Journalists Club is where reporters and media pros go to make friends IRL
The media industry gets better when the people in it recognize one another beyond a byline.
Over recent months, just about every major media outlet has initiated layoffs.
Mainstays like the Wall Street Journal, NBC, the Los Angeles Times, and others all cut headcount. Business Insider, my employer of three years up until March, did the same twice in an eight-month span.
Sports Illustrated, BuzzFeed News, Vice and other beloved brands effectively closed up shop. The Messenger did so outright.
Watching this unfold while still working in a corporate newsroom myself, I realized that it would be to the benefit of reporters and editors to have more relationships at other companies.
Most reporters and media operators recognize bylines and work. But meeting in person usually happens at a press event or conference, where everyone’s on the clock.
I wanted to create a space for media professionals to meet one another in a non-work setting — an industry-specific community that could provide support in times of industry-wide strife.
Plus, I personally wanted to make more friends in my own industry.
And so, Journalists Club was born.
Since the end of February, I’ve hosted seven dinners with 10 guests each. I've also hosted one panel talk and a catered happy hour that 60 media professionals attended.
Members now include reporters from the New York Times, Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, Business Insider, TechCrunch — nearly every outlet and trade publication with a New York City presence.
It’s been energizing to meet kind and inspiring individuals who are excellent at what they do. It’s also been rewarding to connect people. A handful of recently-laid-off reporters have even gotten hired for a job or internship after meeting someone at an event.
Working in media is tough. Layoffs always loom, the work can be isolating, and compensation rarely matches talent.
Still, my sense is that the industry gets better when the people in it are friends in real life.
If you’d like to join Journalists Club, please fill out this form.
