The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania is kicking off the new year with a networking event in collaboration with the Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation and the Pittsburgh Media Partnership at the Grist House in Millvale.
Drinks and food are on you -- great company is on us.

The Center for Media Innovation will host an open Q&A and book signing with John Harris, author of the recently published book "Tomlin: The Soul of a Football Coach." John will speak with coach Tomlin's oldest brother, Ed Tomlin, about the personal side of the Steelers football coach, and reflect on his own career as the Steelers beat reporter for the Tribune Review.

Pittsburgh Black Media Federation is hosting a holiday gathering as it celebrates 50 years from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 6, at the August Wilson House in the Hill District. RSVP by Nov. 28 to Donovan Harrell, donovanharrell123@gmail.com.

Join Point Park's Center for Media Innovation, the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, Women's Press Club of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Media Partnership in a festive gathering to celebrate local journalism at the Pittsburgh Downtown Media Hub from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 30. Attendees must RSVP via eventbrite.

Join us for the 12 annual Bob Fryer Memorial Golf Outing on Saturday, July 22, at River Forest Country Club, 130 Clubhouse Drive, Freeport, PA (724-295-2217; riverforestgolf.com). Proceeds benefit the Bob Fryer Memorial Scholarship administered by the Press Club of Western Pennsylvania and funds donated to the American Cancer Society. Shotgun start at 1 p.m.; dinner at 6 p.m. Cost is $100 per golfer. Become a sponsor here. (Pictured: Matt Fryer. Photo by Justin Merriman)

The open public record system has been the mainstay of the U.S. democracy and economy since the earliest colonial days—as essential to our infrastructure as roads, telephone lines and airports. Now, at a time when facts can easily become obscured by bias and watchdog media resources continue to decline, access to public records has never been more essential. Yet the task of obtaining public records is often more onerous and expensive than it should be.

Join us in the Power Center Ballroom from 1 to 4 p.m. Thursday, March 16 — during Sunshine Week — for an in-person and livestreamed symposium on open records featuring the executive director of Pennsylvania’s Open Records Office and a panel of experts:

• Keynote, Liz Wagenseller, Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

• Paula Knudsen Burke, Local Legal Initiative staff attorney

• Rich Lord, managing editor of PublicSource

• Melissa Melewsky, Media Law Counsel for the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association

• David A. Strassburger, President of Strassburger McKenna Gutnick & Gefsky, civil trial attorney
  
  Try searching for records yourself during a hands-on workshop following the formal program, when journalists will show you where to look, how to look and what to do with the information you find. You’re encouraged to bring a laptop or similar device so you can follow along.
  
  Presented by the Duquesne University Institute for Ethics and Integrity in Journalism, this symposium is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided. Registration is required.
  

Press Club members are invited to hear from photographer and filmmaker Ami Vitale at the Pittsburgh Playhouse as she shares her personal odyssey — from documenting the heartbreaking realities of war to witnessing the inspiring power of an individual to make a difference. Her work has taken her to more than 100 countries. She’s lived in mud huts and war zones, contracted malaria, and donned a panda suit — all in keeping with her philosophy of “living the story.” 

Thanks to the Center for Media Innovation at Point Park University, Press Club members can buy one get one tickets with the code OUTDOORs at playhouse.pointpark.edu/shows-events/speakerSeries/index.

Point Park’s Center for Media Innovation is offering Press Club members a discount to an upcoming program at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. National Geographic videographer Bryan Smith will be at the Playhouse on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. We’re offering a 20% discount with code CMI at checkout.

The Press Club of Western Pennsylvania’s Board of Directors will meet.