The National Press Club was founded by white male journalists for white male journalists in 1908. A group of men decided they wanted a place they could hang out, drink, play cards, and just relax after work. A group of female journalists ended up creating their own club called the Women's National Press Club in 1919. At the beginning, 32 men got together with $300 and rented a room two floors above a jewelry store and threw a party to celebrate which got the attention of several members of Congress.
The National Press Club became a big spot for President and those running for office to visit. On January 31, 1910 William Howard Taft became the first President of the United States to visit the National Press Club, that same year former President Theodore Roosevelt told Club members about the time he escaped a lion on an African safari he had recently taken. Woodrow Wilson was the first standing president to make a formal speech at the Club in 1916. Many future presidents announced their running for presidency at the Press Club, allowing members to be the first to get the story.
The National Press Club is a great networking opportunity for working and student journalists. There is an annual fee, which is definitely worth the opportunities you get at the club. There are always great people to have conversations with, job opportunities, story ideas being thrown around, etc. Being a member of the Club is a great way to get your name out there as a journalist.
The National Press Club is the recipient of Washington D.C.'s liquor license number 1, and surprisingly has its very own zip code! There is a "no photography" rule at the members only bar at the Press Club, but what some may not know is that there is actually a rule that everything said in a specific room is strictly off record. Another lesser known fact for the public is that a spelling bee is held every year at the Press Club where elected officials go up against journalists. There are so many fun events that happen for members of the club on top of the job opportunities.
Citations:
https://dcist.com/story/17/07/17/15-things-you-didnt-know-about-the/
https://www.zippia.com/national-press-club-careers-739749/history/
