History of the Washington Press Corps

Donald Ritchie talked about the history of the press corps as part of the National Press Club's centennial birthday celebration. Topics included reporting in Washington, the changes from the early days of radio to today's Internet, the history of the press galleries in the U.S. Capitol, and women's belated membership in the press club. He responded to questions submitted by members of the audience. Mr. Ritchie is the author of Reporting From Washington: The History of the Washington Press Corps, published by Oxford University Press in 2006. The book covers the last 70 years of the U.S. press. His 1991 book, Press Gallery: Congress and the Washington Correspondents, published by Harvard University Press, covered the first 130 years.