White House Correspondents’ Association Scholarship

AAJA and the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) are proud to offer this joint scholarship to foster the next generation of journalists. Candidates will be judged on the basis of academic achievement, demonstrated academic ability, commitment to the field of journalism, and an awareness of AAPI issues. The deadline for applications is January 16, 2024.

BENEFITS

1. $2,000 scholarship to be used for tuition, room and board, books, and other educational expenses
2. Invitation to a luncheon with the members of the WHCA
3. Matched with a volunteer mentor from among the White House press corps for a year, starting at the time of the luncheon.
4. Invitation as a guest to attend the WHCA annual dinner. Travel and other costs beyond the dinner ticket are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.

Questions? Email support@aaja.org.

Eligibility and Rules

Must be an AAJA student member
Must be a current college student enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university.

Application Requirements

Resume
School transcript
Proof of identification
Letter of recommendation
Work samples
A brief statement explaining financial need
Answers to the following questions:
Describe any involvement or interest you have in the Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. If you were awarded an AAJA scholarship, propose how you would contribute to the field of journalism and media issues involving the AAPI community.
In 500 words, what do you hope to gain from a mentorship with a White House press corps member?
If you could ask any question at a White House Press briefing, what would you ask and why?

"Receiving this award reinforces my belief that what we do as journalists is essential work. Like many AAPI journalists and AAJA members, I have experienced moments when I questioned whether reporting on AAPI issues would pigeonhole me or cause me to lose out on other opportunities. This award makes it clear to me that a good story is a good story regardless of the identities of the subjects involved or the journalist reporting it. Fearless journalism is healthy for a robust public world and indeed necessary for our democracy."