WHCA Establishes Mark Knoller Scholarship at NYU to Support Future Journalists

The White House Correspondents’ Association has announced the creation of a new scholarship honoring the late White House correspondent Mark Knoller. The scholarship will be based at New York University, his alma mater.

“Mark Knoller was, by any measure, a legend of the White House press corps — a walking encyclopedia of presidential history and an invaluable resource to every colleague lucky enough to work alongside him. His generosity with knowledge was as defining as the knowledge itself,” said Weijia Jiang, president of the association.

“The WHCA is proud to partner with Knoller’s alma mater, NYU, to establish a scholarship in his name to support the next generation of journalists,” she added.

According to a statement from the WHCA, the scholarship will be awarded annually to a promising journalism student at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. The initiative is part of the association’s broader effort to support emerging journalists, many of whom may go on to join the White House press corps.

“We at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute are thrilled about our partnership with the WHCA, and very grateful for the opportunities that the Mark Knoller scholarship provides for journalism students at NYU,” said Charles Seife, professor of journalism and director of the institute.

“The mentorship and other assistance from the WHCA is invaluable for young reporters trying to find their footing, especially in such turbulent times,” Seife added.

According to the statement, the scholarship includes a $5,000 grant along with a year-long mentorship from a veteran member of the White House press corps. Recipients will also be invited to a spring luncheon and program, as well as attend the WHCA’s annual dinner as guests. “The partnership with NYU is the latest in a steadily growing commitment to help journalism students around the country,” the statement noted.

The WHCA currently sponsors scholarships at several institutions, including American University, Arizona State University, Hampton University, Howard University, Northwestern University, Ohio University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Kansas, University of Maryland, University of Missouri, and University of Tennessee.

In addition, the association co-sponsors scholarships with organizations such as the Asian American Journalists Association, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the White House Historical Association, and Syracuse University.

Knoller is the fifth former White House correspondent to be honored with a named scholarship. Others include Frank Cormier, Deborah Orin, Hugh Sidey, and Harry McAlpin.

About Mark Knoller

Knoller spent decades covering the White House and was widely respected by colleagues across the profession.

“After graduating from New York University, Knoller started at WNEW Radio in New York, as an intern, copy boy and weekend reporter. He moved to the Associated Press Radio Network in 1975, then to CBS News in 1988 as an assignment editor in the Washington bureau. Soon after, he started covering the White House, for CBS Radio,” the statement noted.

Over the course of his career, Knoller covered multiple U.S. presidents, including George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump, both at the White House and during international travels.

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