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Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson to Attend the 2022 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

April 25, 2022 By WHC Insider

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson will be back in Washington, DC, this weekend for the 2022 White House Correspondents’ dinner, Page Six reported today.

Kardashian, 41, and Davidson, 28, will be sitting at Disney/ABC’s table, as the Kardashians’ new reality show is on Hulu, now owned by Disney.

Kim Kardashian at the 2010 White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch

When discussing if Trevor Noah will make any jokes about the couple, one Page Six source said “I don’t think they should feel that they’re safe, Trevor could definitely turn his attention to Kim and Pete.”

Kim and Pete will be heading to the dinner shortly after they were spotted watching Jon Stewart accept the award for lifetime achievement in humor at the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor show Sunday night, see below. 

Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson attend the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor Show on April 23rd, 2022. (Page Six)

Kardashian last attended the dinner back in 2012 where she was the butt of jokes from host Jimmy Kimmel and then-President Barack Obama.“If you’re looking for the greatest threat to America right now, she’s right there,” Kimmel joked. “She’s Kim Kardashian.” 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: DC, Kim Kardashian, Media, News, Pete Davidson, Washington, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

The Official Guide to White House Correspondents’ Week

April 25, 2022 By margaretmturner

According to Politico’s Playbook today, The White House Correspondents Day Weekend is no longer a weekend. Get ready to say hello to the White House Correspondents’ Week. Here’s a complete list of the events to get you ready for the festivities. Just remember, these parties are invite-only, as reported by Playbook:

Jeff Goldblum, Emilie Livington, Robin Dearden, Bryan Cranston at the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch

THURSDAY: The weekend has become so crowded with high-profile parties that some organizations have moved their events to Thursday. These tend to be more civilized and casual affairs that allow you to practice your rusty social skills and get a preview of who’s in town before the historically fancier (and drunker) events that begin Friday.

6 p.m.: Washington Women in Journalism Awards. This year’s honorees include ABC’s Martha Raddatz, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Washington Post’s Kathleen Parker and NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe.

6:30 p.m.: National Geographic reception, followed by screening of “We Feed People,” a documentary about José Andrés and directed by Ron Howard. Both will be on hand for a Q&A. 

6:30 p.m.: Bytes & Bylines, hosted by the Irish ambassador. We’ve never been to a bad party hosted by the Irish, so this is a good choice to start the festivities.

FRIDAY: This has become a big night for parties, and is now dominated by two talent agencies, CAA and UTA. There are tons of smaller events all over Washington scheduled for Friday, but you’re probably having a good night if you’re shutting down the dance floor at the UTA party at 2 a.m.

5 p.m.: Vanity Fair and Power to the Patients cocktail reception.

6 p.m.: NBCUniversal shows off its new digs on Capitol Hill with Chair Cesar Conde.

6 p.m.: Motion Picture Association reception. This one has historically attracted a big Hollywood contingent. 

6:30 p.m.: CAA WHCD Cocktail Party. Always a classy affair.

6:30 p.m.: 14th annual Our Voices event hosted by Maria Teresa Kumar and Rosario Dawson. (No word on whether Sen. Cory Booker is invited.)

7 p.m.: Politics & Inclusion Dinner, which promises to “bring together 50 diverse leaders in politics and media, both established and rising stars.” This year’s hosts: CNN’s Abby Phillip and ColorComm’s Lauren Wesley Wilson. 

7 p.m.: Semafor party. Justin Smith, Ben Smith, Gina Chua, Steve Clemons and Rachel Oppenheim are hosting an informal get-together to talk about their new media venture. 

7:30 p.m.: The Creative Coalition is hosting the #RightToBearArts Gala Dinner. They promise celebrities from “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Young Sheldon” and “Barry.” 

9 p.m.: Funny or Die/People Magazine party. How it’s being pitched: “In a town filled with famously unfunny parties, Funny Or Die and PEOPLE Magazine present the funniest party this town has ever seen.” Also: “celebrities galore.”

9 p.m.: UTA Celebration of America’s Journalists.

Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington share a laugh at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

SATURDAY:

Brunches: There’s actually only one. Known simply as “Tammy’s brunch,” this party, now in its 27th year, has become as famous as the WHCD itself. Tammy Haddad, along with her 2022 co-hosts, Mark & Sally Ein, Kevin Sheekey, Stephanie Ruhle, Yamiche Alcindor, Craig Minassian, Teresa Carlson and Franco Nuschese, will be honoring ABC News’ Bob Woodruff and Lt. Gen. Donna Martin, inspector general of the Army, with special awards.

11 a.m.: The 27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch. A reminder from the hosts: “Aside from designated press areas, the event is off the record. We ask that you follow the same rules established by the WHCA for the dinner: No professional cameras or audio/video recorders are allowed inside the Party. Interviews are not permitted inside the event. Reporting on ‘overheards’ is strongly discouraged.” 

Pre-parties: One of the longest-running traditions of the dinner is the pre-party cocktail receptions throughout the Washington Hilton, hosted by news organizations. These often spill out into the hallways, and you can hop from one to the other. It’s typically easier to see and talk to people at these receptions than inside the ballroom itself, and you’ll get your first glimpse of interesting guests as you wander around. (One of us remembers chatting with Matt Drudge and Paula Jones at one of these back in 1998.) Here are a couple, but there are many more:

5:30 p.m.: ABC News reception, hosted by ABC News President Kim Godwin.

6 p.m.: POLITICO-CBS reception hosted by POLITICO CEO Goli Sheikoleslami and CBS News President Neeraj Khemlani.

7:30 p.m.: The White House Correspondents’ Dinner at the Washington Hilton. 

After-parties: There are more this year than ever. The Vanity Fair party used to be the hottest ticket, but Graydon Carter canceled it in 2017, and the magazine isn’t returning this year. NBC’s shindig became the go-to destination from 2017-2019. Now, party newcomer Paramount is hosting an afterparty that is being buzzed about as the new Vanity Fair. We’ll see!

9 p.m.: Vice News’ “Break the News” party to celebrate “our friends in the field.” This one goes until 1.

9:30 p.m.: Modern Luxury DC party. Don’t worry if you didn’t go to the dinner and aren’t wearing black tie — the dress code for this one is “Cocktail Chic.”

10:30 p.m.: theGrio’s “A Seat at the Table” party celebrating Black media and April Ryan’s 25th anniversary covering Washington. Mary J. Blige is performing, and comedian Chris Tucker is hosting.

10:30 p.m.: An Evening of Magical Realism, hosted by the ambassador of Colombia. This one, billed as “an exclusive soirée,” sounds interesting. Music: Thievery Corporation’s Eric Hilton.

11 p.m.: The Paramount After Party.

11:30 p.m.: The NBCUniversal After Party. There’s no end time on the invitation, so that bodes well. 

Emma Watson mingling at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

SUNDAY: You’re hungover. You were dancing late into the night with MSNBC bookers. Or perhaps you couldn’t sneak into the Paramount party and ended up at Black Whiskey until closing time. However the night went, you need a bloody mary and some eggs. The city is scattered with some smaller gatherings Sunday, but the two main events are hosted by CNN and yours truly.

10:30 a.m.: CNN Political Hangover Brunch.

11 a.m.: POLITICO Brunch.

We look forward to this week’s events and encourage everyone to stay safe!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: biden, DC, Funny or Die, Garden Brunch, Media, News, Paramount, People, Politico, Washington, WHCA, WHCD, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

27th Annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch Honoring the Press and Our Military Veterans Returns on Saturday, April 30th, 2022

April 22, 2022 By WHC Insider

Washington, DC – The annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch returns for its 27th year on April 30, 2022. Traditionally held on the afternoon of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the event brings together journalists, politicians, government officials, celebrities, and other notable individuals to honor the press and America’s military veterans. See preview video here. 

The 2022 Garden Brunch co-hosts are Tammy Haddad, Mark and Sally Ein, Kevin Sheekey, Stephanie Ruhle, Yamiche Alcindor, Craig Minassian, Teresa Carlson, and Franco Nuschese.

Bob Woodruff Foundation co-founders Bob and Lee Woodruff will be presented with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” Award for their work providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families. The couple launched the foundation after Bob Woodruff, an ABC News journalist, recovered from a ​​life-threatening traumatic brain injury he sustained while reporting on the war in Iraq.

