The Press, The Presidency, and Trust: A Symposium Sponsored by the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service and the White House Correspondents’ Association

While there may not be a White House Correspondents Dinner this spring, the Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service at the McCourt School of Public Policy (GU Politics) and the White House Correspondents’ Association are pleased to announce a new partnership for a Symposium on “The Press, The Presidency, and Trust.” Join us on May 5, 2021 for a virtual three-panel series on the important role of the media in covering the presidency.

Panel 1: How Did We Get Here? (11:30 am – 12:30 pm EDT)

Current and former White House correspondents and White House press secretaries will discuss the evolving norms in the relationship between the two. This panel will look at the relationship in previous Administrations, challenges leading to mistrust, and how social media, perceived bias, and other factors shaped how we got to where we are today.

Panelists:
Julie Pace (Spring’21 GU Politics Fellow) – Washington Bureau Chief, The Associated Press
Ayesha Rascoe – White House Correspondent, NPR
Ari Fleischer – Former White House Press Secretary (2001-2003)
Robert Gibbs – Former White House Press Secretary (2009-2011)

Moderator: Hallie Jackson – Senior Washington Correspondent, NBC News

Panel 2: New Faces in the Briefing Room (1 – 2 pm EDT)

The current membership of the WHCA is the most diverse in recent memory, with more women, people of color, and journalists from local and non-traditional outlets. This conversation will discuss the importance of diversity in the briefing room, and whether the different experiences and perspectives of these journalists changes the conversation in a way that could increase trust from traditionally underrepresented citizens.

Panelists:
Yamiche Alcindor (C’09) – White House Correspondent, PBS NewsHour
Janet Rodriguez – White House Correspondent, Univision
Seung Min Kim – White House Correspondent, The Washington Post
Chris Johnson – White House Correspondent, The Washington Blade

Moderator:
Karen Travers (C’00, MA’03, Fall’19 GU Politics Fellow) – White House Correspondent, ABC News

Panel 3: Where Do We Go From Here? (4 – 5 pm EDT)

A conversation about the working relationship of the White House press corps and the Biden White House, lessons learned from past experiences, and how each intends to approach the relationship moving forward.

Panelists:
Jen Psaki (Spring’17 GU Politics Fellow) – White House Press Secretary, Biden-Harris Administration
Zeke Miller – President, White House Correspondents’ Association

Moderator:
Mo Elleithee (SFS’94) – Executive Director, GU Politics