The WPCF sponsors programs and projects that promote education and the pursuit of excellence in journalism. These projects address the original goals of the Women’s National Press Club to ensure that the voices within the newsroom represent the diversity of the audience, to educate the public on the role of the free press, and provide historical context on the role of a journalist.
Our current projects include -
The WPCF Oral History Program. his award-winning, nationwide oral history project includes comprehensive, full-life interviews with women journalists who have made significant contributions to society through careers in journalism since the 1920's. The nearly sixty interviews already completed provide an important documentary record of the experiences of women in seeking acceptance in journalism and the impact that their participation has had on the reporting and editing of the nation's news. The interviews also document changes in the roles, expectations, opportunities, and obstacles for women in American society during this century. The oral history transcripts provide a large body of primary source material for scholars, students, teachers and those who hope to make journalism a career. The Foundation continues to add and update histories to this highly utilized body of work. To find out more about this project or if you would like to be more involved contact oralhistory@wpcf.org Click here to view portions of the current collection.
Washington Press Club Foundation Internship Partnerships . The Foundation currently raises funds to support women and minorities pursuing a career in journalism. Working in partnership with participating Washington, DC news bureaus we assist by creating opportunities for students who would need financial assistance to accept an unpaid intership opprotunity.
The Washington Press Club Foundation administers three prestigious awards:
The David Lynch Regional Reporting Award
The Washington Press Club Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award
The Mary Lou Beatty Prize for Editorial Excellence
The Foundation also manages the Frances Lewine Memorial Fund. For more information on Frances Lewine and this fund click on the above link.
The Washington DC School Library Project. This unique WPCF program solicits donations of books from notable authors and distributes them to high schools in Washington, DC. To date, over 45 authors have contributed 820 volumes of their works to the project. If you would like to donate copies of your non-fiction book or offer financial support to this endeavor contact bookproject@wpcf.org Click here for a list of authors who have contributed books to the Washington DC School Book Project.
The Annual Congressional Dinner. The major fundraising event to support the work of WPCF is the annual Congressional Dinner, held each winter. Click here for more information