The Dallas Express will receive White House press credentials for the first time, marking a major milestone for the nonprofit newsroom as it continues to expand its national presence.
CEO Chris Putnam announced Wednesday that the outlet has been invited to participate in the White House’s New Media Program. Putnam and The Dallas Express co-founder Sarah Zubiate Bennett, host of the Let’s Talk Local podcast, will travel to Washington, D.C., next week to attend the outlet’s first press conference inside the James S. Brady Briefing Room.
The invitation comes during what Putnam described as a transformational year for The Dallas Express, which now reaches more than 500,000 subscribers across North Texas.
Breakthrough Reporting Sparked National Attention
Putnam credited the milestone to five years of continued work by the newsroom to provide a legitimate alternative to legacy media outlets in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.
The Dallas Express entered 2025 with one of the most viral stories in the country — its investigation into a Fort Worth congresswoman who had vanished from public view during the second half of 2024, missing every vote during the presidential transition. Reporters found her office shuttered and her primary residence in an independent living facility, leaving constituents without active representation.
Major national publications — including the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Fox News, and others — picked up the story. The New York Post and Politico also published pieces crediting The Dallas Express for breaking the news, with Politico highlighting the outlet’s commitment to “shoe-leather” reporting and source building.
Expanding Reach and Local Impact
Throughout the year, The Dallas Express continued its coverage of Dallas HERO, downtown crime and homelessness, and the longstanding governance and financial issues at DART — topics that have helped shape public conversations and, in several cases, contributed to policy adjustments.
The outlet also expanded its distribution footprint through new partnerships, reaching a broader national audience while maintaining its focus on strong local reporting.
Rapid Growth and Call for Support
Putnam noted that The Dallas Express achieved more than 200% audience growth in 2025, with over a quarter-million readers receiving the daily newsletter.
He emphasized that the newsroom remains committed to producing accessible, high-quality journalism free from subscription paywalls, but said such growth carries significant operational costs. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, contributions to The Dallas Express are tax-deductible.
Putnam encouraged supporters to consider making an end-of-year donation, sponsoring an event, or advertising with the outlet to support its mission.
Watch The Dallas Express at the White House
Readers will be able to watch The Dallas Express’ first White House press conference live next week through the free DX mobile app — available in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store — as well as at DallasExpress.com and on the outlet’s accounts on X and Facebook.