White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

People Magazine And Funny Or Die Team Up to Return to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Festivities

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When the White House Correspondents’ Association hosts its first dinner since the pandemic in two weeks, it’ll be matched by the return of another longstanding D.C. tradition: the imperative pre- and post- events that make the weekend so unique and politically loaded.

Don Lemon and Hilary Rosen at the 2019 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

Among the slew of night before parties that have been announced, Funny or Die and People Magazine will co-sponsor an after-party at The Reach at the Kennedy Center. For both brands, this will be their first WHCD weekend event in several years. In 2006, People started an annual party with Time on the Friday evening before the dinner, and the event got to be known for its mix of Hollywood celebrities and White House figures, as well as a “hefty swag bag,” according to Deadline. However, that ended during Donald Trump’s years, as concerns grew over his malice toward the press and general distaste for Washington. 

This particularly piques interest this year, as both brands have new owners. Henry R. Munoz III bought Funny or Die while Dotdash purchased People Magazine both around the same time last year. Additionally, People Magazine is under new leadership, Leah Wyar as President of Dotdash Meredith, and Liz Vaccariello as Editor-in-Chief of People Magazine.

White House COVID Coordinator Says White House Correspondents’ Dinner Should Proceed; Here’s How They’re Protecting the President 

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White House coronavirus response coordinator Ashish Jha brought smiles to official Washington’s face on Sunday when he said that the White House Correspondents’ Dinner should go ahead as planned this month, despite the local rise in COVID-19 cases.

Speaking to “Fox News Sunday” Jha said, “We are at a point in this pandemic, Mike, where I think we can gather safely. That’s the key point.” He continued, “I don’t think events like that need to be canceled. I think if people put in good safeguards, they can make it substantially safer, make sure people are vaccinated, make sure you have testing, and improve ventilation.” 

Today, The White House brought back the historic Easter Egg Roll after a two year delay due to the pandemic. Pictured are President Biden and The First Lady enjoying the festivities. Photo Source, CNN. 

“These are the strategies we have learned over the last two years, and if we implement them, do I think it’s safe for people to gather together indoors? Absolutely.” The White House Correspondents’ Association is set to host its annual dinner on April 30, the first time it has been held since the pandemic. 

White House Correspondents’ Association President Steven Portnoy, of CBS News Radio, affirmed earlier this month that the dinner would be proceeding, with a mandate that guests show a negative COVID-19 test from within 24 hours of the event.

“We are going to, as a baseline level, require every one of the 2,620 ticket holders at our event to demonstrate on Saturday, April 30, that they have tested negative on a same-day rapid test,” Portnoy told The Hill. “We’re taking it upon ourselves as an association to apply this requirement.”

Exactly how is the President being protected from the virus? The short answer is colored wrist bands. According to Politico Playbook, if you’re a White House staffer or a reporter who’s going to be close to the President, Vice President, or their subsequent spouses, you must first obtain a negative result on a Covid test. That result will get you a one-day wristband that signifies you’re clear to breathe in the oxygen of the Executive Branch. 

One technician who handles the Covid testing at the White House told Playbook that they recently added more wristband colors to the rotation. Apparently, fashion-forward staffers were getting frustrated with the lack of variety within color options.

The tech continued, adding that they’ve had press and staffers alike trying to get the gossip on what color the bands will be ahead of time, so appropriate outfits can be coordinated. Who said politicos can’t be stylish?!

George Clooney and Friends at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner After Party in 2012

The White House Correspondents’ Association Announces College Scholarship Winners for 2022

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The White House Correspondents Association has announced their 2022 college scholarship winners, according to their press release. 

“We White House correspondents are honored to play a part as these 31 bright young people begin their careers,” said WHCA President Steven Portnoy. “We are grateful for the generous donations of our employers and members of the public, whose support has made these grants to our scholars possible.”

Jake Tapper speaking at the 26th Annual White House Correspondents Garden Brunch. The 27th Annual Garden Brunch is back on this year at the Beale Washington House on April 30th!

The WHCA has allocated $131,500 from its reserves for this year’s scholarships, the second-largest such outlay in the program’s history. It is leveraging nearly $50,000 this year in other aid as well.

