Because the District of Columbia is the center of US government activity, hundreds of US and foreign newspapers maintain permanent news bureaus there. The District has one major newspaper, the Washington Post. In 2002, the Post, a morning paper, had an average daily circulation of 759,864 and a Sunday circulation of 1,059,646. In 2001, the Post had the 5th-largest daily circulation and the third-largest Sunday circulation in the country. The Washington Times, also published on weekday mornings, had a circulation of 103,505 (48,534 on Sunday). Press clubs active within the District include the National Press Club, Gridiron Club, American Newspaper Women's Club, Washington Press Club, and White House Correspondents Association.
There are more than 30 major Washington-based periodicals. Among the best known are the National Geographic, U.S. News & World Report, Smithsonian, and New Republic. Important periodicals covering the workings of the federal government are the Congressional Quarterly and its companion, CQ Weekly Report.