National Press Club

Club filing center open for journalists covering presidential debate, tonight

Lindsay Underwood

October 05, 2020

The National Press Club, serving as a Washington, D.C., Press Filing Center for the general election presidential and vice presidential debates, will be available to journalists covering the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden tonight, Oct. 22..

Credentialed journalists who wish to reserve space in the NPC Press Filing Center may do so by contacting [email protected]. More information on the center is available online.

Space is limited in order to accommodate public health and social-distancing guidelines. Preference will be given to credentialed, working journalists and within that subset, to Club members, on a first-come, first-served basis. A wait-list will be created after all slots are filled. 

To gain admittance, all registered attendees must submit to temperature checks, screening questions and other security procedures before entering the Club. While in the Club, journalists must wear masks at all times except when filing for broadcast. Club staff will enforce six feet of social distancing including for camera crews. Those who fail to comply will need to leave for their safety and that of others. No partisan or advocacy organizations will be admitted to the Filing Center space. 

Kristen Welker, co-anchor of "Weekend TODAY" and NBC News White House correspondent, will
serve as moderator of the debate, which will be held at Belmont University, Nashville, Tenn.

The Club served as filing center for the initial presidential debate Sept. 29, the vice-presidental debate Oct. 7 and the second presidential debate -- replaced by town meetings by each candidate -- Oct. 15.

“We are pleased to support the Commission on Presidential Debates this fall in hosting the press corps and offering our colleagues a safe and professional environment for viewing each of the debates and filing their stories,” Club President Michael Freedman said. “With many newsrooms closed and space for the press limited at the debate sites, the Club is proud to engage in what it does best – serve the needs of journalists in the course of their work.” 

 

Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither Press, university students and staff watch the Presidential debate, September 29th, 2020.
Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither Press, university students and staff watch the Presidential debate, September 29th, 2020.
Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither Press, university students and staff watch the Presidential debate in the Club's ballrrom, which was used as a filing center for journalists. September 29th, 2020.
Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither Press, university students and staff watch the Presidential debate in the Club's ballrrom, which was used as a filing center for journalists. September 29th, 2020.
Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither Press, university students and staff watch the Presidential debate in the Club's ballrrom, which was used as a filing center for journalists. September 29th, 2020.
Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither Press, university students and staff watch the Presidential debate in the Club's ballrrom, which was used as a filing center for journalists. September 29th, 2020.
Photo Credit: Victoria Gaither NPC President Michael Freedman gave George Washington University journalism students a tour of his office after the September 29, 2020 Presidential debate concluded.