The students will be featured at a luncheon and program in their honor in Washington on April 29 and will be guests of the WHCA at its annual dinner on April 30. Since the WHCA began giving scholarships in 1991, it has awarded more than $1.6 million in grants and leveraged another $1.3 million in aid.

The 2022 Scholarship winners:

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY


Skye Witley is a journalism major in his final year at American University. An a capella singer from Olympia, WA, he was an intern for NBC Washington and Voice of America, works as a staff copy editor for Clean & Prosperous America, and is a Congressional Correspondent for The Durango Herald. Skye is a local news editor and investigative reporter for the AU newspaper, The Eagle, and aspires to be an investigative environmental journalist.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Brooke Newman of Ventura, CA is currently at Arizona State University working on her graduate honors thesis, which conducts a comparative analysis of mass communication law in the U.S. and the UK. She served as a teaching assistant to JMC 110 at the Cronkite school and has written for Cronkite News Washington, D.C., The Arizona Republic, and AZ Big Media. Selected as a Carnegie-Knight News 21 fellow for the spring and summer of 2022, Brooke hopes to write for a mass communication law journal while in law school and participate in a social or criminal justice related externship.


Diannie Chavez, a journalism and mass communications major from Phoenix, is a junior at Arizona State University, where she is a photojournalist for the school’s newspaper and was a member of its first Diversity Council. A regular on the Dean’s List, she completed a photo internship with PHOENIX Magazine, worked the Cronkite News DC Bureau team, and undertook an investigative fellowship with News21. She is pursuing a career in photojournalism and documentary making and hopes to focus her work on social justice, immigration, and criminal justice.


Alexia Stanbridge, an aspiring broadcast news reporter/anchor, is a senior at Arizona State University majoring in journalism and mass communications. The Morgan, UT native produces “Break It Down” on Arizona PBS and has helped produce “Arizona Horizon,” an AZPBS television program that covers Arizona news in depth. Alexia is on the Dean’s List and has been published on multiple news sites, including the Phoenix Business Journal, Tucson Sentinel, and AZ Big Media.

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

Trust in Reporting Scholarship


Neetish Basnet is pursuing a graduate degree in mass communications at Arizona State University. From Kathmandu, Nepal, he is a former fellow of the Dow Jones News Fund digital media program and built a digital-first, nonprofit news organization as a founding reporter. A former graphics designer for a business news magazine, Neetish hopes to work as a business reporter in a national news publication.

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY


Malak AlSayyad, an Albright Institute for Global Affairs fellow and recipient of the MacFarquhar ’59 Internship for International Journalism, holds a B.A. in Cinema & Media Studies and Media Arts & Sciences from Wellesley College. From Cairo, Egypt, Malak is co-president of AMEJA at Columbia University and most recently lived in Berlin, where she worked in organizations focused on training and supporting filmmakers and artists from the Arab region and Africa. The aspiring documentary filmmaker hopes to work in the Middle East and focus on the people and movements that challenge subjects such as inequality, power, and taboo.

DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

With the Asian American Journalists Association


Daniel E. Lam of Whitestone, NY is a senior at Dartmouth College, where he studies government and policy rhetoric, conducts political science research, and competitively chops wood on the timber team. The Dartmouth College Radio news director hosts a variety show, worked as a commercial rock DJ, and has produced podcasts for a political consulting firm and a creative production company. Daniel has reported and produced news stories for NPR’s National Desk and aspires to a career covering national politics as a broadcast journalist.

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY

Trust In Reporting Scholarship


Sara Avery is a senior majoring in journalism at Hampton University. Hailing from Raleigh, NC, she is the EP of WHOV, editor-in-chief of The Hampton Script, and a member of the NABJ. She is a 2020 Pulitzer fellow and the recipient of the 2019 Hampton Roads Black Media Professional Scholarship and the 2020 National News Publishers Association Fund Scholarship. Sara would like to be an investigative reporter.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Harry S. McAlpin Jr. Scholarship


Corinne Dorsey of Dallas, TX, a junior journalism major, is a staff writer for The Hilltop, press secretary for the Howard University SA Administration, editor-in-chief for Revolutionaire, and vice president for Her Campus Howard. She worked with Reebok on a project about Allen Iverson’s 20th anniversary of the Question shoe collection, wrote a cover story for The Dallas Morning News, and is currently an intern with CNN D.C. With a love of highlighting black voices and stories, Corinne hopes to become a leading anchor for a major network or an editor for a major publication.

HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Kiara Patterson serves on the executive board for the Howard University Association of Black Journalists and is its social media co-chair. She is a reporter for the Spotlight TV Network, a reporter for The Hilltop, and has been on the Dean’s list with a 4.0 GPA every semester. The junior from Shaker Heights, OH is a broadcast journalism major and hopes to be an anchor or reporter for a major television station or network.


Kendall Lanier is the general manager of Spotlight Network, executive secretary for the Howard University Association of Black Journalists, and a reporter for The Hilltop newspaper. The junior journalism major was a National Content Center intern for CNN and is currently interning with Fox Sports as a Talent Relations intern. From Kansas City, MO, Kendall aspires to be a broadcast journalist focusing on entertainment and sports, eventually having her own show on a major network.

IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Hugh Sidey Scholarship  


Cooper Pierce of Grimes, IA is a junior majoring in journalism and political science at Iowa State University. He currently serves as marketing specialist for Iowa State Recreation Services and has prior experience as a communications intern at the Office of the Iowa Attorney General, a reporter for Iowa State Daily, and digital content creator for the Rachel for Ames campaign. Cooper plans to attend graduate school.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY


Allison Novelo is earning a Master of Science in Journalism at Northwestern University with a specialization in politics, policy, and foreign affairs. The Wheeling, IL native has covered the governor’s race in Virginia for USA Today and is working as a freelance reporter for the Frederick News Post, all while serving in the National Guard as a public affairs specialist. Allison, a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, hopes to report on politics and policies affecting minority groups and cover underreported communities.

NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

Deborah Orin Scholarship


Annie Klingenberg is a graduate student at Northwestern and a native of West Chester, PA. She has written and produced news videos (including writing and hosting a news satire show as an undergrad) and is most proud of the abortion coverage she produced regarding SCOTUS hearings and national protests. Annie has written for several media outlets, including TheGrio and Sojourners, and hopes to be a campaign reporter and a White House correspondent.


Julia Mueller, a graduate student at Northwestern, has had work published with USA Today, UPI, several regional papers, and The Hill, where she is currently an editorial intern. The Beaverton, OR native was managing editor and co-author of an investigative reporting book, “Classroom 15,” which was featured in the New York Times, and is the recipient of the Academic Excellence in Journalism award and the Phi Beta Kappa Oregon Six award from the University of Oregon. Julia plans to pursue a career covering issues of law, policy, and politics in Washington, D.C.

OHIO UNIVERSITY


Kayla Bennett is the assistant culture editor at The Post, Ohio University’s independently run student newspaper, a section editor for Thread Magazine, a fashion-forward magazine on campus, and treasurer of Ohio University’s Society of Professional Journalists. The Dayton, OH junior is majoring in journalism with a minor in political science.Kayla is considering attending law school and aspires to be an editor at a newspaper or magazine.


Abby Neff of Columbus, OH is a news reporter, culture writer, and copy editor for The Post, Ohio University’s campus newspaper, and previously worked as an associate editor and staff writer for OU’s Backdrop Magazine. A winner of the Bob and Colleen “Koky” Dishon Scholarship from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism in 2019 and a Hearst Award for Breaking News in 2020, she is currently an editorial intern for Matter News, a nonprofit news organization in Columbus, OH. Majoring in journalism and Spanish, the junior hopes to report on Spanish-speaking communities in the U.S. and Latin America, one day working as a managing editor of a publication.


Kate Marijolovic is a junior from Willoughby Hills, OH majoring in journalism at Ohio University. She worked as a reporter for The New Political, an independent student publication covering local politics, and was selected to participate in Ohio University’s Scripps Semester in D.C. program in 2021, where she interned in the office of U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-9). Kate hopes to work as a foreign correspondent, reporting on international politics across the globe.

