Web Stars Shine In Washington

April 27, 2008

The annual White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on Saturday night didn’t suffer from a lack of celebrity. Among those I spotted (and a few that I schmoozed) included former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger; actress Morgan Fairchild; actress-turned-autism activist Jenny McCarthy; actor Aaron Eckhart; Martha Stewart; and the legendary Larry King. Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Ben Affleck, Pam Anderson, and Ashlee Simpson were also in attendance.

But the aspect that makes this post Tech Daily Dose-worthy was the presence of Mario Armando Lavandeira -- better known as gossip blogger Perez Hilton -- and Amber Lee Ettinger (a.k.a. Obama Girl from the "I Got A Crush On Obama" YouTube craze). I ran into Ettinger briefly before the dinner but Hilton, clad in a shiny suit jacket, showed up at the Capitol File after-party where big screen siren Rosario Dawson mingled and Fall Out Boy rocker Pete Wentz DJed. What a night it was!

Juliana Gruenwald

Tech Writer

E-Mail: jgruenwald@nationaljournal.com.

Juliana Gruenwald has been covering tech and telecom issues for more than a decade for National Journal, Interactive Week, BNA and Congressional Quarterly. This is her second stint with National Journal. She was recruited by NJ in 1998 to help launch its first tech policy publication, Technology Daily. She left in 2000 to cover international tech and telecom issues for Ziff Davis Media's Interactive Week magazine. She started her career at United Press International as the wire service's first Helen Thomas Intern. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Minnesota. A Minneapolis native, she misses the lakes but not the cold.

Josh Smith

Tech Reporter

E-Mail: joshsmith@nationaljournal.com.

Josh Smith covers technology policy as a staff reporter for National Journal. He previously interned at National Journal Daily, a Senate press office, and the Deseret News in Salt Lake City where he covered the state legislature, courts, and crime. In 2009 he graduated with honors from Southern Utah University after managing an award-winning student newspaper as editor-in-chief. Josh has received state, regional and national awards for his political and policy reporting, including first place in CapitolBeat’s 2009 Best of Statehouse Reporting college competition. A native of drop-dead-gorgeous Utah, Josh lives in Virginia with his wife, Amber.

HOME

WHITE HOUSE

POLITICS

CONGRESS

DOMESTIC POLICY

NATIONAL SECURITY

TECH

COLUMNS

BLOGS

POLLS

EVENTS