The St. Louis Press Club is for those who make, cover and
influence the news. Its mission is to raise awareness and funding for student journalism scholarships and for enterprise
grants to working, independent journalists to spotlight
under-reported topics in our region. It serves its members
through professional development activities to bolster their
skills to address the changing needs of the global
communications profession and to offer social activities that
build a vital media community.
Next Press Club Board Meeting January
12 Noon, TUESDAY, January 18 - Board Meeting (Monday, January 17 is Martin Luther King Day)
St. Louis Press Club recognizes members for their outstanding commitment
St. Louis Press Club closed out 2021 with a fun and festive virtual Annual Meeting where many of our members were recognized for their outstanding commitment to St. Louis Press Club. This year, five President’s Above-and-Beyond Awards were presented to Richard Gavatin, Jan Scott, Jessica Z. Brown, Betsy Taylor and Sarah Thompson. This award goes to an individual that has truly gone above and beyond to provide a service or support for Press Club. Encore President’s Awards were presented to Miran Halen and Phyllis Langsdorf. The Press Club’s highest honor, The Catfish Award was given to Claudia Burris.
Press Club awards highest honor to Claudia Burris
By Joe Holleman
Jan 10, 2022
The St. Louis Press Club wrapped up its 2021 activities with year-end honors - which included awarding the club's top honor to Claudia Burris. Burris was the recipient of the group's "Catfish" award, which recognizes exceptional contributions to...Read more www.stltoday.com
Our President’s Message
Dear Press Club Members and Friends,
We are extremely grateful for your ongoing support. Your membership and donations truly make a difference to our mission to raise awareness and funding for student journalism scholarships and enterprise grants to working, independent journalists to spotlight marginalized stories in our region. And, a special thank you to everyone who donated to the Press Club Year End Giving campaign raised $13,586.
Press Club closed out 2021 with a fun and festive virtual Annual Meeting. A number of Board members were recognized for their outstanding commitment to St. Louis Press Club. This year, five President’s Above-and-Beyond Awards were presented to Richard Gavatin, Jan Scott, Jessica Z. Brown, Betsy Taylor and Sarah Thompson. This award goes to an individual that has truly gone above and beyond to provide a service or support for Press Club. Encore President’s Awards were presented to Miran Halen and Phyllis Langsdorf. The Press Club’s highest honor, The Catfish Award was given to Claudia Burris.
At the annual meeting, we also announced the Alice Handelman Scholarship Fund for Feature Writing. Thanks to a generous $18,000 grant by Michael Staenberg, $3,600 will be donated annually for the next five years to her Scholarship Fund. And, thanks to the many others who have made donations. A link to donate to the Alice Handelman Scholarship Fund for Feature Writing is available on our website.
2022 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Press Club. We are gearing up for an in-person Media Persons of the Year Gala. This year’s honorees include.... Elliott Davis, FOX2, Joe Holleman, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Debbie Monterrey, KMOX, Wiley Price, St. Louis American, Kay Quinn, KSDK Newschannel 5 and a group award to Nine PBS and its “Living St. Louis” team:Jim Kircherr, Anne-Marie Berger, Ruth Ezell, Kara Vaninger and Brooks Butler. Congratulations to each of these most-deserving journalists. Congratulations to each of these most-deserving journalists. We will celebrate their program of work at a gala later this year that will be co-chaired by Peggy Barnhart and yours truly.
Joan Lee Berkman
Thanks to the success of Beauty Buzz and other fundraising efforts and the leadership of board member Elisa Tomich, who chairs our enterprise grant committee, we now have funds available to award grants to working journalists. Please check the website on how to apply for a grant.
The winners of our inaugural Writing Contest for local writers will be announced at the end of January. Please check back with us then as we will post the winners of our website.
Our team leaders are working on programming to keep the spotlight on the essential issues of the day, as well as collaborating with media organizations to provide professional development activities to bolster journalistic skills to address the changing needs of the global communications profession and to offer social activities that build a vital media community.