SETON HALL UNIVERSITY

With National Association of Hispanic Journalists  


Amanda DeJesus, a journalism and political science double major from New York City, is a junior at Seton Hall University. A former intern at Staten Island Advance, she is currently the news editor of her college newspaper and a DJ at Seton Hall’s radio station. Amanda plans to attend graduate school and pursue a career in journalism covering politics and social justice issues.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

Cokie Roberts Scholarship


Maria Fernanda Bernal, a former reporter and social media marketing coordinator for the Richmond Pulse, was the first-place award winner of the Mexican Institute of Radio (IMER) 2021 and the Mexican Cultural Institute of Washington D.C contest. A multimedia graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, she is currently a KQED newscast intern, where her duties include writing stories for broadcasting. A first-generation student and a DACA recipient from Richmond, CA, she wants to bring truth to communities through versatile reporting.

UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS


Lily O’Shea Becker is an associate producer, multimedia journalist, and anchor for KUJH News and has experience as a news correspondent, photojournalist, and copy editor for the University Daily Kansan. A junior journalism major, Lily photographed a sexual assault protest at a University of Kansas fraternity, which was published in the Kansas Reflector and is a current nominee for a Hearst Journalism Award. The aspiring journalist from St. Louis, MO is an intern with “Good Morning Indian Country” and is considering attending law school.

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND


Sophia Marchionini is a freshman at the University of Maryland, to which she brings four years of yearbook experience. Majoring in journalism, she is from Silver Spring, MD. Her goal is to be a columnist in The Washington Post Magazine.

Katherine Mahoney, a journalism and studio art double major, is a staff writer for HerCampus Maryland, the layout and design co-director and senior website manager for Monumental Magazine, and the cover designer for the 2021 Paper Shell Review at the University of Maryland. The sophomore from Olney, MD does freelance work for organizations in her community, such as The Beacon and Kensington Neighbors Magazine, and for campus organizations like The Diamondback and Mitzpeh. Katherine is interested in combining her love for writing and local news to tell the stories of everyday people.

Erin Harper is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and has worked for national and international news organizations such as PBS and CNN. A junior at the University of Maryland, the Washington, D.C. native writes short articles, some of which have been published in small media outlets, and daily affirmations to share with classmates. Erin’s plans include working as an international journalist specializing in foreign and domestic political issues.


Sarah Elbeshbishi has interned for USA TODAY’s Washington, D.C. bureau as a Politics Now intern since June of 2020 and is a member of the University of Maryland, College Park’s chapter of Society of Professional Journalists, serving the past two years as chapter president. The senior from Montgomery Village, MD is double majoring in journalism and public policy and serves as a copy editor for Stories Beneath the Shell, a student run publication focused on underreported stories. Sarah is looking to continue reporting after graduation, using a variety of platforms and her policy background to connect with different audiences to cover prominent national issues.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI


Maia Bond, a junior journalism major, hopes to work as a government and political reporter for a publication in Washington, D.C. She has been the assistant sports feature editor at The Maneater, the official student newspaper of the University of Missouri, an intern at Phelps County Focus, and has had pieces in several publications. A city and county reporter for the Columbia Missourian, Maia is from Rolla, MO.

Mavis Chan is currently an intern writing PR material for the Office of Research and Economic Development. A junior at the University of Missouri double majoring in journalism and political science, she has worked in radio and television and has been published in the Columbia Missourian, the Longview News-Journal, and The Maneater. A native of Hong Kong, Mavis aspires to be a foreign correspondent, reporting on matters of diplomacy, war, business, and the international political economy.

Robert “Wicker” Perlis will be graduating from the University of Missouri this year with a major in journalism and a minor in religious studies. A son of the Big Easy, he is a fan of all New Orleans sports, along with the Missouri Tigers and St. Louis Blues. The IRE member is most interested in the intersections between religion, politics, government, and culture and hopes to cover those topics as a reporter somewhere in the southeastern United States.


