Press Freedom Center gets official launch at Club on Monday

Throughout this past year, the National Press Club leadership has been working to formalize and bolster the press freedom work the Club has done through the Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club.

While I have discussed this initiative during the Club's general membership meetings and with individual members, I wanted to provide a Q&A to all members, giving details on this new Center, why we’ve chosen to do it now and how it will fit into the wider Club.

On Monday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m. there will be an official launch of the Press Freedom Center, held at the Club.

Why a Press Freedom Center?

Throughout the Club’s history, we have aided journalists through advocacy, support and resources. In recent years, we have become a leader in advocating for the safe return of detained American journalists — and once free, we support them as they recover. We help journalists who have been exiled from their home countries find stable footing to continue their reporting in the U.S. And throughout it all, we continue to dedicate ourselves to helping journalists in America with press freedom issues.

Our work is critical, but it is also ad hoc. There has been no dedicated staff or funding for our press freedom initiatives.

As threats to journalists and news organizations grow, the time has come to solidify, formalize and strengthen the Club’s commitment in press freedom so we can continue to be a beacon for journalists for decades to come. 

What is the mission of the Press Freedom Center? 

Our mission statement: The Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club defends press freedom by assisting detained, threatened or exiled journalists through advocacy, direct support and community.

So is the Center just formalizing the work we’re already doing, or is there new stuff?

A few new things are in the works, including grants to exiled reporters and relationships with outside groups who can help exiled reporters with things like legal assistance, careers, housing, transportation, food and other needs. We also hope to boost our efforts to ensure journalists who are detained or exiled have the protections they need.

Why is the Center needed? How is it different from other press freedom organizations?

There are a number of excellent press freedom organizations helping journalists and advocating for press freedom worldwide. Each has an area where they specialize, and we are grateful for their work on this common cause.

Through the work the Club has done over the past decade-plus, we identified at least two important unmet needs: advocating for detained American journalists and supporting them after they return home and assisting exiled reporters in the U.S. Our work has already made us a leader in these areas and the structure of the Center will allow us to do more than ever before.

Who is running the Center?

Bill McCarren will be the Center’s director. During his time as the Club’s executive director, Bill helped cultivate the relationships and used the Club’s power to help numerous journalists who were imprisoned, facing serious threats, or in need of assistance. Bill’s deep ties in Congress, the White House, the executive branch and among stakeholders, news organizations and with press freedom groups have helped channel the Club’s influence into helping journalists in need. A key part of Bill’s role as director is succession planning so the Club can remain a leader in press freedom for decades to come. 

Jason Rezaian is also involved, right?

Yes! We are grateful to have Jason as part of the Press Freedom Center. Jason is a consultant for the Press Freedom Center and is also the chair of the Advisory Board, a non-governing board made up of individuals to assist the Center in its goals. Jason and Bill have worked together to help dozens of journalists over the past decade, and Jason also will be a key part of the Center’s fundraising.  

Jason’s full-time role at The Washington Post as director of press freedom initiatives is complementary to his role with the Press Freedom Center. Jason has the Post’s full support as he helps launch this new initiative.  

How is this being funded?

Throughout its history, the Club has been the main funder of its press freedom activities. By opening up a pathway to work with outside organizations, we will amplify our ability to help journalists in need.

The Club has made an investment of $500,000, and the Institute, in addition to being the fiscal sponsor, will be investing another $100,000. This is meant to cover costs as the Center launches and gets established. 

Is the Rockwell Find being touched?

Nope. The Club is using cash reserves to cover the cost. 

Is the Club going to be making regular donations to the Center like it does the Institute?

At this time, that is not part of the plan. We anticipate outside donations will help cover future costs.

How is the Center organized? 

The National Press Club Journalism Institute, a 501(c)(3), acts as the fiscal sponsor for the Center. The Center itself is an LLC within the Institute — this means the Center is able to accept tax-deductible donations. 

The Center is governed by a Steering Committee of five leaders: the president and executive director of the Press Club, the president and executive director of the NPCJI and one other Press Club member — currently the vice president of the Club. 

The director will report to the Steering Committee on a regular basis with updates and financial information, much like the executive directors of the Club and Institute report to their boards.

What is the relationship between the Center and the National Press Club Journalism Institute?

Both entities will coordinate with each other, but are separate in some key respects. They will have independent staff, budgets and bank accounts, and be responsible for their own fundraising. We expect the Center and Institute to coordinate or work together on some grants or projects. 

Donations can be made directly to the Press Freedom Center, but the acknowledgment letter will come from the Journalism Institute as part of the arrangement between the two organizations.

You said the Center will be doing fundraising. Isn’t the Institute also fundraising? Are the two now in competition?

The goal in creating the Press Freedom Center was to benefit both the Club and Institute. Under the fiscal sponsorship agreement, the Institute will receive a fee for the work they do for the Center. Both have a clear mission — the Journalism Institute to offer programming and training to promote quality journalism, and the Press Freedom Center to assist journalists in need.

A task force of Club and Institute leaders developed guidelines on how the Center and Institute will collaborate on fundraising to ensure the best results for all. This is also a part of the reason the Press Freedom Center exists within the Institute. 

How has membership been a part of developing this Center?

The Center was first conceptualized in the Club’s most recent strategic plan, which included a survey of members who indicated that press freedom was a top priority. The Center was highlighted during the January 2024 general membership meeting at which the strategic plan was approved.

From there, leaders of both the Club and Institute worked on the foundational documents for the Center. Both boards voted to unanimously approve the Center’s structure. Throughout this time, updates have been given at general membership meetings and respective board meetings. Bill also met with the Press Freedom Team to discuss how the Team will work and collaborate within the Center.

Further questions can be sent to Emily Wilkins ([email protected]) or Bill McCarren ([email protected]).