White House Pool Reports: Sign-Up Guide

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) was founded in 1914 to promote excellence in journalism, robust reporting on the U.S. presidency, and support democracy through a free press. The White House Press Corps is made up of journalists credentialed by WHCA who provide daily reporting on the President's activities and events. The WHCA has partnered with the University of Maryland to create a digital, searchable archive of presidential pool reports, which is available online. To receive pool reports, you can either join the WHCA, sign up through the press office, or request access to the WHCA list. Pool reports are part of the historical record and are used by a myriad of news outlets, as well as being sent to congressional aides, administration officials, and political allies. They provide a valuable window into presidential history and the relationship between the presidents and the press.

Join the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA)

Join the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA)

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) was founded in 1914 to promote excellence in journalism, robust reporting on the U.S. presidency, and support democracy through a free press. The White House Press Corps, made up of journalists credentialed by the WHCA, provides daily reporting on the President's activities and events.

Membership in the WHCA is open to journalists who cover the White House regularly and are eligible for a hard pass. The application process is managed by the White House Press Office and includes approval by the press secretary, followed by a background check by the Secret Service. This process can take several months, and applicants should be prepared to provide necessary information such as full name, date of birth, Social Security number, and proof of citizenship.

The WHCA plays a crucial role in managing pools and filling slots for daily in-town pools, Air Force One trips, and coverage of the Vice President and First Lady. They work closely with press staff, advocating for access, sharing information on upcoming events, coordinating logistics, and addressing grievances.

The association also assigns seats and workspaces in the briefing room and press area. They ensure a strong free press and robust coverage of the presidency by advocating for access to the president, White House events, and administration officials. Additionally, they encourage new generations of White House correspondents through their college scholarship program.

By joining the WHCA, you will have instant access to pool reports, which are distributed to the press corps and used by numerous news outlets. These reports provide valuable insights into the daily activities of the president and are an essential resource for journalists covering the White House beat.

Sign up through the press office

Signing Up Through the Press Office

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) was founded in 1914 to promote excellence in journalism, robust reporting on the U. S. presidency, and support democracy through a free press. The White House Press Corps is made up of journalists credentialed by the WHCA. This press pool provides reporting on the President's daily activities and events.

The WHCA represents the interests of the entire press corps, regardless of membership status. They manage pools and fill the slots for daily in-town pools, Air Force One trips, and coverage of the Vice President and First Lady. They also work with press staff to advocate for access, seek shareable information on upcoming events, coordinate logistics, and address any grievances.

To sign up for White House pool reports through the press office, you can follow these steps:

• Introduce yourself to the people who staff the press office. It is recommended to do this multiple times to make sure your presence is known.
• Sign up for pool reports through the press office. Keep in mind that there might be a delay before receiving the reports via email.
• Alternatively, you can request access to the WHCA list without officially joining. This option is for those who are eligible to join but choose not to.
• Join the WHCA to instantly receive pool reports.
• Stay updated with the latest information and guidelines provided by the WHCA. They regularly share information on upcoming travel and other logistics, which must not be published and cannot be used as the basis for reporting.
• Familiarize yourself with the different types of press pools, such as the in-town travel pool, expanded in-house pool, domestic travel pool, foreign travel pool, print pool, supplemental pool, etc. Each pool has specific requirements and purposes.
• Understand the procedures and etiquette for briefings, including decorum, disruptive behavior, seating arrangements, and technology use.
• Follow the guidelines for receiving a hard pass or a daily pass, which grants you access to specific areas within the White House complex.
• Stay in regular communication with the press office and the WHCA board members to address any concerns or seek further assistance.

By following these steps and staying engaged with the press office, you can successfully sign up for White House pool reports and stay informed about the latest developments in the White House press corps.

Request access to the WHCA list

To request access to the WHCA list, you can follow these steps:

Firstly, it is important to understand the role and purpose of the White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA). The WHCA is an organization of journalists dedicated to promoting excellence in journalism, robust reporting on the U.S. presidency, and supporting democracy through a free press. The association was founded in 1914 to ensure transparency and access for the presidential press corps.