In the meantime, thanks to the dedication and perseverance of our Club staff, Club leadership and our members, who continue to prove the resiliency of the St. Louis Press Club. Please feel free to share our newsletter with colleagues and friends and encourage them to join us on our mission to ensure the future of quality media. Freedom of the press and reliable reporting are now, more than ever, critically important.
Again, thank you for your ongoing support,
Joan
A final toast and round of applause to our Beauty Buzz Chair Miran Halen and Co-Chair Phyllis Langsdorf.
Please enjoy the final highlights of this year’s event!
St. Louis Press Club is excited to announce
The Alice Handelman Scholarship Fund
for Feature Writing
Alice Handelman is one of Press Club’s most valued members and a past president of Press Club. She is an award- winning writer and photographer and began her illustrious career in the 7 th grade where she was the editor of the school newspaper at West Miami Junior High School. She graduated from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and has held a number of journalistic positions including 18 years as the community relations director for the Jewish Center for the Aged, a feature writer for the ice hockey blues and now for the Ladue News. Her impressive list of awards and community involvement have benefited so many in the St. Louis region.
We are announcing a new scholarship in her honor – The Alice Handelman Scholarship Fund for Feature Writing. And, thanks to a generous $18,000 grant by Michael Staenberg, $3,600 will be donated annually for the next five years to her Scholarship Fund. Our sincerest thanks, respect and admiration, Alice, for your remarkable contributions over the years to Press Club and the St. Louis journalism community. Also, our sincere thanks and ongoing appreciation to Michael Staenberg for his incredible support of Press Club.
STL Jewish Light: New journalism award to honor Alice Handelman
BY ELLEN FUTTERMAN , EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
December 29, 2021
I’ve known Alice Handelman about 25 years, though in the beginning, as an editor, I used to run the other way when I saw her coming. That’s because Alice is like a dog with a bone about the causes for which she is passionate. Click here to read more.
The St. Louis Press Club has announced its list of local news types who have been named as the 2021 "Media Persons of the Year."
The roster includes five individual honorees — two each from newspapers and television, and one from radio — and one group of broadcast journalists.
"Each of the honorees has made outstanding contributions to journalism and to the St. Louis community,” said club president Joan Berkman in a statement. “We are proud to announce such a distinguished group.”
In alphabetical order, the winners are:
Elliott Davis: A reporter and anchor at KTVI (Channel 2) since 1980, Davis is best-known for his government watchdog feature "You Paid For It.”
Elliott Davis of KTVI (Channel 2)
Joe Holleman: A Post-Dispatch staffer since 1989, he has reported on news and features and also has written the columns "Life Sherpa" and "Joe’s St. Louis."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter Joe Holleman
Debbie Monterrey: A morning-show host at KMOX (1120 AM), Monterrey joined the station in 2003 and now anchors the news for "Total Information AM" at 5 a.m.
KMOX host Debbie Monterrey in 2017.
(Post-Dispatch photo) Cristina M. Fletes
Wiley Price: A longtime photographer best-known for his work at the St. Louis American, Price is a member of the Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Fame.
St. Louis American photographer Wiley Price
Kay Quinn: For more than 32 years, Quinn has anchored and reported on most of the station's newscasts. Currently, she anchors the station's 4 p.m. newscast.
Kay Quinn KSDK (Channel 5)
Accolades also are being shared with the "Living St. Louis" team at KETC (Channel 9). the program began in 2004 has highlights various people, places and culture in STL.
The team includes Jim Kirchherr, executive producer, and Ruth Ezell, Anne-Marie Berger, Kara Vaninger and Brooke Butler.
A ceremony to award the honorees will be held — live and in-person, Berkman said — at the club's main fundraiser in spring, with more details to come.
St. Louis Press Club is happy to announce that Enterprise Journalism is back.
Thanks to the success of Beauty Buzz and other fundraising efforts, the Press Club has $5,500 in grant funds available to help finance journalism that’s relevant and impactful to the St. Louis area.
