Institute session to demonstrate tools for tracking corporate political spending, Nov. 3

Join the National Press Club Journalism Institute Friday, Nov. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Bloomberg Room for the last session of the three-part series “It’s Never Too Early to Follow the Money.”

“Lightening the money” will focus on resources The Center for Political Accountability uses to track corporate political spending. Tickets are $5 for Club members and $10 for non-members. Register for tickets here.

U.S. companies are facing heightened pressure to play the political money game – and heightened risk if they do. The Center for Political Accountability, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization started by former reporter Bruce Freed, has been working for years to urge corporations — some of the biggest spenders in congressional and legislative races — to reduce that risk by disclosing their political spending even when they are not legally required to do so. And he’s had some success.

Join Freed and his staff for a look at this year’s CPA-Zicklin Index and a new database, TrackYourCompany.org. These are tools that can help reporters track and understand otherwise opaque corporate political spending.