Youngstown Press Club

What Youngstown Press Club does

The Youngstown Press Club (legal name: Youngstown Press Club, Inc.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional membership organization headquartered in Youngstown, Ohio, originally founded in 1902 and re-established in September 2018 after a period of dormancy. The organization serves journalists, communications professionals, public relations practitioners, media entrepreneurs, journalism educators, and journalism students across the Mahoning and Shenango valleys, with a reciprocal membership agreement extending benefits through the National Press Club in Washington D.C.

Core programs include the annual Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner, the Excellence in Media Award, the First Amendment Award, the Medal of Merit, the Scholastic Journalism Awards competition for high school students, college scholarships for journalism and communications majors, a World Press Freedom Day observance, speaker series events, member mixers, and an advocacy program supporting organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the Student Press Law Center. The club operates a News Flash email newsletter, a YouTube channel with recorded event programming, and a branded merchandise storefront through Printful.

Revenue is generated primarily through individual memberships ($50/year, $35/year for new professionals under 35, free for students), institutional memberships ($250/year including three individual seats), event ticket sales, tiered corporate sponsorships (Bronze $1,500 to Platinum $4,000), program advertising ($50-$300), scholarship donations at multiple levels (up to VIP $5,000+ with five-year named-scholarship commitments), and merchandise sales. Operations are supported by an eight-member Board of Governors led by President Elise Skolnick, with Diane Laney Fitzpatrick serving as volunteer executive director, and an office located at Youngstown State University's Department of Communication.

Name

Youngstown Press Club

Legal name

Youngstown Press Club, Inc.

Website

https://yopressclub.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1902

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Youngstown Press Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization in Youngstown, Ohio, that supports journalists, communications professionals, and students in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys through networking events, awards programs, scholarships, and press freedom advocacy.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Membership and Press Club Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (8134), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Investigative & Nonprofit News Organizations (MPAJADAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

Keywords

• Journalism membership organization
• Press club services
• Journalism awards programs
• Student journalism scholarships
• Press freedom advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Youngstown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from individual and institutional members provide recurring revenue. Individual memberships at $50/year (or $35 for new professionals under 35, free for students), institutional memberships at $250/year.
2. Event Tickets and Sponsorships: Revenue from ticket sales for events including annual meetings, Hall of Fame dinners, speaker series, and member mixers. Sponsorship packages (Platinum $4,000/year, Gold $3,000/event, Silver $2,000/event, Bronze $1,500/event) provide significant funding.
3. Program Advertising: Sale of advertising space in printed programs for Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner. Pricing: Full page $300, half page $150, quarter page $50.
4. Merchandise Sales: Sale of branded merchandise including t-shirts, hoodies, jackets, notebooks, glassware, coasters, totes, and magnets through an online store powered by Printful.
5. Scholarship Fundraising and Donations: Donations from individuals and organizations at various levels (Contributor to VIP $5,000+) to support journalism scholarships. Named scholarships available with five-year commitment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Youngstown Press Club is a nonprofit professional organization that provides membership services, networking events, and professional development to journalists, communicators, public relations professionals, and media entrepreneurs in the Mahoning and Shenango valleys. It administers annual recognition programs including a Hall of Fame, Excellence in Media Award, First Amendment Award, and Medal of Merit, alongside a Scholastic Journalism Awards competition for high school students and College Scholarships for journalism majors. The organization also sells branded merchandise and offers tiered corporate sponsorship packages supporting its press freedom advocacy mission.

