Judson takes Club gavel, sets April inauguration
Jen Judson took the gavel last week as the 115th president of the National Press Club but set an April inauguration as the Club continues to deal with challenges related to the coronavirus pandemic.
Judson, a reporter for Defense News, is postponing her swearing-in to ensure that it can be an in-person event at what likely will be a safer time, rather than a virtual program in the next couple weeks. Traditionally, the Club holds an inauguration gala shortly after the presidential transition, which occurred at the Club’s General Membership Meeting on Friday.
“I look forward to seeing as many of you from your head all the way to your toes as possible there,” Judson said at the meeting, which was webcast to the members.
The emergence of the Omicron variant has slowed the Club’s move to its usual full slate of in-person activities. Taco Night returned in June, and the Reliable Source is open for lunch each weekday. The Club is starting to host more press conferences and other events, but most Club teams still conduct their activities online.
“We all want to see each other in person and get back to those human connections that just can’t be made through Zoom,” Judson said. “Omicron is showing us that this pandemic is not over yet, and we cannot predict the twists and turns of this virus and what effects it might have on the Club. We will do everything we can to keep the Club open in many capacities and to open up even more as the situation with the pandemic allows.”
The Club has weathered the pandemic relatively well. It suffered a loss of less than $1 million last year, down from a multi-million-dollar loss in 2020. It is carrying debt and projecting 2022 will be another year in the red.
The Club has substantial reserves thanks to an investment fund established by the sale of a Norman Rockwell painting in 2015 that has not been tapped during the pandemic. Instead, the Club has used grants, loans and cost reductions to address budget shortfalls.
The Club has sufficient resources to cover gaps between revenue and costs this year, Lisa Nicole Matthews, the Club’s immediate past president, said at the membership meeting.
Club membership declined modestly during the pandemic. As of November, the Club had 2,627 members, including 1,320 journalist and 1,091 communicator members. The total membership in November 2020 was 2,866 and was 2,962 in November 2019.
Safety First
The Club began re-opening to in-person activities in the summer of 2020. It accelerated its operations in 2021 with the return of Taco Night and Reliable Source lunch service last summer while operating with about a third of its normal staff.
The Club also began to attract conferences and other events and put in place safety measures that include requiring visitors to be vaccinated or tested and to wear masks when not eating or drinking.
“The National Press Club developed a reputation as a place that is safe to do business,” Matthews said. "That is what safety first means.”
Under the two presidents who have served so far during the pandemic – Matthews and 2020 President Michael Freedman – the Club has maintained an extensive schedule of online and hybrid Newsmakers and other events while continuing to pursue its press freedom mission.
“You’ve done far more than keep the lights on, and the Club and I will forever be grateful for your leadership,” Judson said to Matthews at the membership meeting.
Judson’s agenda
Judson placed press freedom at the top of her agenda for the next year. Her first action as Club president was to post a video on Instagram urging the Biden administration to make a diplomatic priority of securing the release of Austin Tice, an award-winning journalist who has been detained in Syria for more than nine years.
“Mr. President, put your best people on it,” Judson said in the video. “Get it done.”
Judson, who has previously served as vice president of the Club and for two terms as chair of the Board of Governors, also will emphasize building the bond between the media and its audience.
“I hope to double-down on Club efforts to help repair public trust in the media and increase media literacy,” she said. “As we head into mid-term elections, the time to do this has to be now.”
Another of Judson’s goals is to strengthen the relationship between the Club and the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club’s non-profit arm that focuses on press freedom and professional development.
The two organizations are exploring the sale of art they jointly own in order to bolster the Club budget. Judson said the art is not related to journalism or the Club’s history but could not reveal further details of the potential transaction.
Judson’s leadership team will include Vice President Eileen O’Reilly, Treasurer Emily Wilkins, Membership Secretary Gillian Rich and Secretary Mike Balsamo. Kimberly Adams will serve as the chair of the Board of Governors.