The Washington Blade, the nation’s oldest LGBT newspaper, has been selected to join the White House press pool on a rotating basis, the paper announced Wednesday.

“This designation reflects the Blade’s nearly 45-year commitment to quality journalism,” said Blade editor Kevin Naff in a press release. “We’re excited to get started and continue the Blade’s long tradition of excellence in objective reporting.”

Blade political reporter Chris Johnson will take the lead in covering President Obama, the paper said.

The Washington Blade, based in D.C., is the second-largest LGBT newspaper to New York City’s Gay City News.

In 2009, the New York Times called the paper “one of the most influential publications written for a gay audience.”

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