Roy Wood Jr. Roasts Media Scandals at White House Correspondents Dinner, But Has Soft Spot for Local Journalism
variety.comBrian Steinberg Senior TV Editor Comedian Roy Wood Jr. did something many guests at the annual White House Correspondents Dinner forget to do: celebrate journalism.
In a series of funny remarks that took on everything from Don Lemon to Fox News Channel’s massive $787.5 million settlement to Dominion Voting to President Biden’s age, Wood devoted significant time to calling for support for local journalism, noting that reporters working for regional and local media outlets are often the first to spot malfeasance or something wrong.
He also mentioned his father’s work in local radio and his mother’s career in education. The comments added a personal touch to the proceedings, which are organized each year by the White House Correspondents Association and meant to call attention to the mission of holding government officials accountable in reporting meant to be consumed by the American public.
The WHCA each year hires a comic to add levity and a few zingers to the proceedings. Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Trevor Noah, Larry Wilmore and Michelle Wolf are among those who have taken on the tricky assignment in the past.
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