2019 was a rewarding and challenging year for the Press Club of Dallas.
Your board of directors continued our commitment to the club’s mission of supporting journalism and communications in all its forms. We actively supported the First Amendment, the public’s right to know and the rights of both professional and citizen journalists.
The board faced many obstacles:
1. Corporate cut backs in non-profit grants.
2. Political and extremist attacks on journalism and the First Amendment.
3. Journalism business models failures.
4. Technological changes to the methods of journalism reporting.
2019 in review:
The 9th Annual Legends of North Texas Journalism
May 18th at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. Eight journalists were recognized.
In 2020, the 10th Annual Legends of North Texas Journalism will be held in October. We plan to honor a new group of inductees and have a special recognition of past recipients.
The 2nd Hugh Aynesworth Awards for Texas Journalism
December 1, 2018.
Although the event was a success, bringing in more entries from around the state, it was not held in 2019 so we could re-organize and plan for a 2020 event.
Student Initiatives for Local Journalism Students
The Press Club launched two initiatives to benefit journalism students in the Dallas –Fort Worth area.
The Skip Hollandsworth Student Press Conference was held on November 6th at Brookhaven College.
The “pilot” Student Press Conference was a success bringing in students from 7 area colleges, junior colleges, and high schools to ask questions of award-winning Texas Monthly writer and author Skip Hollandsworth.
The schools showed great support for the Student Initiatives, and the board started a contact list for future events.We are planning the next Student Press Conference for early March 2020 and we will be open to the public.
If you are interested in being involved with any of the student projects, please let us know.
Press Club of Dallas Scholarship Fund
Three more worthy Dallas area students were awarded scholarships in 2019
Networking Happy Hours
Seven Networking Happy Hours were held in 2019
The Networking Happy Hour continues to be an effective way for members to socialize, make contacts, and recruit new members. More participation from membership is needed to keep these events happening.
In the summer of 2019, the Press Club website crashed due to a program format cancellation. Thanks to board member Song Yang and consultant Todd Davis, we have been able to restore the site so that members and the public can be in contact with the Club. The restoration is not complete. Your comments are important.
The board of directors also would like to organize educational seminars concerning “today’s” journalism in 2020. Your help is needed.
Please help keep the Press Club of Dallas a vibrant and growing organization. Again, your feedback is appreciated.
Please participate as much as you can.
Thank you for your support,
Paul Wahlstrom, president
