Helen Thomas was one of the most prolific and revered members of the White House Correspondents Association (WHCA). Throughout her 70-year career, Thomas garnered a reputation that earned her the title of “Sitting Buddha” and “First Lady of The Press” among her peers in the WHCA. Getting her start in the District with Washington Daily News, Thomas quickly moved on to United Press International (UPI) and began covering John F. Kennedy during his 1960 presidential campaign. Thomas became a White House Correspondent following Kennedy’s election, making her the first female reporter to…

Profiles
Personal profiles are a unique approach to news writing. Unlike hard news stories, they aim to humanize events and individuals by profiling them in a narrative rather than journalistic style. This section provides profiles on reporters and others related to the University and the White House Correspondents' Association.