The WHCA represents the White House press corps in its dealings with the administration on coverage-related issues.
A nine-member board of directors, elected by correspondents, addresses access to the chief executive; coverage arrangements; work space arrangements; logistics and costs for press travel to accompany a president on the road. Information about our OFFICERS and BOARD MEMBERS is available on our site.
The association also holds an ANNUAL DINNER to raise money for WHCA SCHOLARSHIPS and honor the professional recipients of the WHCA's JOURNALISM AWARDS. The 2008 dinner took place on April 26 at the Washington Hilton hotel.
SCHOLARSHIPS for promising journalism students play an important part in the associations' mission. Read about the talented recipients who were honored in 2008, and learn about this year's expanded scholarship program.
We are proud to sponsor several prestigious professional journalism AWARDS that highlight our colleagues' significant accomplishments in the field. A call for submissions goes out in January, and awards are presented in the spring at the annual dinner. Read about the 2008 AWARD RECIPIENTS, and re-visit some of their winning entries.
Learn about the HISTORY of the WHCA. Over the years, many of our association's activities have been documented by C-SPAN, which is hosting a video archive of the White House Correspondents' Association dinners and related historical footage.
To qualify for regular MEMBERSHIP, a correspondent must be employed on the editorial staff of a newspaper, magazine, wire service, radio, TV, cable TV, or other broadcast organization or news gathering organization that regularly reports on the White House. His or her principal journalistic assignments must involve White House coverage with such activities as attending briefings or participating in the in-town pool rotation.The applicant must have permanent White House press credentials. There is also a non-voting associate membership. Read the WHCA BY-LAWS to determine your eligibility. If you are interested in joining, download a MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION. If you are already a member, visit the membership page for additional information about MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS.
We are posting links to some representative NEWS BLOGS produced by our members, to help keep you up-to-date on the most pressing issues of the day.
We're usually the ones asking the questions, but you may have a few for us. If so, please CONTACT THE WHCA. We'd enjoy hearing from you.
Photo/Doug Mills, New York Times
2008 AWARDS
The White House Correspondents' Association presented three major journalism awards at the annual dinner on April 26, 2008, to recognize distinguished reporting. The awards are among the most prestigious in our field. Prizes range from $1,000 to $2,500. THE 2008 RECIPIENTS ARE ...
2008 DINNER NEWS
This year's entertainer was Craig Ferguson, host of The Late Late Show on CBS. What better way for the Scottish-born comedian and talk show host to celebrate his American citizenship than at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner! When he broke the news on his show, the Scottish-born Ferguson quipped, "But I
thought as soon as I become an American you know what is going to happen, I am going to get jury duty or the C.I.A. will get in touch and have me assassinate a foreign head of state. Anyway my first job as an American citizen I can exclusively reveal tonight is performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. I am doing it. I am doing it. I know! Anyway, I am not hosting it. President Bush is. It is a big fancy party in D.C. it is like the Oscars for politicians. There are 2,800 journalists in attendance, congress, military brass, cabinet. I sit at the top table with the President and First Lady right there. I am thinking does he know I can't be kicked out now? Like it would be the
big thing have the dinner and my last act at President, you go home Ferguson. I am like I am home."
UPDATE: C-SPAN carried televised coverage of the 2008 dinner, so if you're a Craig Ferguson fan use the link at the right to watch streaming video of the dinner entertainment on their web site.
Photo/CBS.com
Everyone's talking about the WHCA dinner. There are lots of pictures, too, including red carpet arrivals. We've posted a selection of WEB AND BLOG LINKS so you can easily read what others have to say about the April 26th event. You can also watch the program on C-SPAN.
Even Craig Ferguson had a few things to say about his weekend in Washington...
Photo/Doug Mills, New York Times
WHCA DINNER - APRIL 26, 2008
photo/Neshan H. Naltchayan
The 2008 WHCA DINNER took place on April 26 at the Washington Hilton hotel. The President and First Lady attended the dinner this year, along with many other distinguised guests. Our entertainer for the evening was Craig Ferguson, the charming host of CBS' The Late, Late Show. Visit the 2008 WHCA DINNER PAGE for some recent coverage of the event.
WATCH A FLASH SLIDESHOW of the 2008 reception and awards dinner. Flash and a java-enabled web browser are required to view the show.
2008 JOURNALISM AWARDS
Visit the AWARDS PAGE for a complete list of this year's WHCA journalism awards. Recipients received their awards at the 2008 Dinner on April 26.
THE 2008 SCHOLARSHIPS were awarded at the annual dinner on April 26th. Read about the recent expansion of our scholarship program.
PAST DINNERS (VIDEO ARCHIVE)
A number of videos featuring past dinners dating back to the early '90s, including Presidential remarks, awards and scholarship presentations, interesting historical footage, and political humor may be viewed on C-SPAN.ORG.
For more biographical info visit the 
