National Press Club: Where the world's journalists cover the free world's capital
If you want to find where the nation's -- and now the world's -- journalistic voice goes to gather, mingle, exchange ideas and talk shop, then go no further than the National Press Club. Located around the corner from Metro Center and just three blocks from the White House, it's a private club where the public can venture in as guests or visitors and be wowed by the intense intellectuality that surfaces there.
Founded in 1908, the National Press Club opened to journalists working near the White House and other offices nearby as a place to gather and play cards. Today, it houses more than 3,500 paid members and 250,000 visitors who venture through the doors every year.
Women were excluded until 1971. In 2006, the Club added a broadcast transmissions center to shoot and transmit news feeds around the world. The Club has several press event rooms and hosts about 2,000 events a year. Recent speakers included Venus Williams on her new clothing line and career ambitions beyond tennis, Arne Duncan on the state of America's education system, New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu on the BP oil spill, and Condoleeza Rice, former Bush administration Secretary of State. Many politicians, CEOs, non-profit founders, athletes, musicians, actors, artists, writers and other journalists have come through the Press Club as invited speakers. An entire lineup of speakers are available on the Web site.
Many of the speaker events are broadcasted on the cable C-SPAN network, and other more timely events may bring in other news outlets as well. There are also luncheons, fundraisers, photography exhibits, dinners, documentary screenings, training seminars and networking events for working journalists.
HelloWashingtonDC Tip: National Press Club members always receive a discount but are allowed to bring a friend or colleague as a guest. There's also a bar and restaurant where many journalists come to relax after work. Conference rooms are available for rentals, and banquets can also be held there. There's no doubt that any visitor will spot a famous journalist or personality wandering through the Club – after all, they're all at home in their club.
Posted by Rin-rin Yu