Teghan Simonton of Maynard, AR is a graduate student at the University of Missouri and a research assistant in the data library at the National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting, part of Investigative Reporters & Editors. She was a staff reporter at the Tribune-Review, interned on the investigations team at USA TODAY, and has been repeatedly recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Pennsylvania News Media Association, the American Scholastic Press Association, the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, and the Women’s Press Club of Pittsburgh.  A reporter for the Columbia Missourian, Teghan hopes to become an investigative reporter and work on projects that combine accountability reporting, data analysis, and narrative storytelling.


Jana Rose Schleis is a graduate student studying investigative journalism at the University of Missouri. From Two Creeks, WI, she is the morning newscaster for KBIA, mid-Missouri’s NPR member station, and a teacher’s assistant for J1100 – Principles of Journalism in Democracy. A new member of SHEJ, she believes journalism is a public service and an integral part of democracy and hopes to cover local or state government.

UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

Carter Holland Scholarship


Lexie Martin is in her senior year at the University of Tennessee, majoring in journalism and electronic media. She has been a contributing writer for The Daily Beacon for four years and is the recipient of the Nellie D. Kenyon award (2019), the Willis Tucker Journalism Endowment (2020), and the Bonnie Hufford Scholarship (2021). From Murfreesboro, TN, Lexie would like to start off reporting for a small news station or a newspaper before becoming a political analyst or a White House Correspondent.

The White House Correspondents’ Association Will Require Those Who Plan to Attend its Annual Dinner to be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

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The White House Correspondents’ Association said Sunday it will require those who plan to attend its annual dinner this month to be vaccinated against COVID-19. 

Correspondents Association President Steve Portnoy said in an email that the board voted earlier Sunday to require attendees to show proof of vaccination in addition to an existing requirement to show a same-day negative test to attend the dinner on April 30.

“Same-day testing has been our plan for months, and now we’re closing the loop by adding the vaccine requirement. We’ll ask all guests to demonstrate their compliance with both via the Bindle app. Our exec director, Steve Thomma, is working with bureau managers and ticket buyers to ensure guidance on the use of the app is widely disseminated and understood by all attendees,” Portnoy wrote.

The association is also encouraging attendees to obtain a fourth booster shot if they are eligible as soon as this week for maximum protection by White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. This is critical, as Hollywood and Washington alike will flock to the District to celebrate not just at the Washington Hilton, but at the other multiple events taking place that weekend. 

What many Washingtonians describe as the “pregame” to the White House Correspondents Dinner: The Garden Brunch. This photo is from the 2017 brunch honoring the work of NS2 Serves, Sedrick Banks of Dog Tag Bakery and the Democracy Fund.

“The board’s policy is aimed at preventing anyone who is known to be infectious (as indicated by a positive result on a rapid antigen test) from spreading the virus at the dinner. But nothing we implement to protect the ballroom can reach the many social events other organizers throw around our dinner. Bear that in mind,” Portnoy wrote.

Portnoy cited an appearance by Anthony Fauci on ABC’s “This Week” where Fauci highlighted protocols by some places that are requiring both proof of vaccination and same-day negative test as part of the reasoning behind the enhanced protocols for the White House Correspondents dinner.

Several White House officials and congressional lawmakers have tested positive for COVID-19 in the past week, many of whom attended the Gridiron Dinner, leading to questions as to whether Washington should continue to hold large indoor events, some for the first time since the start of the pandemic.

Comedy legend Jay Leno presenting awards at the 2019 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch

“There are risks attendant to everything we’ll do over the next few weeks— hanging out with friends, going to briefings, attending Easter Sunday services or Passover Seders, and, of course, celebrating the First Amendment at our annual dinner. Each of us should judge our respective risk thresholds before engaging in any of these activities,” Portnoy wrote.

We look forward to a safe and fun White House Correspondents Dinner weekend and encourage everyone to be mindful and follow proper COVID-19 restrictions ahead of all festivities. 

WHCA Announces 2022 Journalism Awards Recipients 

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The White House Correspondents’ Association announced the winners of its 2022 journalism awards yesterday, Jonathan Swan, Zeke Miller and Mike Balsamo, Jonathan Karl, and Brendan Sialowksi.

The winners for presidential news coverage include journalists from ABC News, AFP, the Associated Press and Axios. The winning work covered the efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, The U.S. Capitol Insurrection, COVID-19, and a meeting between President Joe Biden and Vladmir Putin.

