WHCA’s 2024 Photo of the Year Says Everything About Why Legacy Media Is Dying
Washington, D.C. – The White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) named its 2024 Photo of the Year on April 27, 2025, during its annual dinner, but the choice—a staged image of Biden-era press briefings—has conservatives on X, like @gratefulcalvin, slamming legacy media as “dead.” The photo, credited to Getty Images and shared on Twitchy [], depicts a carefully curated scene of reporters in a White House briefing room, a stark contrast to the gritty reality of 2024’s defining moments, fueling conservative outrage over media disconnect.
Photo of the year, according to the White House Correspondents’ Association.
Photo of the year , according to anyone with a functioning brain cell:
The image, taken during a 2024 briefing with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, shows reporters seated in perfect rows, with bright lighting and a polished aesthetic, per WHCA’s announcement []. Conservatives argue it ignores raw, impactful moments like the July 13, 2024, Trump assassination attempt in Butler, PA, captured by Evan Vucci for AP, where Trump raised a fist as blood streaked down his face, an image that won World Press Photo 2025, per The Guardian on March 27 []. @MAGAForce2024 wrote, “WHCA picks a sanitized Biden briefing over Trump’s iconic survival moment? Legacy media is clueless!”
The WHCA’s choice comes amid its own controversies, like canceling comedian Amber Ruffin’s appearance at the dinner due to “focus on journalism,” per NPR on March 29 [], and Trump’s absence for the fourth time, per The Hollywood Reporter on April 27 []. Critics on X, like @PatriotPulse, see the photo as emblematic of legacy media’s decline: “They’re living in a bubble—ignoring real history for staged propaganda!” A 2024 AP poll cited by The Week on December 20 [] noted American trust in media at an all-time low, with 53% concerned about misinformation, a sentiment conservatives tie to choices like this.
@America1stMAGA added, “WHCA’s photo says it all—legacy media is dying because they can’t face reality!” The backlash underscores a broader conservative narrative: while Trump’s administration makes bold moves—like the White House lawn mugshot display, per Fox News on April 28 []—legacy media remains out of touch, prioritizing optics over substance in a year defined by raw, unfiltered moments.
Michelle is American conservative author she is committed to the constitutional principles of individual freedom, economic liberty, limited government, personal responsibility, and traditional values. She is a libertarian and provocateur who believes in freedom and liberty for all Americans. As a passionate journalist, she works relentlessly to uncover the corruption happening in Washington, while exposing politicians and individuals who wish to do us harm.