If you are a journalist interested in covering the White House, you can consider joining the WHCA. This will grant you instant access to the pool reports distributed by the association. The WHCA is responsible for credentialing journalists who cover the White House and managing their access to the president and press briefings. Joining the WHCA will also give you access to other benefits, such as assigned seating in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room.

However, if you are eligible to join but choose not to, you can still request access to the WHCA list. This option allows you to receive pool reports without becoming a member of the association. To make this request, you can contact the WHCA directly and express your interest in receiving their pool reports. Provide your name, media organization, and contact information. It is important to note that the WHCA may have specific eligibility criteria or requirements for accessing their reports, so be sure to inquire about any necessary steps to complete your request.

By requesting access to the WHCA list, you will be able to receive valuable information and insights from the pool reports created by White House correspondents. These reports detail the daily activities and events involving the president and are distributed to the wider press corps. They serve as a critical resource for journalists, scholars, and anyone interested in staying informed about the presidency.

Eligibility requirements for joining

The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) is the body that manages eligibility for joining the White House Press Corps. The WHCA was founded in 1914 to promote excellence in journalism, robust reporting on the U.S. presidency, and support democracy through a free press.

Journalists who cover the White House regularly are eligible for a hard pass, which is managed by the White House Press Office and requires approval by the press secretary, then a background check by the Secret Service. The process can take months.

The WHCA assigns the 49 permanent seats in the Brady Briefing Room and all booths and desks in the upper and lower workspace. Journalists without an assigned seat or desk may use unclaimed ones but must give them up when the assigned outlet arrives, even after the briefing starts.

The pool includes wire and print reporters, TV, radio, and photojournalists. The size depends on the location of the President. There are several pools:

• In-town travel pool – Covers the President off-campus within driving distance. The pool includes writers from the Print Pool, AP, Reuters, and Bloomberg; five photographers (AP, Reuters, AFP, newspaper, photo agency); radio; and a network TV crew and correspondent.
• Expanded in-house pool – In-town pool plus foreign press, AFP, and Dow Jones. Used when the President meets with foreign leaders and for most on-campus pool sprays.
• Domestic Travel Pool – A group of 13 people who travel with the President outside the capital region, sometimes referred to as the protective pool.
• Foreign Travel Pool – The same as the Domestic Travel Pool, but with only eight print outlets participating.
• Print Pool – Open to US print outlets that regularly cover the White House, have the proper credentials, and demonstrate a commitment to the beat and journalistic standards. Poolers must fill every assigned shift and agree to abide by WHCA guidelines.
• Supplemental Pool – Eligible to volunteer when poolers are needed to cover the Vice President or First Lady, including their travel, and when extra poolers are needed. Outlets in any print pool are eligible to volunteer, and other outlets may join with approval from the WHCA board. A year of supplemental pooling is required before considering membership in the Print Pool.

How to receive pool reports

Pool reports are an essential tool for historians of modern American politics and provide a valuable window into the relationship between the President and the press. The White House Correspondents' Association (WHCA) was founded in 1914 to promote excellence in journalism, robust reporting on the U.S. presidency, and support democracy through a free press. The White House Press Corps is made up of journalists credentialed by WHCA, providing daily reporting on the President's activities and events.

The WHCA Pool Reports Collection is a permanent and ongoing digital, searchable archive of presidential pool reports produced by White House correspondents. It is kept at the University of Maryland and available online. The collection includes reports written by members of the White House press corps on the President's daily activities, including those covering the President in the White House, at events, in the motorcade, and on Air Force One. These reports are disseminated to the rest of the press corps digitally.

To receive pool reports, you can follow these steps:

• Join the WHCA: Pool reports are instantly sent to this list. The WHCA represents the interests of the entire press corps and manages pools for daily in-town pools, Air Force One trips, and coverage of the Vice President and First Lady.
• Sign up through the press office: There may be a slight delay before receiving reports as wranglers send out emails.
• Request access to the WHCA list without joining: This option is for those who are eligible to join but choose not to.

Additionally, you can access White House press pool reports through third-party platforms such as Forth, which provides searchable archives of press pool dispatches. However, it is important to note that Forth is not affiliated with the White House or the White House Correspondents' Association.

Frequently asked questions