Applications are now open for 2027 memberships.
WHCA memberships for 2026 EXPIRE on Dec. 31, along with all the privileges of membership such as WHCA emails and eligibility to buy tickets to the WHCA dinner.
Membership dues will remain the same this year. All dues include a non-refundable credit card fee.
There are 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.
As said, privileges for 2026 memberships will end and not be renewed until a 2027 application is submitted and approved.
We accept applications year-round. But there are cutoffs for dinner tickets and elections.
-To be eligible to buy dinner tickets in 2027, an applicant must have applied by Jan. 20 and must have been approved by Feb. 15.
-To be eligible to run for election to the WHCA board or to vote in WHCA elections, an applicant must have applied by May 1 and must have been approved by May 21 for a red level membership.
There are 4 categories of membership: Red, Blue, Green, and Honorary.
Read the full by-laws.
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.
Any journalist is welcome to apply for membership in the association. All of the details, as well as the link to apply and pre-pay the dues as required – are below.
If you are looking for access to the briefing room, you need to contact White House Press Office, wranglers@who.eop.gov
The WHCA does not manage access to the White House.
You may still apply for a 2026 membership.
NOTE that WHCA memberships for 2026 will expire on Dec, 31. All 2026 members will have to apply for 2027 memberships, as always.
To ask about applying for the remainder of 2026, contact Executive Director Steve Thomma at director@whca.press
For questions, contact Executive Director Steve Thomma at director@whca.press
There are 4 categories of membership: Red, Blue, Green, and Honorary.
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 and scheduling advisories; and their news outlets are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
What they pay:
Dues are $140 a year, which includes a non-refundable credit card fee.
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 and scheduling advisories; and their news outlets are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
What they pay:
Dues are $140 a year, which includes a non-refundable credit card fee.
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 and their news outlets are eligible to buy tickets to the annual dinner.
What they pay:
Dues are $90 a year, which includes a non-refundable credit card fee.
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.
Read the full by-laws.
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 for Red level membership by May 21 to qualify to vote in this year’s general election for 3 board positions.
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.
Please send any questions about memberships to Executive Director Steve Thomma at director@whca.press.