Commonly referred to as “The First Lady of the Press,” former White House Bureau Chief Helen Thomas is a trailblazer, breaking through barriers for women reporters while covering every president since John F. Kennedy. For 57 years, Thomas served as White House correspondent for United Press International, and she has left an indelible mark on U.S. journalism.

 

Over the past half century, the relationship between the White House and the White House press corps has moved through a stunning evolution. What was once nearly a cooperative relationship has become much more adversarial, with the current administration challenging specific media outlets for publishing and broadcast decisions. The senior ranking member of the White House press corps, Helen Thomas will discuss this relationship, its evolution and how the change has affected the quality of journalism in the United States.