In addition, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, The Washington Post and an international consortium of other media partners was honored for work exposing financial secrets of more than 330 current and former heads of state as well as the U.S. role in offshore financial systems.

“Our panel of independent judges had a formidable task, reviewing dozens of worthy entries,” said White House Correspondents Association president Steven Portnoy. “We are grateful for the panel’s efforts in identifying these winners, and we are excited to honor the recipients at our annual dinner.” The awards will be presented at the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, April 30.

These are the following winners from the White House Correspondent Association’s press release:

JONATHAN SWAN, AXIOS, THE ALDO BECKMAN AWARD FOR OVERALL EXCELLENCE IN WHITE HOUSE COVERAGE

See the coverage here 

From the Judges:

The judges select Jonathan Swan for the Aldo Beckman award from a competitive list of entries that demonstrated the impact of White House policies and decisions on people’s lives. Swan’s riveting “Off The Rails” series describing the post-election turmoil in the White House illuminated, with speed and detail, the last-ditch efforts to overturn the election. The series also revealed President Trump’s ongoing attempts to put a loyalty stamp on the government’s national security apparatus. The stories, and their accompanying podcast, have been source material for the Jan. 6 investigating committee and have remained relevant amid continued revelations about the events surrounding the assault on the Capitol. 

ZEKE MILLER AND MIKE BALSAMO, ASSOCIATED PRESS, THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESIDENTIAL NEWS COVERAGE UNDER DEADLINE PRESSURE – PRINT

See the story here. 

From the Judges:

It started with a tip that led Mike Balsamo and Zeke Miller to the news most of America had been waiting for: The CDC was finally ready to relax the COVID-19 mask requirements. Balsamo and Miller drew on their sources to get the scoop, then they kept reporting through the day to deliver a tight, informative news stories on deadline that spelled out details of the new policy while capturing the mood of the moment, with voices from Capitol Hill to Sioux Falls. They also managed to look ahead to the challenges that lay ahead for enforcement of the new policy. 

JONATHAN KARL, ABC NEWS, AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESIDENTIAL COVERAGE UNDER DEADLINE PRESSURE – BROADCAST

See the story here.

From the Judges:

While the insurrection was still unfolding, Jonathan Karl was delivering a comprehensive, even-keeled and thorough piece of television that was visually powerful and compelling. Karl’s richly sourced reporting provided his viewers with a sense of what he so accurately described as the “chaos and lawlessness striking at the heart of American democracy.” Karl was ahead of the curve, delivering in real time a detailed narrative that doesn’t hit one false note, even with a year’s perspective. His work on Jan. 6 defines “reporting under deadline pressure.” 

BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, THE AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESIDENTIAL NEWS COVERAGE BY VISUAL JOURNALISTS

The winning photo.

From the Judges: 

A quick glance at this photo might give the impression of a dull overall shot of men in dark suits. However, the Biden-Putin meeting in Geneva was a major story, and this image captured the underlying drama. Look closely. The body language and each game face tell the story. These summit photo ops are fast. In seconds, the handlers would be yelling “lights” and pushing the photographers out the door. Brendan Smialowski of Agence France-Presse had to read the room quickly and go for the one picture that told the story.  Smialowski did just that and captured a prize-winning photograph below. 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, President Joe Biden, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov wait for a meeting at Villa La Grange June 16, 2021, in Geneva, Geneva.

THE KATHARINE GRAHAM AWARD FOR COURAGE AND ACCOUNTABILITY

International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, The Washington Post and media partners around the world

From the Judges:

The committee found the breadth and depth of the reporting and production of the Pandora Papers undertaken by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, The Washington Post and media partners around the world to be a major feat by itself, managing 600 journalists from 151 countries, working in a dozen languages with interpreters to analyze, verify and report on information from 11.9 million documents and produce a series of stories across a wide variety of media platforms.

And then there is the impact of the reporting, which exposed financial secrets of more than 330 current and former heads of state, and the U.S. role in the offshore system, led to electoral and legislative change around the globe, but also physical threats against and jailing of some journalists. The project underscored the strength of collaborative reporting and overcoming technological obstacles to produce powerful journalism.

