Aspiring Journalists Meet the Press…and the President’s Press Advisors

Monday, July 18, 2011

On Tuesday, July 12, the White House Historical Association hosted a group of 51 high school students at the National Center for White House History at Decatur House as part of the annual Al Neuharth Free Spirit and Journalism Conference. Facilitated by the Freedom Forum, this program aims to inspire and equip students in the nation to pursue journalism and media careers. Representing each state and the District of Columbia, these students spent the morning learning about the relationship of the press and the executive branch.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, Jack Marsh, and Carl Leubsdorf at the student journalism conference

From left: Moderator Jack Marsh of the Freedom Forum, White House Deputy Press Secretary Josh Earnest, Carl Leubsdorf of the Dallas Morning News and Susan Page of USA Today field questions.

Educators from the Newseum began with an interactive lesson about the press and the presidency, focusing on the role media plays in shaping the president’s image. Bill Bushong presented an illustrated overview of the history of press at the White House. Jack Marsh, of the Freedom Forum, moderated a discussion with veteran journalists Susan Page and Carl Leubsdorf about their personal experiences in the field and were later joined by Josh Earnest, principal deputy press secretary for President Obama. After touring the White House, the students returned for a discussion with Mike McCurry about his experience as Press Secretary to President Bill Clinton.
Mike McCurry at the student Journalism Conference

Mike McCurry, press secretary to President Bill Clinton, engages in a Q&A session with student participants.

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Students Celebrate President Lincoln’s Legacy

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

In the final climactic scene of Paths to Freedom, President Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation in his White House office.

The White House Historical Association is dedicated to educating the public about the history of the White House. In an effort to bring White House history to local schools, the association launched free outreach programs for K-6 students in 2006. These standards based programs include a classroom visit from an experienced educator, as well as additional pre and post lesson materials for the classroom teacher.

In 2008, the Association launched Paths to Freedom: Slavery, Emancipation and the Power of the President, a free field trip program in which students in grades 4-6 recreate the events surrounding the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. Each student researches and acts the part of an historic character from the 1860s and traces President Abraham Lincoln’s steps as he considered emancipation and its alternatives. The costumed reenactment invites students to explore the notion of bondage and freedom within the real historic spaces of Decatur House.

In addition to our school programs, the White House Historical Association offers a variety of teacher workshops and programs. Ranging in a variety of topics that includes “The Civil War White House,” “The Press and the President,” and “Why Teach the White House,” these workshops provide a varied program of lectures, primary source analysis, and resources for the classroom.

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First Kid for a Day Program Featured on FCPS TV

Monday, January 3, 2011

WHHA’s First Kid for a Day outreach program is being featured on SchoolScene, a Fairfax County Public School cable show, until January 16th. Check your local listings, or view the streaming video here.

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