WHCA

The White House Correspondents' Association represents the White House press corps in its dealings with the administration on coverage-related issues.

[WHCA @whca]

The White House Correspondents' Association strongly objects to the decision to restrict a journalist’s coverage simply because the president didn’t care for their questioning. That is retaliation. The American public's right to an independent press depends on reporters being able to do their jobs without fear that challenging the president will cut off their access.
- Jacqui Heinrich, WHCA President

[White House History @WhiteHouseHstry]

On this day in 1792, the cornerstone of the White House was laid. In the more than two centuries since, generations of workers have helped shape the history and daily life of the Executive Mansion.

Today, we’re proud to launch the White House Workers History Project, a new digital history platform dedicated to sharing the lives, contributions, and stories of the nonpolitical staff who have worked for presidents from 1789 to the present.

Developed through more than six years of research, the project launches with more than 1,100 worker profiles, along with photographs, archival records, collections, educational resources, and more.

Learn more about the people behind the People’s House and discover the generations of workers whose skill, dedication, and service have been a cornerstone of White House history.

Explore the White House Workers History Project at: https://t.co/yakxppPkIR

#WhiteHouseHistory #WhiteHouseWorkers #ThePeoplesHouse #WHHA

[Jimmy Carter Presidential Library @CarterLibrary]

A Happy 102nd Birthday to our President from Plains, Jimmy Carter! As a reminder, admission to our museum is completely free today!

Image: President Carter chuckling at the podium at the opening of our Library and Museum, 10/01/1986

[WHCA @whca]

Today the WHCA joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and nearly 50 news organizations in filing an amicus brief urging the court to immediately reverse the administration's ban on CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO.

The brief makes clear what the law has long established: the government cannot remove journalists from the White House because it dislikes their reporting. That is viewpoint discrimination, and a clear violation of the First Amendment.

Today the WHCA backs that position in court, urging relief without delay.  See the brief here: https://t.co/uWaXy7bpzW

Jacqui Heinrich, WHCA President

[Jacqui Heinrich @JacquiHeinrich]

Today the WHCA joined the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and nearly 50 news organizations in filing an amicus brief urging the court to immediately reverse the administration's ban on CNN, MSNOW, and POLITICO.

The brief makes clear what the law has long established: the government cannot remove journalists from the White House because it dislikes their reporting. That is viewpoint discrimination, and a clear violation of the First Amendment.

Today the WHCA backs that position in court, urging relief without delay.

See the brief here: https://t.co/a1OTltTY8A

Jacqui Heinrich, WHCA President

[Weijia Jiang @weijia]

You’ve been hearing a lot about the White House press pool. What IS it? Why does it matter? Hope this helps:

https://t.co/yAYVFyRiuB

[amna @RealAmnaNawaz]

PBS News statement on CNN, MS Now, and Politico being banned from the White House.

[Committee to Protect Journalists @pressfreedom]

Banning @CNN, @MSNOWNews and @politico from the White House sets a dangerous precedent, one in which the president decides what the American people know and from whom they can know it. CPJ and leading news organizations stand together in defense of a free press, and in condemning any attempts to restrict their ability to report on the government. Will you join us?

Read the statement and add your support ⬇️
https://t.co/lOfvL8fKTS

[Ben Mullin @BenMullin]

News: NPR won’t use audio from White House events until further notice, per internal memo. “Newscast and shows can report the substance of the president’s comments during this time, but not use tape from events.”

[The Atlantic Communications @TheAtlanticPR]

Statement from The Atlantic:

[Kelly O'Donnell @KellyO]

The 5 networks expend considerable resources for staff, equipment, travel costs to provide coverage of the president anywhere in the world and have an established infrastructure for how the images, audio and editorial information is distributed for use by other outlets. That is how the public receives this coverage.

[Steven Portnoy @stevenportnoy]

Allowing those who are covered to decide who does and doesn’t get to cover them— and to make such decisions arbitrarily, without a clear, articulable standard—is exactly what the courts have consistently prohibited. That’s why, despite what you may have heard or read, this sort of thing hasn’t happened before.

[Steven Portnoy @stevenportnoy]

Former WHCA pres here, joining former board colleagues in sharing some thoughts—

For half a century, it’s been the holding of federal courts that it’s not “special” access when the WH generally opens its doors to journalists. Choose-your-news is a freedom the constitution grants to the American people, not to their government.

[Washington Post Communications @WashPostComms]

https://t.co/RMEocqGiNq

[CNN Communications @CNNPR]

Joint statement from the White House television pool members:

[Jacqui Heinrich @JacquiHeinrich]

HEINRICH: If they aren't there, the pool can't function. America doesn't have state TV. So what happens to the historical record if coverage is no longer independent?

JIANG: And America cannot have state TV. That's what makes America America... if the government is only showing you what it wants, then you have to question, what are we missing? And that what the pool, that's what these outlets bring to the table.