Women to lead major networks’ White House coverage at start of Biden era

Several of the nation’s largest news networks will have women serving as their chief White House correspondents covering the incoming Biden administration.

ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN will all feature female journalists covering President-elect Joe Biden’s White House, according to announcements made by each network recently.

ABC has shifted veteran journalist Cecilia Vega to be the network’s chief White House correspondent, and CNN has tapped Kaitlan Collins to serve in the same role for that network. Nancy Cordes has been selected as chief White House correspondent for CBS News, while journalist Kristen Welker will join colleague Peter Alexander on the White House beat for NBC.

Collins replaces reporter Jim Acosta in the role for CNN while Vega replaces former head of the White House Correspondents’ Association Jonathan Karl for ABC.

Late last year, longtime Fox News reporter John Roberts reportedly inked a multiyear deal with that network to stay with the network. He will anchor America Reports from 1-3 p.m. on weekdays. Peter Doocy, who covered Biden’s campaign, will cover the White House alongside colleague Kristin Fisher.

PBS journalist Yamiche Alcindor has covered the White House for the public broadcasting giant since 2018. 

Women have taken prominent positions in print journalism covering the Biden administration as well, with the Washington Post announcing this week that journalist Ashley Parker would replace Philip Rucker as the paper’s White House bureau chief.

Just weeks after winning the November election, Biden announced an all-female communications staff for his White House, something his team said was a first in U.S. history. 

“Communicating directly and truthfully to the American people is one of the most important duties of a President, and this team will be entrusted with the tremendous responsibility of connecting the American people to the White House,” Biden said in a statement.

Biden has named former Obama administration official Jen Psaki as his press secretary and will be inaugurated on Wednesday.

Updated Wednesday at 8:52 a.m.