who took the stage to discuss the important work done by Joe Goldman and Democracy Fund which included giving over $12 million in grants to support press freedom and boost state and local newsrooms. “Last month Democracy Fund and its partners at First Look Media announced $12 million in grants to support press freedom. These grants ensure journalists have the resources and protections they need to meet the reporting challenges of today’s political landscape.”

After accepting the award, Goldman highlighted the need for organizations like Democracy Fund saying, “Hard-hitting journalists play a crucial role in our political system: informing the public and holding power accountable.”