The Press Club of Toledo has invited the candidates in Toledo’s 2017 Mayoral Race to participate in a community forum.

The Press Club’s Chrys Peterson will moderate this 90-minute question/answer session. Each candidate will be able to respond to questions gathered from a diverse selection of Toledo civic/community groups and the general public about issues facing Toledo.

UPDATE:  The community forum will be held on September 7, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm, at the McMaster Center at the Main Branch of the Toledo Lucas County Public Library.

Can’t make it? We’ll stream this live on our Facebook page.

The Press Club of Toledo is the leading media and public relations organization in Toledo, dedicated to discussing issues of community interest and creating dialogue and education around issues of topical concern to the community.

RSVP to this event on Facebook. 

The Press Club is hosting a Pressing Issues forum on Friday, April 28 from 9-10:30 a.m. focusing on the topic of “Changing Seasons: A behind-the-scenes look at the news decisions and technology that drives the reporting, popularity and public interest of weather coverage.” The FREE forum will consist of four panelists who specialize in different areas of media including 13abc WTVG Chief Meteorologist, Lucas County EMA Director, BGSU geography professor, meteorologist and climate researcher and WTOL 11/Fox 36 First Alert Chief Meteorologist.

Event Details: 

The forum will be hosted by the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, McMaster Center (325 N. Michigan Street) from 9-10:30 a.m. Moderated by Anthony Knopps of the Press Club and News Director, WTOL 11 and Fox 36 television. The forum will include presentations by each panelist, as well as Q&A.

The Pressing Issues forum will focus on the dynamics of modern meteorology, and the intersection of the technology, news value, and the business aspects, along with the public fascination of weather. The four panelists include:

• Jay Berschback, Chief Meteorologist, WTVG-13
• