White House Correspondents' Association Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
White House Correspondents' Association

Abbreviation	WHCA
Formation	February 25, 1914; 111 years ago (1914-02-25)
Legal status	501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
Location	Washington, D.C.
President	Eugene Daniels (Politico)
Executive Director	Steven Thomma
Revenue (2015)	$366,481
Expenses (2015)	$311,090
Employees (2015)	0

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is a group of journalists whose job is to report on the White House and the president of the United States. These reporters are often called the White House press corps.

The WHCA was started on February 25, 1914. A group of journalists created it because of a rumor that a government committee would start picking which reporters could go to President Woodrow Wilson's press conferences. The journalists wanted to make sure they had fair access.

The WHCA is separate from the White House and makes its own decisions. Journalists apply to become members, and the association decides who can join. The group handles important issues like making sure reporters can speak with the president and have good working conditions at the White House.

One of its most famous events is the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner. The president usually attends this dinner, and it gets a lot of attention from the news. Starting with President Calvin Coolidge in 1924, almost every president has attended at least one dinner.

What is the White House Correspondents' Dinner?
Who Leads the Association?
Journalism Awards
Images for kids
See also

What is the White House Correspondents' Dinner?

The WHCA's annual dinner started in 1921 and has become a major event in Washington, D.C. It is usually held on the last Saturday night of April. The president and vice president are traditionally guests of honor.

For a long time, only men were allowed to attend the dinner. In 1962, a famous reporter named Helen Thomas helped change this. President John F. Kennedy said he would not go to the dinner unless women could also attend, so the rule was changed.

A Night of Comedy and Speeches

Since 1983, the dinner has often featured a comedian who makes jokes about the president, his team, and politics. It's like a friendly roast. The president also gets a chance to tell some jokes and poke fun at himself and others in Washington.

The dinner is not just about jokes, though. It is also a way to raise money for scholarships. These scholarships help talented college students who are studying to become journalists.

Times the Dinner Was Different

Sometimes, the dinner has been canceled or changed.

It was canceled in 1930 after the death of former president William Howard Taft.
It was canceled in 1942 during World War II.
In 1981, President Ronald Reagan couldn't attend because he was recovering from a serious injury he got the month before. He still called in to tell a joke.
During his presidency, Donald Trump chose not to attend the dinners from 2017 to 2019. He also did not attend in 2025.
The dinners in 2020 and 2021 were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Criticisms of the Dinner

Some people think the dinner shows that journalists and the politicians they cover are too friendly with each other. They worry that this closeness might stop reporters from asking tough questions.

Others have pointed out that the event has become very focused on celebrities and glamour. The guest list often includes Hollywood stars, and the parties before and after the dinner can get more attention than the dinner itself. This has led some to feel that the event has lost its focus on celebrating journalism and awarding scholarships.

Who Leads the Association?

The leaders of the White House Correspondents' Association for 2024–2025 are:

President: Eugene Daniels of Politico
Vice President: Weijia Jiang of CBS News
Treasurer: Sara Cook of CBS News
Secretary: Justin Sink of Bloomberg News

The association also has a board of directors made up of journalists from different news organizations.

Journalism Awards

The WHCA gives out several awards each year to honor excellent journalism. These awards celebrate reporters who do a great job covering the president and important national events. The awards are usually presented at the annual dinner.

Some of the main awards include:

The Aldo Beckman Memorial Award: This award is for a reporter who has shown outstanding overall coverage of the White House.
Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage Under Deadline Pressure: This award goes to a reporter who does excellent work on a breaking news story.
Katharine Graham Award for Courage and Accountability: This award honors a journalist or a team for brave reporting on important topics.
Award for Excellence in Presidential News Coverage by Visual Journalists: This award is for a photojournalist or video journalist who captures a unique and powerful image related to the presidency.

Images for kids

President Gerald Ford (left) with White House Correspondent Helen Thomas at the 1975 Dinner.
President Bill Clinton (right) with actor Mike Maronna (left) in a funny short film made for the 2000 Dinner.
President George W. Bush (left) with Bush impersonator Steve Bridges (right) at the 2006 Dinner.
President Barack Obama ends his final speech at the 2016 Dinner with a mic drop.