AAFSW Opens 2026 with a Guided Tour of the Historic National Press Club, “a place where politics, media, and public policy intersect”

January 15, 2026

AAFSW launched its 2026 program year with a memorable visit to one of Washington’s most iconic institutions: the National Press Club. On January 14, members gathered for a convivial luncheon at The Reliable Source, the Club’s signature restaurant, followed by a guided tour of its historic rooms.

Since its founding in 1908, the National Press Club has been a central hub in Washington for news, public affairs, and civic discussions. Each year, it hosts more than two thousand events, welcoming U.S. presidents, world leaders, senior officials, and prominent figures in media, business, sports, and culture. The luncheon series, started in 1942, has featured speakers such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle, Elizabeth Taylor, and Nelson Mandela.

Mr. Myron Belkind welcomed our members and guests, a forty-two-year career journalist with The Associated Press included assignments as foreign correspondent and bureau chief in Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, London, and Tokyo. Myron graduated from The Ohio State University and Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, where he earned a Pulitzer Traveling Fellowship. Myron later served as the Club’s 107th President in 2014. After retiring from the AP, he taught news writing and reporting at George Washington University (2005–2023) and led journalism seminars for the U.S. Department of State in Serbia, Montenegro, Azerbaijan, Albania, and the United Arab Emirates.

Mark Schoeff Jr., the National Press Club’s 2026 President, greeted our group and highlighted the Club’s mission as a professional home for journalists and communicators and its role in supporting a free and independent press.

Following lunch, members toured the First Amendment Lounge and other historic spaces. Throughout the visit, Myron shared vivid stories from his decades in journalism, from covering Princess Diana to reporting on Indira Gandhi, and offered insights into the evolution of global news reporting.

Guests also learned about the Press Freedom Center, established in 2014 to support journalists facing detention, threats, or exile. The Center offers advocacy, emergency help, and public education initiatives during a period of growing global press freedom challenges.

AAFSW extends its warm thanks to Sheila Switzer, AAFSW Program Chair, and Myron Belkind for making our first program of 2026 both inspiring and deeply informative. The visit offered a powerful reminder of the National Press Club’s enduring role as a guardian of press freedom and a vibrant gathering place at the heart of Washington’s civic life.

Thank you to all who attended and for your continued support.

Celine

Celine Ford, AAFSW President