The Press Club of Southwest Florida recently conducted a brief member survey to gather input on the club’s future. This was not an in-depth survey but a limited effort to explore ideas for improving newsmaker and topic selections, as well as potential funding options—within the club’s long-standing tradition of providing scholarships for aspiring journalists and communication professionals grounded in facts.
The survey was emailed to members three times between May 30th and July 2nd, inviting them to share their thoughts on how the Press Club can remain relevant in today’s rapidly changing media landscape.
Twenty-five members participated out of roughly 100. Those who responded provided valuable insights, strong support for the club’s mission, and thoughtful ideas for the future.
Speakers and Programming: Expanding Beyond the Familiar
Our newsmakers luncheon series remains a key attraction, and respondents suggested many timely and engaging speaker ideas. Besides well-known authors and reporters, members also recommended inviting voices from outside traditional journalism—such as public health leaders, developers, environmentalists, and even zoo and museum professionals.
Notably, businessman and Florida Weekly owner David Hoffman received multiple endorsements as a potential speaker. Members also suggested leveraging expertise from local institutions, such as WGCU, the Holocaust Museum, and environmental groups like Rookery Bay and the Conservancy. There was strong interest in partnering with other civic and media organizations for joint events.
Scholarships: Strong Support, Creative Solutions Needed
The Press Club’s scholarship program remains a point of pride and concern. Members want to maintain and grow the fund, with most willing to accept a slight increase in annual dues if part of that goes directly toward scholarships. The main condition for a dues increase is that it remains modest and the additional funds are used for scholarships.
Title sponsorships also received widespread support, provided there is transparency and ethical oversight. One example that members responded to positively was: “The Press Club of Southwest Florida is proud to award The John Smith Journalism Scholarship to…” This naming idea could appeal to donors and organizations with a philanthropic spirit.
However, enthusiasm waned when members were asked if they would help directly solicit donations. While some agreed, others expressed uncertainty or wanted more information—highlighting the need for a dedicated fundraising team and possibly professional help.
Other ideas included creating an endowment or legacy fund, involving retired journalists as donors, and ensuring recipients demonstrate a genuine commitment to journalism and public service.
Club Direction: Renewing Our Mission with Broader Inclusion
Members expressed a desire to strengthen the Press Club’s journalistic roots while modernizing our focus. Suggestions included:
- Expanding media ethics and journalism programs.
- Considering a rebrand to reflect broader communication fields.
- Reaching out to FGCU alums and younger members.
- Incorporating more civic and community storytelling into events.
The key message: focus on journalism but open opportunities for others who share our core values of truth, ethics, and public service.
SCOOP Newsletter: Keep It Strong, Make It Fresh
The club’s SCOOP newsletter was praised for its editorials and insights. Members also recommended ways to broaden its appeal:
- Add more member bios and “Member Musings.”
- Invite student guest columns.
- Highlight national journalism issues alongside local updates.
- Possibly rename SCOOP to better reflect its evolving content.
These ideas provide an opportunity to refresh the newsletter and foster stronger connections with members as contributors.
Event Formats: Flexibility Is Key
To attract both retired and working journalists, members suggested trying new formats and times. Besides the popular luncheons, ideas included:
- Morning coffee talks.
- Evening mixers.
- Saturday events.
- An annual gala or major fundraising event.
Members also encouraged exploring new venues, especially in Estero, Bonita Springs, and Fort Myers, to better represent the club’s geographic diversity.
Final Thoughts: Gratitude, Growth, and Next Steps
The survey concluded with heartfelt praise for the club’s leadership and direction. Members reiterated their strong commitment to keeping the Press Club vibrant, inclusive, and trusted.
Immediate priorities include:
- Building a prioritized speaker list and starting outreach.
- Launching a scholarship fundraising effort and forming a committee.
- Reassessing branding and the newsletter strategy.
- Experimenting with new event formats.
- Increasing civic and journalism programming.
- Engaging younger members more actively.
- Improving internal communication.
- Using member feedback to guide long-term planning.
Next Steps: Moving Forward
The value of this survey depends on taking meaningful actions in response to the results. The programs committee will meet soon to discuss opportunities to implement speaker suggestions that align with members’ interests. If you have additional ideas for guest speakers, meeting locations, or times (morning, evening, weekend), please share them.
The scholarship committee will also meet this summer to consider future funding options. Once the committee makes recommendations, they will be shared with the entire membership for feedback and review.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this survey. We encourage your involvement in the club.
Let’s shape the next chapter of the Press Club—together.
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