The St. Louis Press Club awards Enterprise Journalism grants to print, radio, television, and online journalists (including freelancers) to research and report on enterprise stories of interest to the St. Louis metropolitan region, with a particular focus on the issues and communities in our civic life that would not otherwise be reported. Awards of up to $2,500 will be given to journalists to cover travel and reporting expenses relating to a specific project of their choice for publication, broadcast, or online posting.
Trish Muyco-Tobin Named
Editor-in-Chief of Gazelle Magazine
Gazelle Media founder and publisher Cillah Hall has named award-winning journalist Trish Muyco-Tobin editor-in-chief of Gazelle Magazine. Most recently the magazine’s community editor, Muyco-Tobin has served as a news reporter, anchor, executive producer and editor for print and broadcast for more than 25 years.
Musicians 2-197’s Jan Scott sworn-in as delegate to the St. Louis Labor Council
MUSICIANS LOCCAL 2-197's Jan Scott (left) was sworn-in as a new delegate to the Greater St. Louis Labor Council Oct. 18 by Council President Pat White. - Labor Tribune photo Share this story:
St. Louis Press Club is announcing the inaugural writing contest for local writers. The awards will recognize the best writing for the past year among high schools, colleges and universities, and professionals.
“At its heart, the St. Louis Press Club is a membership association of writers,” said Joan Lee
Berkman, president of the St. Louis Press Club. "Our members represent all forms of media
found in the St. Louis region, and we all know that the heart of all media - print, broadcast, digital
- is writing. With these awards, we want to celebrate the craft of writing and to honor those
writers whose work represents the best in the profession in St. Louis.”
The awards will be open to writers in high school, colleges and universities and to professionals
who make their living by writing. Entries are eligible in five categories:
● News story -- -- Judges will consider planning and general organization of story, initiative in obtaining story, news writing, readability and impact.
● In-Depth Reporting -- The articles should demonstrate the ability of entrant(s) to provide treatment of an issue that has had an impact on publication’s coverage area.
● Feature Story -- Judges will review interest and unusual aspects of the feature material itself and/or the handling of it, writing style, readability and comprehensiveness of coverage.
● Commentary -- Judges will review submissions of up to THREE columns, essays, analyses, think pieces or personal experience stories. The format can include editorials, columns, videos and cartoons.
● A fifth category will cover original writing based on a theme. This year, we want to know what was the biggest impact on a writer’s life from the pandemic.
“We’re excited to have this opportunity to recognize the writers in St. Louis whose words help
influence and inspire their readers to achieve greater things and to better understand the world
in which they live,” Berkman said. “We hope that through these awards, we can help the winning
writers reach a greater audience who can enjoy and benefit from their craft.”
Judges for this first annual St. Louis Press Club Writing Contest will include some of the best
and the brightest journalists from the St. Louis market.
Finalists will be announced by December 1, 2021. Winners of each category will receive a prize of a virtual “meet and greet” with a well-known pro.
St. Louis Press Club's online initiative, featuring conversations with St. Louis-area professional communicators, continues.
Looking Back. Imagining the Future.
Communications colleagues speak with St. Louis Press Club board member, Jessica Z. Brown Billhymer,
on work and life during a pandemic, protests, economic stress and a community facing frank and varied discussions about racism.
In early 2020, it became clear to the St. Louis Press Club (STLPC) pivoting to a new way of connecting with community was a must, with the usual and varied local on-the-ground programming having to take on a new fa... READ MORE.
There are four takeaways from these conversations:
1. Media communicators are adept at pivoting to new solutions in the face of disruption.
2. Technology's role as a star and integral player, in our society and in the communications business, is dynamic and key to connecting all stakeholders, and is invaluable in facilitating collaborative team energy to meet deadlines and provide uninterrupted public service.
3. Media institutions and individuals seriously take safety of others as a primary concern during a pandemic and civil unrest.
