MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED FOR 2024
Applications are now open for 2024 memberships.
NOTE: 2023 memberships and all of their privileges expire Dec. 31. Even current members need to apply each year.
Again this year, there will be 3 main levels of membership, Red, Blue and Green. Where you fit will be determined largely by the status of your news outlet and your own job duties. The online application will guide you based on those criteria. The tiers are also described in detail below.
New applicants should check the criteria for membership. When asked for a letter from a supervisor, it MUST be written specifically for and to the WHCA and MUST meet the requirements. Form letters to government offices for credentials or copies of personal contracts will not meet the requirements and will move your application to the end of the line while we have to seek the proper material.
Members who have changed assignments or employers since their last application also should check the criteria.
Membership dues include a non-refundable credit card fee.
APPLY HERE
TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP
There are 4 categories of membership: Red, Blue, Green, and Honorary.
Red Membership.
To qualify for Red membership, an applicant must be employed on the editorial staff of a newspaper, periodical, wire service, television, radio, or other news gathering organization that participates in on-campus White House coverage. The applicant or the newsgathering organization with which the applicant is affiliated must be credentialed by a Congressional Standing Committee.
Applicants for Red membership must provide verification that either the applicant or the applicant’s employer has a share of a seat in the briefing room, or an assigned workspace, or participates in one of the pool rotations, and that the applicant is primarily assigned to cover the White House or, in an election year, a presidential campaign provided the applicant was a Red member in the prior year. Photographers, TV photojournalists, sound technicians and other support personnel who regularly work at the White House for a news organization eligible for Red membership are eligible for this category of membership.
Up to three (3) senior editors, one (1) bureau chief from news organizations with a full seat in the briefing room, or one (1) senior manager from news organizations with seat shares or parts of rotations, shall be eligible for Red membership.
All former WHCA Board members who continue to be employed as a journalist for a newsgathering organization that reports on the White House shall be eligible for Red membership.
Only Red members (also referred to as “voting members” in these By-Laws”) shall be eligible to run for any WHCA office and shall have the right to vote in all regular and special elections as may be set by the Board.
What they get:
Red members get to vote and run in WHCA elections; get all WHCA emails including pool reports, Covid health advisories and scheduling advisories; and their news outlets are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
What they pay:
Dues are $125 a year, which includes a non-refundable credit card fee.
Blue Membership.
To qualify for Blue membership, an applicant must be employed on the editorial staff of a newspaper, periodical, wire service, TV, radio, or other newsgathering organization that reports on the White House. An applicant’s job duties must significantly include coverage of the White House. National or Washington-based correspondents and anchors who report regularly but not exclusively on the White House are eligible for Blue membership. Bureau chiefs or senior managers from news organizations that report regularly on the White House but do not participate in pools would be eligible for Blue membership.
What they get:
Blue members get WHCA emails including pool reports, Covid health advisories and scheduling advisories; and their news outlets are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
What they pay:
Dues are $125 a year, which includes a non-refundable credit card fee.
Green Membership.
To qualify for Green membership, an applicant must be employed on the editorial staff of a newspaper, periodical, wire service, radio, TV, or other newsgathering organization that reports on the White House.
What they get:
Green members get WHCA Covid health advisories and their news outlets are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
What they pay:
Dues are $75 a year, which includes a non-refundable credit card fee.
Honorary Membership.
Honorary membership in the Association may be conferred by the Executive Board upon any person who has distinguished themselves in public life, in the field of journalism, or who has rendered outstanding service to the Association.
By-Laws
Read the full by-laws.
MEMBERSHIP DATES
Applications for membership are accepted and processed throughout the year.
However, the following deadlines will apply to allow the membership committee sufficient time for the approval required to buy dinner tickets or vote:
Only news organizations with members are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
Applications for membership must be submitted by February 1 and approved by March 1 to qualify that person’s outlet to buy dinner tickets that year;
Applications must be submitted by May 1 and must be approved by June 1 to qualify to vote in that year’s election.
MEMBERSHIP POLICY
Membership is tied to news outlets. It ends if a member changes employer. However, he or she may reapply for membership under a new news outlet, without paying dues a second time. Send us a letter from your new outlet confirming employment and specific job assignment.
2023 MEMBERSHIPS
If you want to apply for membership for the few weeks remaining in 2023, contact Executive Director Steve Thomma at director@whca.press.
QUESTIONS
Please send any questions about memberships to director@whca.press.