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Finkelstein acknowledged the association's ethical values - directly quoting their website in the statement: \"We work to ensure a strong, free press and robust coverage of the presidency. We share the belief, held by our country’s Founders and enshrined in the First Amendment, that an independent news media is vital to the health of the republic.\"

However, he argues that this year's headliner — who is facing severe backlash over several jokes targeted at the Trump administration for their vulgar and personal nature — did not align with the association’s values, and called for \"major changes\" to be implemented to the annual gala.

\"The dinner must be non-partisan and done without hostility and personal animus toward the party that occupies the White House — regardless of who is in power,” Finkelstein said.

Wolf's routine at the so-called \"nerd prom\" roasted President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, White House staff, the White House press corps, and Democrats and Republicans. But the comedian and former Daily Show correspondent drew the sharpest criticism for jokes that took aim at press secretary Sarah Sanders on both her job performance and physical appearance.

Finkelstein compared this year's dinner to those of the past, which he said, \"were tremendous spectacles of dignity that were enjoyed by all.\"

\"Comedians headlining those dinners were sharp and made fun of both the media and the Commander-in-Chief in a way that could induce laughs while not being so offensive and vulgar that C-SPAN actually cut off its radio broadcast, as was the case this year for the first time ever,” he said.

\"PHOTO:
Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images
PHOTO: Host Michelle Wolf attends the 2018 White House Correspondents' Dinner at Washington Hilton, April 28, 2018, in Washington, DC.
>

\"The kind of jokes told by this year’s headliner, Michelle Wolf, were out of line for an event that’s supposed to be fun — and fair,\" he continued.

The Hill is urging the association to reform the dinner to bring the focus back on the \"importance of the Fourth Estate.\"

\"We hope the dinner can get back to talking about the importance of the Fourth Estate without the kind of ugly slideshow that completely overshadowed the event this year,\" the statement read.

\"Without major reforms, The Hill no longer wishes to participate in future dinners,\" Finkelstein warned.

Although The Hill is opting out of future dinners, the outlet will continue to donate to the association's scholarship program to help produce \"future journalists to fight for freedom of the press while remaining non-partisan.\"

President Trump weighed in on the controversy on Twitter Monday to say \"The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is DEAD as we know it.\"

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner is DEAD as we know it. This was a total disaster and an embarrassment to our great Country and all that it stands for. FAKE NEWS is alive and well and beautifully represented on Saturday night!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 30, 2018

The Hill is the only outlet so far this year to publicly end its participation in the annual gala but The New York Times reported that executives at CBS News were \"dismayed\" following the dinner and the network also considered dropping out of the dinner.

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