Timely and reliable news reporting is more important than ever now as the coronavirus pandemic spreads rapidly across the world. The challenge is a daunting one for journalists faced not only with the task of sorting through complicated and often contradictory information but also the risk of contracting COVID-19, the infectious disease caused by the new virus. And even as people turn to the news media for information on the crisis, many U.S. newspapers are letting go of reporters and editors as advertising all but disappears.

Many professional communicators, including National Press Club members, learned their craft in schools of communication here in Washington and beyond. In this edition of Update-1, NPC Broadcast/Podcast Committee co-vice chair Adam Konowe speaks with fellow committee member and American University School of Communications Professor Gemma Puglisi. Joining them is Jolene Levesque, an AU undergraduate majoring in public relations, to discuss AU’s chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America and its activities for PR majors like her.

National Security is the focus of this edition of Update-1. Broadcast Podcast Committee member Lincoln Smith speaks with Dr. John Lenczowski, founder and president of the Institute of World Politics, which is dedicated to teaching the art of statecraft. They discuss some books and lectures relating to the state of today's global strategic environment, including Eric Hoffer’s book "The True Believer; Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements," and the Kuklinski Museum Discussion Series, “Poland, the U.S. and NATO: Confronting the Russian Threat." Dr.