Four journalists who experienced the September 11 terrorist attacks from Washington and New York will share their memories and reflect on the lasting impact of that day at the Press Club of Southwest Florida’s first Newsmaker Luncheon of the 2026–2027 season.
DATE & TIME: Thursday, Sept. 10, 2026, on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the attacks. Registration opens at 11:30, the program begins at noon, and the event ends at 1:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Vi at Bentley Village, 850 Retreat Drive, Naples, Florida. PARKING INSTRUCTIONS: Enter at the main gate. The guardhouse will have a list of attendees. Give your name and tell them you are attending the press club luncheon at the East Clubhouse, also known as the private dining room, the Bentley Room. Park in the main big parking lot.
RSVP: Tickets are $50 for members, $60 for guests, and $20 for full-time students. Click here to purchase your ticket on Eventbrite. If you can’t use electronic purchasing and must pay at the door, send an email to RSVP@pressclubswfl.org to reserve your seat. Use that email address to let us know if you have special dietary needs.
The panel will feature David Silverberg and June Fletcher, who were in Washington on September 11, 2001, and Terry McDevitt and Frank Cipolla, who were in New York.
The four journalists will recount where they were when the attacks began, what they witnessed and how they responded as the nation struggled to understand the unfolding tragedy. They will also discuss how the experience affected them personally and professionally.
The conversation will look beyond the events of that Tuesday morning to examine how 9/11 changed journalism during the quarter-century that followed. Among the topics will be the challenges of reporting amid fear and uncertainty, the expansion of national-security coverage, the changing relationship between government and the press, and the responsibility of journalists during a national crisis.
The September luncheon will open a new season of Press Club programs featuring journalists, community leaders and other newsmakers addressing issues of importance to Southwest Florida and the nation.