Lt. General Donna W. Martin, the first woman to serve as Inspector General of the United States Army, a position she has held since September 2021, will be honored with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award. LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan.

The Brunch will also highlight the work of Blue Star Families, an organization committed to strengthening military families by connecting them with their neighbors, and Dog Tag Bakery, which provides a bridge from military service to the civilian world by helping veterans, military spouses, and caregivers find renewed purpose.  Brunch guests will be invited to write notes thanking service members and their families, including those deployed in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, and pin them onto an 8-foot-tall “Honor Wall” erected by Blue Star Families.

This year’s event will be held at the historic Beall-Washington House in Georgetown, once the home of former Washington Post publisher Katherine Graham, now owned by Mark and Sally Ein.

The first Garden Brunch took place in Tammy Haddad’s backyard 29 years ago, ahead of the 1993 White House Correspondents’ Association dinner. For background and interviews on the history of the White House Correspondents’ dinner and the events surrounding it, see Haddad’s podcast series, “Cone of Silence” on Audioboom or iTunes.

Photos and videos of previous White House Correspondents’ weekends and Garden Brunches can be found at WHC Insider.  

The 27th Annual Garden Brunch is made possible by the generous support of the Web3 Foundation, GM, and Flex.

Hashtag: #GardenBrunch

Photos of award recipients Bob and Lee Woodruff and LTG Donna W. Martin are attached below.

For more information, please contact: WHCgardenbrunch@haddadmedia.com 

The Annual White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch and White House Correspondents Insider (WHC Insider) are not affiliated with, or approved by, the White House Correspondents’ Association, which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: DC, Garden Brunch, Media, News, Tammy Haddad, Washington, WHCA, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

Bob Woodruff Foundation Co-Founders Bob and Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin, Inspector General of the United States Army, to Receive 2022 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” and “Courage” Awards

April 22, 2022 By margaretmturner

The annual White House Correspondents’ Weekend Garden Brunch returns this year to honor Bob Woodruff Foundation co-founders Bob and Lee Woodruff and Lt. General Donna W. Martin, Inspector General of the United States Army.  

The Garden Brunch is held on the afternoon of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, the event brings together journalists, politicians, government officials, celebrities, and other notable individuals to honor the press and America’s military veterans. Watch a preview video here. 

Bob and Lee Woodruff (Courtesy Bob Woodruff Foundation)

Bob and Lee Woodruff will be presented with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Innovation” Award for their work providing resources and support to injured service members, veterans, and their families. The couple launched the foundation after Bob Woodruff, an ABC News journalist, recovered from a ​​life-threatening traumatic brain injury he sustained while reporting on the war in Iraq.

Lee Woodruff has been a contributing reporter for ABC’s “Good Morning America” and “CBS This Morning.” As co-author of the New York Times best-selling In an Instant, Lee Woodruff garnered critical acclaim for the compelling and humorous chronicle of her family’s journey to recovery following her husband Bob’s roadside bomb injury in Iraq. Since Bob’s injury, Lee has made it her life’s mission to help put a face on the serious issue of traumatic brain injury among returning Iraq war veterans.

Since Bob and Lee launched the Bob Woodruff Foundation, they have invested over $80 million to their Find, Fund and Shape™ program initiatives and began their “Got Your 6” Network that has empowered impacted veterans, service members, and their family members across the nation.

The Got Your 6 Network is the nation’s largest non-governmental cohort of organizations serving veterans. They work to address and solve veteran homelessness and re-integration of veterans after combat. The network includes best-in-class grantees and a national network of local partners providing support to millions of veterans, service members, and their families in the communities they call home. 

The network works in the continued support from our friend, Craig Newmark of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which has given over $18 million to the Got Your 6 Network since its inception. Together, Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the Bob Woodruff Foundation reinforce a message of support for veterans and their families, noting they are here to help and have “got your six” during this period of increased uncertainty.

Bob Woodruff Presenting at the 2018 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

The network provides grants via application to get access to health resources, job training, and vital funds to help veterans get back on their feet. They produce military based networking events for veterans, free webinars on things like fundraising and advocating for yourself, and connect veterans with each other across the country. They also partner with a nation-wide network of organizations that provide funding, employment, and health resources specifically designed for veterans. 

Bob has been in The Hague, Netherlands this week, reporting on the Invictus Games, an international sports event for wounded, injured and sick servicemen and women, both serving and veterans. He met with both American and Ukrainian servicemen. We are excited to celebrate both him and Lee at the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch next week to recognize the incredible service done for veterans in need.  

 LTG Donna W. Martin (Courtesy U.S. Army)

In addition, Lt. General Donna W. Martin, the first woman to serve as Inspector General of the United States Army, a position she has held since September 2021, will be honored with the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch “Courage” Award. LTG Martin was previously the Provost Marshal General of the U.S. Army, serving as the principal military advisor to the Secretary of the Army and the Chief of Staff of the Army on policing matters, including law enforcement, criminal investigations, and anti-terrorism. LTG Martin served in both Iraq and in Afghanistan. As a woman who broke many glass ceilings and highlights the essence of courage, we are honored to give Lt. General Martin this award. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: bob woodruff, DC, donna martin, Garden Brunch, Lee Woodruff, Media, News, Washington, WHCA, WHCD, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner, woodruff foundation

An Exclusive Look Into The White House Correspondents’ Weekend: The Cone of Silence Podcast Documentary

April 22, 2022 By margaretmturner

For those who aren’t familiar with the history of the White House Correspondents’ Weekend, listen to our podcast documentary with the inside stories, background, and comedy that has made the time so unique. 

We hope you will sign up here and listen as we take you into a deep dive outlining the ins and outs of this politically charged weekend.

Kerry Washington with Tim Daly at the 2007 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch 

Christi Parsons of the Los Angeles Times and the president of the White House Correspondents’ Association leads us off.  National Journal’s George Condon and American Urban Radio’s April Ryan, author of The Presidency in Black and White, also share some terrific insights on the historic relationship between the White House and the press.

Three of the best writers in the business join us beginning with Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, who take us inside how President Obama’s team put together his comedy routine for the WHCD – and you may be surprised who helps!  

Dame Helen Mirren signs a note of support on the Microsoft Magic Board at the 2016 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch

Chris Addison, the executive producer of HBO’s VEEP who helped write, produce and direct the Vice President Joe Biden/Julia Louis-Dreyfus romp through Washington that brought down the room at last year’s WHCD, tells us how that production came together. 

Madam Secretary star Tim Daly and Robin Bronk, CEO of the Creative Coalition, talk about Hollywood’s participation in the weekend; and Captain Richard Phillips, the hero of the Maersk Alabama hijacking, shares thoughts about his weekend at the WHCD right after he was rescued.

Actors Tony Goldwyn, Bryan Cranston, Kerry Washington, and Keegan-Michael Key at the 2016 Bloomberg Vanity Fair White House Correspondents’ Dinner After-Party 

Simon Marks, CEO of Feature Story News, Julianne Donofrio and I produced this series to take people inside how the weekend actually works and how the top participants make it a must attend event. 

So download Cone of Silence with Tammy Haddad and learn more about your colleagues – and have a few laughs as you get ready for all the activities.

Here are the episode descriptions of CONE OF SILENCE White House Correspondents Weekend podcasts:

  • A Candid History of the White House and the Press
    George Condon, White House correspondent for National Journal and unofficial historian of the White House Correspondents’ Association, shares a candid and humorous history of the White House and the press and tells us there used to be more celebrities in the old days.
     
  • The Quest for “Vigorous, Adversarial” Coverage of the President
    Tribune and L.A Times White House Correspondent Christi Parsons, who also serves as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, offers a no-holds-barred plea for the urgent need for greater media access to the President and the White House. Parsons also shares how she convinced SNL‘s Cecily Strong to perform at the 2015 WHCA Dinner.
  • Using Celebrity to Drive Policy Change in Washington, DC.
    Tim Daly, star of the CBS drama Madam Secretary, and Robin Bronk, CEO of the Creative Coalition, discuss the important role Hollywood celebrities play in shining a light on policy issues important to them and millions of other Americans while mesmerizing Washingtonians when they join the White House Correspondents weekend activities.
  • Mixing Hollywood and Washington for Hilarious Results
    Actor, director, writer and producer Chris Addison talks about the peril and benefit of creating the hilarious video that teamed U.S. Vice President Joe Biden with Selina Meyer, fictional vice president of HBO’s VEEP, played by comic genius Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The result was a masterpiece that brought down the house at last year’s dinner.
  • The Role of Race in Covering the White House
    April Ryan, a White House correspondent since 1997, Washington bureau chief for American Urban Radio Networks, and author of The Presidency in Black and White, shares her thoughts about covering three presidents and representing those who for too long have been removed from America’s power centers.
  • Mixing Politics with Comedy to Create the Comedian-in-Chief
    Jon Favreau and Jon Lovett, former speechwriters for President Barack Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton – who also helped create the comedic presentations for President Obama at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner – discuss what it takes to make the President the funniest person in the room.
     
