National Press Club Debuts Press Forums

National Press Club Debuts Press Forums

WASHINGTON, May 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Press Club, the world's leading professional organization for journalists, will launch a program May 21 to promote its centennial and encourage a public discussion on the First Amendment, freedom of the press and the future of journalism.

From May through December, the Club will host events in cities across the nation to screen its centennial documentary, "A Century of Headlines," followed by a panel discussion among national and regional journalists.

The first event will be May 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the auditorium of the World Affairs Council of the District of Columbia, 1801 K St. NW, Washington, D.C.

The panel will include:

Bill Plante, White House correspondent for CBS News

Susan Page, Washington Bureau Chief for USA Today

Jim Brady, executive editor of Washingtonpost.com

Bill Kovach, founding director of the Committee of Concerned Journalists.

"For a century, the Club has provided a neutral forum for national and international leaders to talk to the world through the news media," said Club President Sylvia Smith. "With this program, we encourage public discussion about the core values and future of journalism."

The events, aimed at every state and the District of Columbia, will be organized and moderated by Gil Klein, a veteran national correspondent, a past Club president and the author of the Club's centennial history, "Reliable Sources: 100 Years at the National Press Club."

Each of the events will be videotaped and posted to the Club's web site, www.press.org.

The Club has partnered with the World Affairs Councils of America (www.worldaffairscouncils.org) and its 89 chapters nationwide as well as with journalism schools at leading colleges and universities.

This program is underwritten by a contribution from Aviva USA, one of the nation's fastest-growing life insurers (www.AvivaUSA.com). The grant will pay for the distribution of 12,000 copies of the documentary and education materials as well as promotion of the forums.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

Gil Klein, National Press Club Centennial Project director, 703-338-2721. E-mail gklein@press.org.

ABOUT THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB:

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Founded in 1908, the Club has 3,700 members representing most major news organizations. The Club holds more than 2,000 events including news conferences, luncheons and panels each year, and more than 250,000 guests come through its doors. On the web at www.press.org.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: National Press Club

CONTACT: Gil Klein, National Press Club Centennial Project Director,
+1-703-338-2721, gklein@press.org

Web Site:

http://www.avivausa.com/
http://www.press.org/
http://www.worldaffairscouncils.org/

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