Club special committee to consider media ground rules for outside groups

The National Press Club will review its procedures for room rental to outside groups following a critical column by a Washington Post journalist who was denied on-the-record access to an Oct. 8 event.

Post columnist Dana Milbank excoriated the International Stability Operations Association for prohibiting him from quoting certain participants at the meeting.

Club President Myron Belkind has asked the Board of Governors to establish a committee to examine Club policies about booking rooms to private groups.

“For example, it is possible that we ask clients to seek permission in advance to have an off-the-record session at the National Press Club,” Belkind told an audience of about 80 at the Club’s General Membership Meeting on Oct. 10. “These are things we will explore, and we will report back by our annual meeting in January, during the current presidency.”

Belkind stressed that the Club did not host the event Milbank attended. Club luncheons, Newsmakers, book and press freedom events always are on-the-record.

“When the event is ours, the ground rules are ours,” Belkind said. “When the event is organized by [an outside group], they establish the ground rules. It is rare for events here to be off the record. Rare, but it does happen.”

The organization that hosted the Oct. 8 event released a media advisory that did not clarify that some sessions were off-the-record.

“This could have been done better by the organization,” Belkind said. “We had no role in that.”

The Club was criticized for being too slow to respond to Milbank’s column and a mention in Politico. Some Club members Tweeted rebuttals to Milbank and other critics on Oct. 9.

“The Press Club was silent on that and our reputation took a big hit,” former Club President Jonathan Salant said at the membership meeting. “I’m really disappointed that some of us who care about the Club had to take this step we shouldn’t have when the Club allowed this to happen.”

Belkind responded that his first priority was to make a comprehensive report to the general membership meeting and post it immediately afterwards on his president’s blog. He also said that he welcomed the responses given by past presidents on Twitter and Facebook on Oct. 9.

What upset Salant the most is that the controversy arose over what he called poor reporting that implied the Club itself was stiff-arming reporters.

“The only reason this is an issue is because somebody wrote an inaccurate story,” Salant said. “That’s not journalism. The Washington Post and Politico were wrong.”

The Club must insist that visitors adhere to its press-freedom ideals, Club member Wes Pippert said.

“The basic principle is: If you rent rooms here, it’s open to the press,” Pippert said at the membership meeting.

In his remarks to the membership meeting, Belkind highlighted activities that demonstrate the Club’s efforts to promote press freedom, develop the next generation of journalists and honor journalism luminaries.

Club members approve dues increase

In other business at the General Membership Meeting, Club members unanimously approved an increase in Club dues of $1 per month for all membership categories except spouse, student, intern and retired.

Treasurer Tommy Burr said the 2 percent dues increase was modest compared to the expected 6 percent rise in expenses.

“I can report that the National Press Club is on solid financial footing,” Burr said.

The Club has experienced “ups and downs” financially this year, Burr said. It took in a record monthly revenue of $1.44 million in June. But July and August were different stories, with $180,000 and $300,000 losses, respectively.

Overall, the Club has made a profit of more than $300,000 this year and has $2.11 million in reserves and cash. It has no long-term debt, $145,000 in short-term debt and is on track to meet budget goals.

“Having a successful business side has helped us continue our mission of being the world’s leading professional organization for journalists,” Burr said.

Club Membership Secretary Marc Wojno reported that total Club membership is 3,173, which is 19 more members than this time last year but 53 fewer than in January.

“Our outlook for this year is positive,” Wojno said.