Read the winning stories here:

  1. Offshore havens and hidden riches of world leaders and billionaires exposed in unprecedented leak
  2. Foreign money secretly floods U.S. tax havens. Some of it is tainted.
  3. Global hunt for looted treasures leads to offshore trusts
  4. When Latin America’s elite wanted to hide their wealth, they turned to this Panama firm
  5. As a poisoned town sought justice, top chemical giant executive moved millions to tax havens
  6. While his Country Struggles, Jordan’s King Abdullah Secretly Splurges
  7. How America’s biggest law firm drives global wealth into tax havens – ICIJ
  8.  Czech Prime Minister secretly bought lavish French Riviera estate using offshore companies
  9. As Catholic order fought sex abuse claims, secret trusts devoted to it poured millions into American rental properties
  10. How U.S. sanctions take a hidden toll on Russian oligarchs
  11. Secret money, swanky real estate and a a Monte Carlo mystery 

And some reaction stories:

“Pandora Papers investigation prompts new scrutiny of law firms’ role in offshore abuses”

“Lawmakers and regulators around the world take action in the wake of Pandora Papers”

Leading politicians, governments, and elites from all over the world have been roiled by the largest-ever ICIJ investigation, which changed the global conversation on tax havens and financial crime.”

See the complete list of judges for each award here. 

POLITICO Playbook Co-Author Joins “Morning Joe” as a Senior Contributor and Political Analyst

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MARCH 22: (L to R) Mark McKinnon, Rachael Bade, Eugene Daniels, Jennifer Palmieri and Ryan Lizza in conversation at “Politico X Showtime”, an event co-hosted by Eugene Daniels. (Photo by Paul Morigi/Getty Images)

POLITICO Playbook co-author Eugene Daniels will join MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” as a Senior Contributor and Political Analyst, announced in a tweet on Monday. 

Daniels became a co-author of Playbook in January of 2021, along with Rachael Bade, Ryan Lizza and Tara Palmeri. He is also a White House correspondent with a special focus on Vice President Kamala Harris, First Lady Jill Biden, Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, and emerging power players in Washington. A friend of WHC Insider, Daniels is the first black and LGBTQ+ co-author of the influential newsletter.

Daniels started at POLITICO in 2018, where he covered the midterms, the Democratic presidential primary and the general election. Before that, he covered the 2016 primary, general election, and national politics as a political reporter at Newsy. He started his career at a local TV station in Colorado Springs.

Many past MSNBC contributors have gone on to anchor their own shows, like Tiffany Cross and Jonathan Capehart. Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell also are among those who got their start at the network as commentators and analysts. 

We wish Eugene all the best with his new responsibilities and know he will shine on “Morning Joe.”

The White House Easter Egg Roll is Back After a Two Year Hiatus 

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Former President Barack Obama at the 2010 Easter Egg Roll

Grab your baskets and get your Sunday best on: the White House Easter Egg Roll is back on Monday, April 18 after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Tickets to the event are lottery style, with an online application live until 10:00 AM ET on Thursday, March 31. Results will be released on April 7.

The Easter Egg Roll is the most popular publicly-attended annual event hosted by the White House, which welcomes thousands of people over the course of the day to participate in festivities on the South Lawn. 

The popular tradition dates back to 1878 when President Rutherford B. Hayes issued an order that if any children should come to the White House to roll their Easter eggs, they would be allowed to do so. Today, children and their parents alike flock to the White House South Lawn to celebrate.

The Washington Kastles Mascots at the 2011 Easter Egg Roll

The Egg Roll marks one of the first notable public White House events to return since the onset of the pandemic. In the last two years, public tours have been postponed, in addition to a dramatic scale-back of the dozens of annual holiday festivities and events.

Thursday’s Easter Egg Roll announcement also included news of rescheduled Spring Garden Tours, which are free and open to members of the public. This year’s tour dates are April 9 and 10. Earlier this month, the White House also announced that public tours will recommence on April 15.

More information about the White House Easter Egg Roll and about entering the lottery can be found here.

