Luncheon Speaker FAQ

All speakers appear at the National Press Club without compensation or consideration of any kind. Speakers must pay for their own transportation and lodging. No stipend or other recompense is involved. The speaker pays no fees or other consideration to the National Press Club as a reimbursement for the privilege of speaking at this forum.

Who has spoken at the luncheon series in the past?

A broad range of speakers have appeared at the National Press Club. Speakers were invited almost as soon as the club was formed in 1908 – the first recorded speaker is in 1910. A regularly scheduled program began in 1932.

Who is invited to speak at the luncheon series?

As outlined above, the selection of speakers for NPC luncheons is determined by a committee of club members. The committee meets once a month and discusses possible speakers, then sends invitations to those selected. Occasionally, suggestions from non-members are forwarded to the committee for evaluation. Such suggestions should be forwarded to staff member Melinda Cooke. Proposal should include a brief biography of the speaker, the proposed topic, and when the speaker would like to appear at the Club.

How can I get a speaker booked on the series?

There is no means of booking a speaker. The speakers committee will consider suggestions from outside sources for speakers (see above). What criteria do you use to select speakers?

There are three major criteria the National Press Club uses in selecting speakers:

• Newsworthiness – how relevant is the individual to the issues of the day.
• National or international stature – how much influence does the individual have over current events in a particular sphere.
• Exclusivity – to what degree has the individual already been available to the press.

Obviously, the more flexible speakers are on availablity dates, the more likely they will be invited to speak. we also need to know some specifics about the topic a speaker wants to address.

Who can attend a luncheon?

The luncheons are open to anyone interested in listening to the speaker. Lunch is served during the event and prices are as follows:

How far in advance are Luncheon Speakers selected?

Usually Luncheon Speakers are selected and confirmed at least three weeks in advance of the event. This is the minimum time required to do adequate publicity. However, on very rare occassions, for breaking news that has international impact, luncheons have been organized in a few days.

What is the difference between the luncheon series and Newsmakers?

Generally, Luncheon Speakers are high-level decision-makers or extremely influential policy and trend-setters. These include heads of state, company executives, major figures in arts and entertainment. Newsmakers are also important individuals in their fields, but are also often responsible for the actual implementation of policy or have recently produced a major work in a particular field. Newsmakers speak to immediate issues on a very concrete level.

Where and when are the Luncheon Speakers broadcast?

Luncheon Speakers are broadcast on XM Radio, member stations of American Public Media and C-SPAN broadcast in their entirety events at the National Press Club. The National Press Club has no control over when these events are broadcast. Check with your local public radio station or C-SPAN listings for specific broadcast times and dates.

How often do the luncheons take place?

The luncheons are scheduled according to speaker availability. Usually five to ten speakers attend luncheons every month.

How can I get a transcript or tape of a particular speaker?

The Eric Friedheim Library, a non-profit organization affiliated with the National Press Club, takes control of the tapes and transcripts of NPC events at the conclusion of the event. Contact the archivist via phone (202-662-7598) or e-mail (mjustsen@press.org).