News Advisory:
Below are National Press Club World Press Freedom Day events that take place on May 3. World Press Freedom Day has always been important to the mission and purpose of the Club. In 2011 – the only year where WPFD took place in the United States – it was held at the National Press Club.
9 a.m. EDT
Event: National Press Club news briefing to provide updates and status of cases of U.S. journalists: Austin Tice and Evan Gershkovich.
When: Friday, May 3 at 9 a.m. EDT
Where: National Press Club, 529 14th Street NW Washington, DC, 13th Floor
Who: Debra Tice, mother of Austin Tice, a journalist held in Syria; Paul Beckett of WSJ will speak for Evan Gershkovich, held in Russia; Emily Wilkins, President, National Press Club
Details:
Wilkins will conduct one-on-one interviews with each guest. This event is open to all credentialed press and members of the National Press Club. Registration required. The event will also be livestreamed on the NPC YouTube channel.
Background:
Austin Tice: Mr. Tice, a Polk Award-winning journalist who worked for McClatchy and the Washington Post was detained in 2012. The U.S. has recently held direct talks with Syria about issues including Austin’s safe return. On August 14, 2024, he will have been held 12 years – longer than any U.S. journalist. He is from Houston.
Evan Gershkovich: Mr. Gershkovich was reporting for the Wall Street Journal when unjustly detained by Russian security forces. He has been held more than a year without trial. He is charged with espionage, which is vehemently denied by his employer and his government. Evan was fully credentialed by Russia to report in Russia. His family lives in Philadelphia.
1 p.m. EDT
Event: Round Table Discussion on State of Press Freedom in past year
Note: This event will be streamed LIVE via the Club’s YouTube Channel and will take place in the NPC Studios but there will be no in-person audience.
Who: Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post; Paul Beckett of the Wall Street Journal; Kathy Kiely University of Missouri School of Journalism; Bill McCarren, Press Freedom consultant, National Press Club
Details:
This 90 minute discussion will explore the year’s most significant stories in press freedom and the state of press freedom around the globe. The video is available for free and unrestricted use. Rezaian, Beckett and Kiely are members of the National Press Club.
3 p.m. EDT
Event: Video Interview with Pavel Butorin, husband of Alsu Kurmasheva
Details:
Club will post a video interview with Pavel Butorin in discussion with Club President Emily Wilkins. Pavel is the husband of Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for RFE/RL who is currently held in Russia. Emily is a correspondent for CNBC.