Spellers commit to compete in annual Press vs. Politicians Spelling Bee June 27 at Club

The annual Press vs. Politicians Spelling Bee returns to the National Press Club on Thursday, June 27, where Washington reporters face off against members of Congress in the Ballroom.

Spellers have been named, so now the competition begins to gear up.

Press spellers are: Azi Paybarah, national reporter at The Washington Post; National Press Club President Emily Wilkins, of CNBC; Club member Bernd Debusmann Jr., a BBC News correspondent; Alex Clearfield, state litigation deputy team lead at Bloomberg Law; and Club board of governors member Jessica Mendoza, audio reporter at The Wall Street Journal.

Representing the Politicians are: Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va.; Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Ill. (a former TV news meteorologist); Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa (a former TV news anchor); Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore.; and Rep. Chris Pappas, D-N.H.

The first such event was held in 1913, with newly elected President Woodrow Wilson in the audience for the inaugural showdown, which was won by members of Congress. The Bee was returned on its 100th anniversary in 2013 and has been held at the Club ever since.

Proceeds from the Spelling Bee support the Club's nonprofit affiliate, the NPC Journalism Institute, which serves more than 8,000 journalists annually through its training, press freedom efforts, scholarships, and more. Contact the institute's development manager, Mitch Harle, for sponsorships at [email protected] or (713) 492-1556.