Inside ‘Bytes & Bylines’ Before the WHCD

Notable among the tech, political and media powerhouses in attendance were Ambassador Anne Anderson of Ireland, Congressman Brendan Boyle, Ambassador Kurt Jaeger of Liechtenstein, Revolution’s Meredith Balenske, former Presidents Clinton and Obama’s economic advisor Gene Sperling, CBS News’ Walt Cronkite, NBC News’ Kasie Hunt, The Washington Post’s Michelle Jaconi, Politico Playbook’s Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman, The Young Turks’ Jordan Chariton, SpaceX director of advanced projects Steve Davis, Postmates CEO Bastian Lehmann, Kairos Society managing partner Ryan Bloomer, UTA Foundation head Rene Jones, Director of the Washington National Opera Philippe Auguin and EMILY’s List president Stephanie Schriock, among others.

Surrounded by artwork by Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, and Salvador Dali, guests sipped wine — poured through a Coravin — enjoyed fresh fruit-garnished gin cocktails from One Eight Distilling, and snacked on duck bacon, beef meatballs and smoked artichoke dip from Old Blue BBQ.

In keeping with the “Celebration of Journalism” theme of the evening, a donation was made on behalf of the Bytes & Bylines party to the White House Correspondents Association Scholarship Fund and the Committee to Protect Journalists.

“Events like Bytes & Bylines are important to highlight all the fantastic work journalists do in Washington and around the world,” says Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists. “CPJ will use the funds and awareness raised over the upcoming weekend to continue fighting for the rights of journalists.”