News Happens at the National Press Club -- Thanks to Us

The National Press Club is the place "where news happens." Our famous Speaker Luncheon series is the best example of this.

Yet some "news" that "happens" is not through programs the Club sponsors. That is because, to generate revenue to support our mission, we rent space to outside organizations. Sometimes clients use our space for weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs or training seminars. Sometimes they use it to get their point of view out to the public.

This dual use of our space can cause confusion. Sometimes reporters at a press conference a private group is holding wrongly think we are sponsoring it. We try to prevent confusion by clearly promoting and identifying our own events.

In addition to Speaker lunches, our own programs include Book and Author sessions, Press Freedom programs, Journalism Institute training and numerous activities put on by our 25-plus committees such as History and Heritage, Events, Membership, Communications and Marketing, Freelance and Broadcast.

One of my favorite programs is Newsmakers, which dates to the early 1970s. The Club hosts, and promotes, these news conferences so working journalists can get information they need to do their jobs.

Under the leadership of Herb Perone, who worked as a producer at ABC News and CNN in his long media and public relations career, the Newsmakers Committee holds 75 of these events each year. Topics are all over the map.

As I write this today, Luxemburg Ambassador Louis Wolzfeld is about to discuss European Union priorities. Last month, the head of an international securities organization discussed oversight of large funds. The CEO of GLADD talked about gay rights after the recent Supreme Court decision. Earlier this year, former CIA Deputy Director Michael Morell talked about terrorism, and Amal Clooney discussed the imprisonment of a former Maldives president.

These events are free of charge for the newsmaker. What long-time Club member Llewellyn King wrote nearly 20 years ago is still true today: "Newsmaker events give us news and give those who cannot afford the paraphernalia of public relations and press agents a ready avenue to the media."

I particularly enjoyed a Newsmaker we hosted for the nonprofit group Engaging Schools, which called for more music education in elementary and secondary schools. Musician Peter Yarrow and former New York Yankees Center Fielder Bernie Williams played guitars at the event.

Yes, the National Press Club indeed is the place "where news happens."

The Newsmakers Committee reminds us that oftentimes, the news that does happen here occurs solely because of us.