Decision 2012: White House Correspondents Dinner Provides Moment of Levity

The annual White House Correspondents Dinner brings reporters together with the politicians and celebrities they cover for an evening of entertainment and schmoozing. At this year's dinner, President Barack Obama took a few humorous jabs at rival Mitt Romney and others. And, the president got a few jabs in turn from comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who served as the master of ceremonies. The dinner may have been the last chance for a few laughs before the presidential campaign gets rougher.

Class discussion: Almost since its beginning in 1920, the dinner has been criticized as an example of a cozy relationship between press and the people they cover. Find columns and opinion articles about the dinner. Do the columnists find fault with reporters hob-knobbing and sharing inside jokes with government officials they are supposed to hold accountable? Or, do they see little harm with the affair? Is it uncommon or wrong for reporters to socialize with people they cover? Does developing good relationships with politicians lead to more information for the public or more manipulation of the press?