4. Communicators reveal honest, inspirational feelings of wins, losses and amazement regarding their and colleagues' communications journey. And, we learn from these professionals what it takes to do their jobs in these times, and what it means to carry on, no matter what.
St. Louis Press Club's Our IN THE NOW with Lori Becker, Chief Operating Officer, Starkloff Disability Institute, and Dallas Adams, Communications Manager, August 18, 2020; running time: 43:51.
Becker and Adams detail what the Institute had to do to pivot to a virtual space to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act in the face of the pandemic. This meant continuing communications for both those with disabilities and the non disabled who partner with Starkloff in providing accommodations for the disabled. "We had to re-imagine what that looks like and step up....., " Adams said. Becker added: "For all of our programming ..we pivoted and turned into all virtual programming when the pandemic hit.
Suzanne Corbett Honored by Travel Journalists Association
Suzanne Corbett received the two Mark Twain Awards from the Midwest Travel Journalists Association, Inc. (MTJA) on October 20, during the organization’s 2021 Mark Twain Travel Journalist Awards ceremony held in Sanibel, Florida. Placing first place in the short copy for Catch the Louisiana Blues, written for AAA Southern Traveler, and third place in culinary for Patriotic Plates written for Gazelle Magazine.
The annual Mark Twain Travel Journalist Awards recognizes the best work done by MTJA members in 13 separate categories covering both traditional and new media. This year’s contest celebrates the work in the broad category of travel reporting published or broadcast from January 1, 2020-June 30, 2021. Additionally, each year, one of the professionals is honored as the “best of the best” and is named the “Mark Twain Travel Journalist of the Year.” All winners receive cash awards, certificates and well-deserved recognition for their work.
Claudia Burris featured in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Made in St. Louis: Retired teacher creates fun, colorful ...
The pottery Claudia Ruth Burris makes doesn't fit neatly into categories or styles. She riffs on forms, colors, glazes, themes and inspirations as surely as a bluegrass fiddler plays a soaring solo. Her curiosity in art and in life leads her to...
St. Louis Press Club's immediate past president, William Greenblatt,
will be inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame for Sports Photography on November 14, 2021.
William Greenblatt
WILLIAM GREENBLATT MEDIA: Photographer Born: June 9, 1954; St. Louis, Missouri St. Louis Sports Hall of Fame Photographer (2009-Present), St. Louis Cardinals Photographer (2012-Present) (by Mike Knopfel) Capturing the raw emotion in your subjects ...
You're invited to the Urban League and Urban League Guild Salute to Women in Leadership Gala
where St. Louis Press Club's board member, Charlotte Ottley, will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award.
St. Louis Press Club's President's Letter to the Editor:
Letter: Governor's threats endanger freedom of the press
Regarding the editorial "Parson attacks reporter who discovered teachers' personal data on state website" (Oct. 15): Amid all the recent accusations and threats by Gov. Mike Parson to punish the Post-Dispatch for revealing a significant security flaw in the state’s online database, the most disturbing element is the state’s underlying threat to the freedom of the press for the news media doing its job.
Publicly accusing the Post-Dispatch, let alone an individual reporter, of wrongdoing without definitive evidence is at the very least irresponsible. As St. Louis Society of Professional Journalists’ President Elizabeth Donald recently said: “Covering the state’s embarrassment with threats of prosecution is unworthy of a governor sworn to uphold the Constitution.”
These unwarranted accusations have received well-deserved negative nationwide attention directed at Parson. A follow-up story showed security for databases for Missouri's teachers, current and retired, badly needs updating. That should be the focus of the governor and the state's education officials.
Parson should not only publicly apologize for his remarks, he should also applaud the Post-Dispatch for its professionalism in sharing this information and helping protect those who were put at financial security risk.
Freedom of the press and reliable reporting are now, more than ever, critically important. If Missouri is truly the Show-Me State that cares about honest, in-depth reporting, show the Post-Dispatch the respect it deserves for presenting the facts to uphold the integrity of the state’s educational infrastructure and to protect our educators who are essential to our children’s future.