Product overview

The Youngstown Press Club is a nonprofit professional organization (re-established in 2018) that operates as a unified portfolio of journalism support services rather than a commercial product company. The core offerings include membership programs providing networking and professional development, annual awards programs (Hall of Fame, Excellence in Media Award, First Amendment Award, Medal of Merit), and the Scholastic Journalism Awards for high school students. The organization operates a scholarship fund for college journalism students, publishes the News Flash newsletter, sells official merchandise through the YPC Store, and offers corporate sponsorship opportunities. Events include the Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner, annual meetings, speaker series, World Press Freedom Day observances, and student press freedom events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Programs
• Hall of Fame Induction
• Excellence in Media Award
• First Amendment Award
• Medal of Merit
• Scholastic Journalism Awards
• College Scholarships
• News Flash Newsletter
• YPC Store (Official Merchandise)
• Youngstown Press Club Sponsorships
• Scholarship Fund Donation Program
• Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner Tickets

Quantifiable outcome

• $20,000 in scholarships awarded to journalism students since program inception
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Stambaugh AuditoriumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary venue partner for major events including Hall of Fame and Awards Dinner and Annual Meeting. Co-sponsor of events.
• Farmers National BankmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum-level sponsor and supporter of Youngstown Press Club events and initiatives.
• The DeBartolo CorporationmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor supporting press club events and initiatives.
• WKBN-TVmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerMajor sponsor and media partner. Provides contest sponsorship for Scholastic Journalism Awards (Video Package category). Co-sponsored I Stand With Evan event.
• Denise and John YorkmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsors for Annual Meeting and Dinner.
• The Anderson Program in Journalism at Youngstown State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerContest sponsor for Scholastic Journalism Awards (Photography category). Institutional member. Co-sponsors Student Press Freedom Day.
• Andrea Wood and Dennis LaRuecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerContest sponsors for Scholastic Journalism Awards (Editorial/Column/Opinion category prizes).
• The Houck AgencyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerContest sponsor for Scholastic Journalism Awards.
• National Press Club (Washington D.C.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerReciprocal agreement allows Youngstown Press Club members to be admitted to National Press Club facilities with prior arrangement and introductory letter as proof of active membership.
• The Business JournalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member supporting the press club. Co-sponsored Student Press Freedom Day and Hall of Fame events.
• Mahoning Valley Historical SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member supporting the press club.
• Pecchia CommunicationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member and co-sponsor of I Stand With Evan event.
• Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member and venue partner for speaker series events including David Marburger presentation and FOIA panel.
• The Review NewspapersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member supporting the press club.
• WYSU (Youngstown State University Radio)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitutional member supporting the press club.
• Youngstown Area Jewish FederationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-sponsored I Stand With Evan event to raise awareness for Wall Street Journal reporter detained in Russia.
• DeYor Performing Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVenue partner for I Stand With Evan event featuring Paul Beckett.
• Committee to Protect JournalistscoreOthersInternational organization supported by YPC. Provides timely safety information and emergency assistance to journalists worldwide.
• Reporters Committee for Freedom of the PresscoreOthersOrganization supported by YPC. Provides pro bono legal representation and resources to protect First Amendment freedoms. Speaker Gunita Singh addressed YPC on protecting journalists' rights.
• Reporters Without BorderscoreOthersInternational organization supported by YPC. Maintains Press Freedom Index and assists journalists in danger worldwide.
• Student Press Law CentercoreOthersOrganization supported by YPC. Promotes and defends press freedom rights for student journalists at high schools and colleges.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Peers

• Poynter Institute:

Broad incumbents

• Society of Professional Journalists: SPJ is the nation's most broadly recognized journalism professional association, offering membership, regional chapters, awards, ethics training, and press freedom advocacy — directly overlapping YPC's value proposition for working journalists and students across the country.
• National Press Club: The National Press Club in Washington D.C. is the most prominent U.S. journalism professional membership organization; YPC maintains a reciprocal agreement with it, and both serve working journalists, communicators, and students through membership, events, awards, and advocacy — though NPC operates nationally with a far larger footprint.

Direct peers

• Press Club of Cleveland: Another Ohio-based regional press club serving journalists and communicators in Northeast Ohio through membership, networking, and awards — operating an almost identical community-led model in a neighboring geography with overlapping sponsor pools.
• Press Club of Cincinnati: Cincinnati's regional journalism and communications club offers comparable membership programs, scholarships, and awards dinners; shares the same community-led nonprofit structure serving Ohio media professionals.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=uiPv4cUfvlk
• Xx.com/pressclubyo
• Facebookfacebook.com/youngstown.pressclub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/youngstown-press-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 Youngstown Press Club