Journalist Theresa Werner Elected 105th President of the National Press Club

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Dec 14, 2011, 05:15 ET

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Theresa Werner will be inaugurated as the 105th President of the National Press Club at a ceremony and gala in late January. Ms. Werner will be the first ever freelance journalist to lead the Press Club which is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. She was elected by her colleagues Dec. 9 by a wide margin in a competitive, three way race.

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"The journalism business is in the process of a rapid transformation," said current NPC President Mark Hamrick of the Associated Press. "For this reason and many others we think Theresa Werner is well positioned to be a successful Club leader in 2012," he said. "She knows exactly what the industry is going through and how that affects the profession."

Werner, who has been a member of the Press Club since 2004, began her journalism career at NBC4 where she worked for seven years before going to the Associated Press for four years. As has happened to many journalists, she was laid off in a downsizing. Now Werner is freelancing on a number of projects including a documentary about the role of women in society. "Like many freelancers I am using skills I have not used in years," said Werner. "I am hosting, producing and even doing some shooting and editing. In the current climate we have to do it all -- but it is making me a better journalist," she said.

Werner is currently Chair of the Press Club's Board of Governors – a position to which she has been elected the past two years. She has served on the board for five years. Earlier in her career she chaired the Club's Professional Development Committee. She is a past recipient of the Club's prestigious Berny Krug Award for outstanding service.

Werner is a former President of the local chapter of American Women in Radio and Television. Also, for two years she served as President of the American Newswoman's Club. Both of these experiences have helped prepare her for leading a significant journalism organization like the Press Club. In addition to volunteer work in her profession, Werner tries to give back to her community with charity work for Honor Flight Network and the Embry Rucker Homeless Shelter. A resident of northern Virginia, Werner is a graduate of George Mason University with a degree in Communications. She is also an award-winning swing dancer and clogger.

Other officers elected for 2012 include: Angela Greiling-Keane of Bloomberg as Vice President; Myron Belkind, a journalism professor from George Washington University as Treasurer; Joel Whitaker of Kane's Beverage News as Secretary and Nyia Hawkins of the Associated Press as Membership Secretary. Also elected to the board were: Tommy Burr, Ken Mellgren, Frederica Dunn and Suzanne Struglinski.

Founded in 1908, the National Press Club has more than 3,300 members worldwide including journalists from every major news organization. The Club is a leading voice on issues of press freedom in the U.S. and around the globe. Each year more than 250,000 guests come through the doors at the Press Club to attend more than 2,000 events. Speakers include heads of state, political figures, government officials, and leaders in business, sport and the arts.

SOURCE National Press Club