Joan Lee Berkman • St. Louis County
President, St. Louis Press Club and
the St. Louis Press Club Board of Directors
JEFFERSON CITY - Gov. Mike Parson lashed out at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on Thursday, two days after the newspaper informed the state of a data risk that left 100,000 Social Security numbers vulnerable to public disclosure.
Fifteen college and one high school student from our region are being awarded scholarships by the St. Louis Press Club and St. Louis Journalism Foundation.
The 2021 scholarships and their winners are:
$4,000 St. Louis Press Club/St. Louis Post-Dispatch David Lipman Journalism Scholarship - Max Baker, University of Missouri – Columbia
$2,500 St. Louis Press Club Ronald W. Wade Journalism Scholarship - Micah Barnes, Webster University
$2,000 St. Louis Press Club Neiman-Marcus Media Scholarship - Meghan Gunn, New York University
$1,500 St. Louis Press Club Sarah Bryan Miller Journalism Scholarship - Greta Cross, Missouri State University
$1,500 St. Louis Press Club Summer Internship Scholarship - Becca Newton, University of Missouri-Columbia
$1,500 St. Louis Press Club Summer Internship Scholarship - Mary Boser, Maryville University
$1,500 St. Louis Press Club Donald Burris Journalism Scholarship - Charlotte Renner, Webster University
$1,500 St. Louis Press Club Karlheinz and Doris Finzel Photojournalism Scholarship - Dasia Chavis, Webster University
$1,000 St. Louis Press Club Joe Bonwich Media Scholarship - Mark Burbridge, St. Louis University
$1,000 St. Louis Press Club Joan Foster Dames Women's Journalism and Media Studies Scholarship - Arielle Adams, Southeast Missouri State University
$1,000 St. Louis Press Club Spring Internship Scholarship - Tirzah Williams, Webster University
$1,500 FleishmanHillard Journalism Foundation Scholarship - Bethany Spitzmiller, Central Missouri State University
$1,000 Missouri Professional Communicators and St. Louis Press Club and Journalism Foundation Scholarship - Regan Mertz, University of Missouri-Columbia
$1,000 United Media Guild Journalism Foundation Scholarship - Ellen Killeen, University of Missouri-Columbia
$1,000 Times Newspapers and Webster University Journalism Foundation Scholarship - Jasmine Willis, Webster University
$1,000 St. Louis Press Club High School Journalism Scholarship - Abby Prywitch, Parkway Central High School to attend Indiana University
(selected by the Missouri Journalism Educators' Association)
Scholarship recipients are chosen based on aptitude, interest in pursuing a communications career, academic standing, and financial need. The awards are made in cooperation with the St. Louis Press Club, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Society of Professional Journalist, Missouri Professional Communicators, United Media Guild, Times Newspapers/Webster University, Fleishman-Hillard, and private donors.
Co-Chairs Miran Halen and Phyllis Langsdorf and Advisory Chair Alice Handelman knocked it out of the park!!
We raised more than $17,000 to fund student journalism scholarships and enterprise grants for working journalists to spotlight marginalized issues in our region.
Our IN THE NOW with Major Garrett
Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News
Speaker: Major Garrett St. Louis Press Club's 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
When: 7pm, Thursday, May 6th, 2021
Garrett shared his analysis of the issues of our time and his thoughts on journalism and how the industry has changed in his lifetime. His remarks were followed by a Q&A curated by Charlie Brennan, the host of The Charlie Brennan Show with Amy Marxkors on KMOX and the Provocateur of Donnybrook on NinePBS.
In addition, Garrett was presented with the St. Louis Press Club's 2020 Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in journalism throughout his distinguished career in news broadcasting.
Donations support the Press Club’s ongoing scholarships and enterprise grants efforts — including offsetting costs of programs like this one. Click Here to donate.
Joan Lee Berkman