White House, National Security Council Brief Influencers on Russia’s War Against Ukraine

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Ellie Zelier
Kahlil Greene
Marcus DiPaola

Top staffers at the White House and the National Security Council briefed social media influencers from TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram about Russia’s war on Ukraine. According to a White House official, the Thursday afternoon Zoom call included 30 of the top social media content creators chosen to receive important information and the latest news out of the region. 

The briefing was led by Matt Miller, a special adviser for communications at the White House National Security Council, as well as White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki. Psaki informed the influencers about “the United States’ strategic goals in the region” and answered questions regarding aid distribution, NATO, and more. 

One White House official said that “arming content creators with factual information and answers can be a critical tool” to fight misinformation online. With this, the White House is looking to combat online offenses, as the Russian government is now paying content creators to produce pro-Kremlin propaganda content. 

These influencers were chosen because many of them have created “explanatory content about Ukraine.” With these videos generating millions of views, it is a significant information source for young people in America and around the world. Some of the briefing participants included TikTok stars Ellie Zeiler (10m), Marcus DiPaola (3.5m), Aaron Parnas (1m), Kahlil Greene (540.7k), and Jules Terpak (270.9K).


More information can be found in The Washington Post, who first broke this story.

Biden to Hold Press Conference Amid Coronavirus Confusion and a Stalled Agenda In Congress

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Photo Source: Politico

Ahead of his one year anniversary in office, President Biden plans to hold his first formal news conference in months. Biden has remained out of the public eye this week as he prepares for just the second solo White House press conference amid slipping poll performance, 40-year record inflation levels looming, and all-time high COVID-19 cases. 

The President is seeking to  highlight his administration’s progress amid the ongoing pandemic. In announcing the press conference, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said the president “looks forward to speaking directly to the American people.” 

Averages of the most recent national polls compiled by both Real Clear Politics and FiveThirtyEight put Biden’s approval at 42% and disapproval at 52%. 

Biden’s approval rating hovered in the low to mid 50s during his first six months in the White House. But the president’s numbers began to decline in August at the wake of Biden’s much-criticized handling of the U.S. exit from Afghanistan and a surge in COVID-19 cases this summer.

Biden’s approval ratings average has hovered in the low 40s and his disapproval ratings average in the low 50s since mid-October. 

But a Quinnipiac University national poll grabbed headlines last week when it measured the president’s approval at just 33%. A White House memo described the survey as an “outlier.”

However, it’s important that Biden makes this press conference. “There are times when you have to step up. This is one of them,” said David Axelrod, a former top adviser to President Barack Obama, in The Washington Post. “You have to try to shape the narrative of the last year, because you know the media and opposition will.”

Veteran Diplomat Martin Indyk’s New Book On Kissinger

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Secretary John Kerry with Gahl Burt and author Ambassador Martin Indyk at Cafe Milano book Party

On November 17th,  Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba and Franco Nuschese hosted a book party for Martin Indyk’s newest work, Master of the Game: Henry Kissinger and the Art of Middle East Diplomacy at Cafe Milano in Washington, DC.  

Attendees included diplomatic heavy hitters like John Kerry and Ambassador Al Otaiba, who paid tribute to Indyk with a kind speech. Indyk then spoke, entertaining the crowd with an amusing story about Henry Kissinger and issuing many thanks. 

 

NYT columnist Tom Friedman and Amb. Yousef Al Otaiba at the celebration at Cafe Milano

Newly confirmed U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides, Israeli Ambassador Mike Herzog, Sally Quinn, and former Congresswoman Jane Harman were also present for the celebration, as well as media figures Wolf Blitzer, Norah O’Donnell, and Kaitlan Collins. Other notable guests included Tom Friedman from The New York Times, Roxanne Roberts from The Washington Post, and Jeff Goldberg from The Atlantic.

U. S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides with Tammy Wittes and friend

 

Cafe Milano owner Franco Nuschese and CNN’s Kaitlan Collins

Martin Indyk served twice as U.S. Ambassador to Israel from 1995-1997 and 2000-2001. He was President Clinton’s Middle East adviser on the National Security Council, and in Clinton’s second term he became the assistant secretary of state for Near East Affairs. Master of the Game is Indyk’s third book, and first solo publication in a few years.