National Press Club elects new executive committee

The National Press Club has elected its new executive committee and management team.

Jos Charle of Capital Media has been re-elected chairperson of the National Press Club for the second year in a row. Antoinette Slabbert, financial journalist at Moneyweb, has been elected deputy chairperson. Lali van Zuydam, press attaché at the Embassy of France in South Africa, was re-elected as the public relations officer. Mosidi Mokgele of Liberty was elected treasurer.

“It is an honour and an exceptional privilege to be entrusted with leading the National Press Club again. As an executive committee team, we have the responsibility to make decisions on behalf of our more than 400 members nationally,” Charle said.

The club will continue to support efforts for a free press, maintenance of high professional standards in the industry, training of young journalists – especially in the community media space – and recognition of newsmakers. The club will soon announce the date on which amaBhungane, the 2017 Newsmaker of the Year, would receive the award.

The club will continue to support efforts for a free press, maintenance of high professional standards in the industry, training of young journalists – especially in the community media space – and recognition of newsmakers. The club will soon announce the date on which amaBhungane, the 2017 Newsmaker of the Year, would receive the award.

Other members of the executive committee are: Citizen’s Pretoria bureau chief Virginia Keppler, freelance journalist and former chairperson Tanya De Vente-Bijker, Willem van de Putte of Independent Newspapers, Ntando Makhubu of the Pretoria News, freelance writer Mandisa Mbele, Milisa Kentane of Sentech and Reynold Thakhuli of SANParks. Chantelle Gradidge has been appointed interim secretariat.

Established as the Pretoria Press Club in 1978 and later renamed the National Press Club, the club celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2018.

“Our challenge remains to be relevant in the media industry while offering our members full value through various projects including our networking forums, media briefings and discussion evenings as well as the Newsmaker of the Year function and the Percy Qoboza memorial lecture. The club has faced a challenging year but I assure members that the National Press Club will remain an important player in the South African media landscape,” said Charle.

Lali van Zuydam
On behalf of the National Press Club
083 457 3809

Jos Charle
073 816 4483