A press club is an association of journalists or other professionals who regularly engage themselves with producing and disseminating news. Ultimately, there are various types of press clubs, with the most common one being the national press club, which brings together members of the fourth estate from a particular country.
Examples of Press Clubs in the UK:
- London Press Club
- Birmingham Press Club
- Edinburgh Press Club
- Colombia Press
The Objectives of a Press Club
There’s a myriad of reasons why professional journalists or others join press clubs and they include:
- Press clubs harmonize operational set up of its members by ensuring uniformity in the conduct of business.
- An organization of journalists and other professionals have a higher and collective bargaining power.
- Individual journalists can grow their careers and build their ability through training, meetings, and research tours.
- Press clubs advocate for ethical reportage by promoting code of ethics for media practitioners.
- They help catalyse development through research and putting pressure on the government
- Press club members in their togetherness can mobilize their tools and oppose laws and regulations that infringe on the rights and freedom of the press.
- Different press clubs across the world marshal for press freedom, lead the fight against violation of human rights, poverty, and inform members of the public during natural calamities and epidemics.
School Press Clubs
Various high schools, colleges, and universities also have school press clubs where they accept aspiring journalists and other individuals interested in the production and dissemination of news. The activities of schools press clubs include:
- Giving information about past and upcoming events
- Covering the events
- Periodic news releases on websites and social media platforms
- Periodic publications on press boards
- Releasing news about the school, nation, and the world
The roles and objectives of press clubs may differ depending on the type and level of the clubs. However, all press clubs have defined codes of ethics and are fair when recruiting members.