Publicity Club of Chicago

What Publicity Club of Chicago does

The Publicity Club of Chicago (PCC), founded in 1941 and based in Chicago, Illinois, is a nonprofit professional membership association serving public relations, communications, and marketing practitioners in the Chicago metropolitan area and broader Midwest. The organization is currently in its 85th anniversary year (2025–2026) and self-identifies as one of the nation's largest independent PR membership organizations. It is led by Co-Presidents Anne Marie Mitchell and Kimberley Rudd with Executive Director Tweed Thornton, supported by a 15+ member volunteer Board of Directors serving two-year terms; total paid staff is in the 1–10 range and the organization operates essentially virtually from a PO Box mailing address.

PCC's product surface consists of member programming and an annual awards franchise rather than proprietary software. Core products include the flagship 68th Annual Golden Trumpet Awards (2026), Media Studio Tours at Chicago outlets such as WGN Radio 720, NBC 5 Chicago, and Telemundo Chicago, Networking Mixers, Panel Discussions, Speed Pitching sessions, Virtual Roundtables via Zoom, and an industry Job Board. Recognition programs extend to 30 Under 30, Lifetime Achievement, Presidential Legacy, and Media Impact Awards. The underlying technology is described as standard website, email, and event management systems with no proprietary platform, algorithms, or specialized infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through a four-tier annual subscription model (Networker $100, Professional $200, Corporate $750, and Corporate Gold $1,500 per year) that gates most programming to members, supplemented by event registrations, job postings ($75 for non-members, free for members, 60-day listings), and Golden Trumpet Awards entry fees and ceremony ticket sales. The go-to-market model is community-led and event-driven: non-members typically experience PCC programming through events and word-of-mouth referrals before converting to paid memberships. Geographic scope is regional (Chicagoland/Midwest), with no international footprint claimed.

Name

Publicity Club of Chicago

Legal name

Publicity Club of Chicago

Website

https://publicity.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1941

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Publicity Club of Chicago is a nonprofit professional membership association, founded in 1941, serving PR, communications, and marketing practitioners in the Chicagoland area through tiered memberships, networking events, Media Studio Tours, and the flagship Golden Trumpet Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees across four tiers ranging from $100 (Networker) to $1,500 (Corporate Gold). Membership provides access to events, awards programs, job listings, and professional development opportunities. Dues represent the primary recurring revenue stream.
2. Event Revenue: Revenue from event registrations, with some events offered complimentary to members and paid options for non-members. Specific event pricing varies by program type.
3. Job Postings: Job board revenue: FREE for PCC members, $75 for non-members. Each approved listing remains on the website for 60 days and is renewable.
4. Golden Trumpet Awards: Revenue from award entry submissions and ceremony ticket sales. Corporate and Corporate Gold members receive discounts and complimentary entries as membership benefits.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Publicity Club of Chicago sells annual memberships to public relations, communications, and marketing professionals across Chicagoland. Members gain access to networking mixers, panel discussions, speed pitching sessions, Media Studio Tours of Chicago broadcast outlets, virtual roundtables, a regional job board, and the long-running Golden Trumpet Awards program. The organization is sustained through tiered membership dues, event revenue, paid job postings, and awards entry fees.

Product overview

The Publicity Club of Chicago operates as a professional membership organization offering a portfolio of programs and services for the communications, marketing, and public relations community. The core offerings include the Golden Trumpet Awards (annual awards ceremony), Media Studio Tours (behind-the-scenes media access), Networking Mixers, Panel Discussions, Speed Pitching events, and Virtual Roundtables. The organization also maintains a Job Board for industry employment. Membership is structured in four tiers: Networker ($100/year), Professional ($200/year), Corporate ($750/year), and Corporate Gold ($1,500/year), each providing escalating access to programs, event discounts, and award benefits. The organization was established in 1941 and is entering its 85th anniversary year as of 2026.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• PCC Membership Program Annual tiered membership subscription for Chicago-area communications, marketing, and public relations professionals, providing access to events, Media Studio Tours, the Golden Trumpet Awards, the job board, and professional development programming. Four tiers: Networker ($100/year), Professional ($200/year), Corporate ($750/year, up to 10 individuals), and Corporate Gold ($1,500/year, up to 20 individuals), each with progressively richer event, awards, and sponsorship benefits.
• Golden Trumpet Awards Program Annual paid-entry industry awards program honoring outstanding campaigns and individual leaders in public relations, marketing, and communications across the Chicagoland region. Corporate and Corporate Gold members receive complimentary entries and ticket discounts; the program also recognizes the 30 Under 30 cohort, Lifetime Achievement Award, Presidential Legacy Award, and Media Impact Award honorees.
• PCC Job Board Posting Service Online job board listing full-time employment opportunities in Chicago's public relations, communications, and marketing industries. Postings are free for PCC members and cost $75 for non-members, with each approved listing remaining on the site for 60 days and renewable thereafter.

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Public Relations Society of America (PRSA): The largest national professional association for PR practitioners in the U.S. Like PCC, PRSA provides membership tiers, networking events, professional development, and an awards program (Silver Anvil) — operating at a national scale rather than Chicago regional.
• International Association of Business Communicators (IABC): A global membership association for business communicators offering professional development, networking, and recognition programs (Gold Quill Awards). Directly comparable to PCC in its association model, dues structure, and awards-driven value proposition.
• PR Council: A trade association of leading PR agencies that offers member networking, resources, and industry advocacy. Comparable to PCC in serving the PR professional community, though focused on agency principals rather than individual practitioners.
• PRSA Chicago Chapter: The local Chicago chapter of PRSA, directly competing with PCC for the same Chicago-based PR professional audience. It offers similar programming (networking events, professional development, awards) and represents the most direct head-to-head competitor in PCC's core market.
• Arthur W. Page Society: An invitation-only professional association for senior corporate communications and marketing leaders. Comparable to PCC in its association structure, but serving a C-suite and senior-practitioner niche within the same PR profession.

Regional players

• Chartered Institute of Public Relations (CIPR): The UK's professional body for PR practitioners, offering membership, training, and an awards program (PRide Awards). Comparable to PCC in association model and member services, but operating in a different geography.
• Public Relations and Communications Association (PRCA): The UK's largest trade body for PR and communications, providing membership, training, events, and industry awards (PRCA Awards). Similar to PCC in association function and revenue mix, but serving UK and EMEA markets.

Broad incumbents

• Ragan Communications: A media and events company serving the PR, communications, and HR industries with training, conferences, awards, and publications. A broader incumbent in PCC's space, monetizing through ticketed events and content rather than association dues.

Others

• PRWeek: A leading industry publication and events brand covering the PR profession. Adjacent to PCC rather than directly competitive, but serves overlapping audiences with awards (PRWeek Awards), content, and events.

Emerging players

• Bulldog Reporter: A media and resource hub for PR and communications professionals offering awards (Bulldog Awards), events, and content. Comparable to PCC as a niche community-builder in the PR space, with a media-driven rather than association-driven model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PCC_Chicago
• Facebookfacebook.com/PublicityClubChicago
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/publicity-club-of-chicago
• Instagraminstagram.com/publicityclubofchicago

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Publicity Club of Chicago