ABOUT CPC

Nyree Wright, vice president, and Kevin Briscoe, president

As the oldest African-American communications association in the nation, The Capital Press Club has a 64-year commitment to the success of African Americans in communications. It is committed to invest in its members and their future.

Established in 1944, its founders included: Alfred E. Smith, Chicago Daily Defender (founder); J. Hugo Warren, Pittsburgh Courier; Ralph Matthews, Sr., Afro-American Newspapers; Joseph Sewall, Washington Spotlight; Ric Roberts, Pittsburgh Courier; St. Claire Bourne, New York Amsterdam News; and Herbert Henegan, U.S. Information Agency. These individuals, as well as other charter members, were dedicated to upgrading the status and working conditions of African-American journalists.

The Capital Press Club has continued the primary mission of its founders and has expanded its mission to keep pace with a rapidly-changing marketplace in fulfilling the needs of its diverse membership.

Over the years, we have built a reputation on change and progress having been established to expose African-Americans journalists to newsmakers in government, politics, private and non-profit organizations when they were denied admittance to the National Press Club and the White House Press associations.

Today, The Capital Press Club's mission is to increase and support the presence and role of African-Americans in communications. In expanding its mission, The Capital Press Club has evolved into the premiere umbrella association for African-American communications professionals across the country. Its diverse membership includes, but is not limited to, communications professionals in media, public relations, marketing, advertising, sales promotions, fund raising and development, photojournalism, photography, graphic design and event marketing, as well as others who support the vision and mission of the association.

The Capital Press Club strives to:

• Be a networking resource for members who represent public relations, print and electronic media, advertising, marketing, sales, fund raising and development, event marketing, promotion, photojournalism, photography, graphic design and related fields.
  

• Encourage and support entrepreneurship among African-African communications professionals.

• Provide professional development opportunities, such as meetings, workshops and conferences, to increase the skills and knowledge of African-American communications professionals that will help them advance in their careers.
  

• Expose members to leaders in government, politics, business, and communications.
  

• Create alliances with public- and private-sector companies and organizations in order to be an employment resource for members.
  

• Provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas, experiences, and opinions pertinent to the African-American community.
  

• Strengthen relationships with local, regional and national organizations that share the common goals of supporting and increasing the number of African-Americans in the communications profession.
  

• Gather, archive and disseminate communications information and research data for the benefit of members and interested audiences.
  

• Promote and recognize professional excellence through competitions and award events for outstanding communications achievements.
  

• Provide scholarships and opportunities for internships to African-American communications students.
  
  The Capital Press Club continues to have an impact on the communications profession and through its programs and activities, the association prepares its membership to excel in their respective professions.