Spotify Honors the White House Correspondents’ Association and Freedom of Expression
Ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) Dinner, Spotify joined leaders from across the media and political landscape to honor America’s journalists and the tradition of the annual gathering. The reception for the rescheduled Correspondents dinner carried extra meaning after April’s dinner was interrupted by an act of violence, and last night’s event became a celebration of the press corps’ resilience.
Spotify partnered with Sir Christian Turner, British Ambassador to the United States, Lady Turner, and White House Correspondents Insider to celebrate the WHCA at the British Ambassador’s Residence, alongside journalists, creatives, and policy leaders.
During the reception, Spotify recognized CBS Senior White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang for her steadfast leadership of the White House press corps. Her tenure as WHCA president has been defined by transparency, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to press freedom. As was evidenced earlier this year, Weijia’s combination of rigor, composure, and empathy have been on full display during her term.
“I’m deeply honored by this recognition, but I want to make clear that it belongs to all of us,” said Weijia. “I have heard a lot about grace and composure and bravery, but any of that that I showed on April 25th, I borrowed from everybody else in that room….We put our personal fears aside to do our jobs.”
CBS Senior White House Correspondent Weijia Jiang
Spotify's Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins with Weijia Jiang
“You don’t just report the news,” said Dustee Jenkins, Chief Public Affairs Officer of Spotify. “You listen for it. You chase it. You sit with sources who are scared, or angry, or hopeful—and you make sure their stories see the light. Spotify believes deeply in that work. Because a world where people can share their perspectives is the same world where music thrives, where creators take risks, and where culture moves forward.”
“This evening is about celebrating friendship, great journalism, and the remarkable people who help tell America’s story every single day,” remarked Sir Christian Turner, British Ambassador to the United States. “The White House Correspondents have long played an important role in our democracy, they are charged with the awesome responsibility of shedding a spotlight on the highest offices in this country and translating it for the American people.”
To celebrate, multiple Grammy and Emmy-award winning DJ Jazzy Jeff DJ’ed the rest of the night, mixing fun and nostalgia to keep the party going.
Dustee Jenkins gives her remarks.
Sir Christian Turner, British Ambassador to the United States, with Tammy Haddad and Weijia Jiang
Tammy Haddad, Lady Turner, Ambassador Turner, Weijia Jiang, Dustee Jenkins
DJ Jazzy Jeff gets the party going.
Spotify is the number one audio podcast platform in the United States, and American-created podcasts have been streamed in more than 180 countries so far in 2026. With podcasting now among the most trusted and fastest-growing news formats, we host millions of podcasts that give journalists, commentators, and everyday citizens alike a space to learn from, challenge, and connect with each other. Spotify continues to invest in podcast creators, including with new studios like Sycamore Studios in Los Angeles.
“Spotify was founded 20 years ago to solve a problem in the music industry,” said Dustee. “But what we actually built was something much bigger. A global stage where almost 800 million people come every day to listen to all the world’s music, seven million podcasts, and 700,000 audiobooks. People come to Spotify to hear conversations that challenge, entertain, and inform. And what we’ve learned over two decades is that listening—real listening—is one of the most powerful things a person can do.”
Guests at the British Ambassador's Residence
Ambassador Turner, DJ Jazzy Jeff, and Lady Turner
Dustee Jenkins, Ambassador Turner, Weijia Jiang, and Lady Turner
As the media landscape evolves, Spotify continues to invest in the artists, authors, creators, and journalists who build audiences through our platform in the U.S. and around the world.
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