The Washington Press Corp has seen hundreds of journalists lose their jobs as many newspapers cut staff and close offices in the U.S. Capitol. Fewer and fewer reporters, many of whom have been mainstays of the National Press Club, are no longer being based in Washington D.C.as cutbacks continue.
History of the National Press Club
The National Press Club has been a mainstay of the Washington Press Corp since 1919. It began as the Women's National Press Club at a time when female journalists were barred from membership in the National Press Club and the Gridiron Club. It became a prominent group and ultimately helped to challenge the tradition of the all-male news bureau and open doors for women and minorities.
Male journalists were admitted in 1971 and the name was changed to the Washington Press Club. Shortly afterwards, the National Press Club began admitting female members, with the two organizations merging in 1985. The Washington Press Club became the Washington Press Club Foundation, a nonprofit, tax exempt corporation to support and promote the ideals of equality and excellence in journalism.
The Washington Press Corp
By the year 2000, politics and politicians were being covered by reporters from every national newspaper in the United States. These were the major sources of news about what was happening at the seats of power: the President, House of Representatives, and Senate as well as international news affecting the state of the nation. Office holders relied on the reporters to get their messages out to constituents while they were in Washington.
At that time, there were about 30 people just from Cox newspapers reporting from Washington to cover the new Bush administration. Eight years later, even when there are two foreign wars going on and the economy is in the facing the worst collapse in decades, Cox announced that it would close it Washington bureau on April 1, 2009. Other newspapers have already closed their Washington, D.C. offices, including Advance Publications. (New York Times, 12/18/08)
Among those who have closed or reduced the size of bureaus are:
- The Plain Dealer of Cleveland closed its Washington bureau in December 2008, laying off or transferring more than 20 people.
- The San Diego Union-Tribune, owned by the Copley Press, laid off the last of its bureau employees, already reduced from 11 to 4 people.
- The Tribune Company, which filed for bankruptcy in December 2008, reduced the number of employees from 70 just a year ago to 32 people by combining agencies for all its papers.
National Bureaus Being Replace by Niche Publishers
A few national newspapers have continued to base reporters in Washington including:
- The Wall Street Journal with 50 people.
- New York Times with 50 people.
Others have decided that it is more economical to get reports from news agencies, such as the Associated Press (AP) or Reuters than to keep open costly bureaus in Washington, D.C. However, this does not include news that is important to local communities such as what their representative is doing or not doing in the House or Senate or what goes on behind the scene. Many of those who have closed their Washington bureaus are being replaced by "niche publishers" whose publications are targeted to a direct market instead of a mass newspaper audience.
Jonathan E. Kaplan, in lamenting the shrinking Washington Press Corp, writes "We are the men and women who cover politics in Washington in cities such as Portland, Me, or Salt Lake City, or Harrisburg, Pa. We are these places' eyes and ears in the nations capital---and we re disappearing fast." ....While that's bad for my career, it could be the worst news for democracy." (Washington Post, 8/24/08)
For further information about the Foundation:
Washington Press Club Foundation
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