  • Captain Richard Phillips and the Impact of Accidental Celebrity
    Captain Richard Phillips, the hero of the Maersk Alabama hijacking, shares his thoughts on what happened when he attended the White House Correspondents Weekend and was thrust into the media spotlight.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Cone of Silence, DC, Documentary, Hollywood, Media, News, Podcast, Washington, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

NBC News Opens Their New DC Bureau Doors for White House Correspondents’ Weekend 

April 19, 2022 By margaretmturner

Just last year NBC News Group unveiled new state-of-the-art studios in an expansive Washington Bureau right by the Capitol.. Now, after a delay from the pandemic, the bureau is opening up for a celebration of the new space with NBChairman Cesar Conde for the White House Correspondents’ Weekend. The new bureau, located at 400 North Capitol Street, replaces the previous longstanding NBC studio at 4001 Nebraska Avenue. The old studio was there for more than 60 years, with President Eisenhower attending the building’s dedication in 1958. We look forward to celebrating at the new bureau for the next 60 years! 

Supporters of veterans’ causes gather during the White House Correspondents’ Weekend for The 2019 Garden Brunch. Jay Leno gave a lucky veteran a car!

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: DC, Media, NBC, NBC News, Washington, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

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

April 18, 2022 By margaretmturner

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

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: biden, DC, George Clooney, Harris, Media, News, Washington, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner, White House Easter Egg Roll

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

April 15, 2022 By margaretmturner

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.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: college, DC, Journalism, Media, News, scholarship, Washington, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

WHCA Announces 2022 Journalism Awards Recipients 

April 8, 2022 By margaretmturner

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. 

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: ABC, AP, axios, DC, Jonathan Karl, jonathan swan, Media, News, Washington, Washington Post, WHCA, White House, White House Correspondents Dinner

Disney Taps Biden Aide Kristina Schake as Executive Vice President of Global Communications

April 6, 2022 By margaretmturner

Via Walt Disney 

Kristina Schake, the head of the Biden Administration’s COVID-19 vaccine education campaign, has been named by Disney as its new executive vice president of global communications, according to a Disney Press Release.

After a long career in Hollywood, Washington beckoned and brought Kristina Schake to The White House to help Michelle Obama become one of the most successful First Ladies in history as her communications director. She’s been in Washington since; previously appointed by President Biden as counselor to the Secretary for Strategic Communications at the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services and heading the vaccine education campaign. She also served as the global communications director for Instagram.

Schake will report to Disney’s chief corporate affairs officer, Geoff Morrell. In a statement to Deadline, Morrell said, “Her experience in the public and private sectors, in political and corporate campaigns, make her ideally suited for this important role and to help me integrate communications with government relations, public policy, and corporate social responsibility into a new Corporate Affairs team. Together with the exceptional professionals at Disney, we will help the world’s greatest storytelling company engage even more effectively with our many stakeholders around the world.”

Following her graduation from John Hopkins University, Schake began her career working for Los Angeles Mayor Richard J. Riordan and later became a senior communications strategist for First Lady Maria Shriver, the Women’s Conference, and the California Endowment’s Building Healthy Communities Initiative. She also co-founded the American Foundation for Equal Rights there, which worked to overturn the ban on same-sex marriage. She will be returning to California for her new role at Disney. We wish Kristina all the best.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Barack Obama, DC, disney, Kristina Schake, Media, Michelle Obama, Washington, White House

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Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it, from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos.

Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and CEO of Haddad Media.

White House Correspondents Insider is not affiliated with or approved by the White House Correspondents’ Association, which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

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