Photo by Tierney L. Cross for the Washington Post
In 2024, Substack Head of News and Politics Catherine Valentine contacted the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) to see if the platform could buy tables at the annual dinner to show the rise of independent journalists. She said Executive Director Steve Thomma rejected the pitch.
“He said that independent journalists were not news, would never be news, and would never be invited to the dinner,” Valentine said in an exchange that was, ironically, first reported by former White House correspondent-turned-independent journalist Tara Palmeri, in her Substack “The Red Letter.” After publication, Thomma denied having said so. Tickets are only sold to news organizations that have association members, according to the WHCA.
Shut out of the dinner, Substack decided to host its own party. Now, that party is one of the hottest tickets of correspondents’ weekend — just one measure of how dramatically attitudes toward new media have shifted, even on one of the most traditional beats. The weekend has become a showcase of the growing power of new media — from independent journalists and outlets, to increasingly important political creators, and the platforms powering all of them. And this year’s party hosts, and guests, are the most expansive yet.
In addition to “The New Media” hosted by Substack, framed on the invitation as “the alternative to the WHCA dinner,” rival newsletter company beehiiv is hosting its first correspondents’ weekend festivities. YouTube is getting in on the action, with multiple events celebrating creator journalists, and even dating app Grindr is hosting an event. Nine parties this year are being held by media start-ups less than 10 years old, per Axios (itself one of the nine).
Each year, the new media presence grows and the line between creator and journalist blurs. Valentine said that the weekend has become a huge recruiting opportunity for Substack, with many invitees using it as an opportunity to open conversations with the platform about going independent.
“Scott MacFarlane was on that year-one invitation, and now he’s on Substack and YouTube. John Dickerson was on that first invitation list, and he's now Substacking. … Jim Acosta was on that year-one invitation, and he’s now one year into his journey,” Valentine told me. “Some people we put on the list and we just think ‘Oh my god, they’ll never even respond.’ It’s part of how we got Katie Couric on the platform.”
Many independent reporters on Substack have been featured in the White House new media seat in the briefing room, and Valentine said she now works with the House Periodical Press Gallery to screen Substackers applying for credentials, a legitimization “that, in my wildest dreams three years ago, was barely possible.”
Nonnews creators are also anticipated at the Substack event, though looksmaxxing influencer Clavicular’s attendance status is now unclear after his suspected overdose. Creators are also expected at Friday’s “The Renegade Women’s Cocktail Party” — hosted by Meghan McCain, House InHabit creator Jessica Reed Kraus and Vanessa Santos (including “some legacy hosts, podcast hosts and even some TikTok stars,” per Santos). Democratic creators will “laugh, drink and complain patriotically as the Founding Fathers intended” at Crooked Media’s fourth annual event, also on Friday. Creators are also being tapped to host events for brands, including Democratic creator Haley Lickstein, who will host an event “toasting the women leading media today” with clothing brand Argent.
YouTube will also celebrate creators “at the forefront of shaping news and culture” at its weekend festivities, per Brandon Feldman, director of news, civics and podcast partnerships. “The weekend is about celebrating a free press, and, as a home for all voices, we knew it was vital that we used the weekend as a way to recognize the role our creators play in that ecosystem.”
Newly independent journalists, including former Wall Street Journal columnist Joanna Stern and former Washington Post food critic Tom Sietsema, are among the expected attendees at beehiiv’s events, per co-founder and chief executive officer Tyler Denk, who said that the WHCD weekend “felt like the obvious thing to do.” (Full disclosure: This newsletter is hosted on beehiiv.) The platform is teaming up with Oliver Darcy for a Status party on Thursday, throwing a party with Shinola on Friday, and Denk is also co-hosting a salon dinner with UTA.
“We care about supporting journalism, many of the independent journalists and creators who are on beehiiv will be in Washington, and supporting independent journalism is something we're invested in,” Denk said.
Despite increased creator presence and the growing acceptance of new media, challenges remain for those to make the jump. A new study by the Center for News, Technology & Innovation found the most common reasons for journalists making the transition to independent media were job loss and industry instability. More than half of those surveyed said they can’t fund their lifestyle as an “indie info provider.”
Editor's note: This story has been updated on April 22 to include a response from Steve Thomma.
This story is part of Verified, a newsletter that is published by Washington Post Creator, a new business outside The Washington Post’s newsroom that is focused on the creator economy and content partnerships with independent creators. Learn more about Washington Post Creator.
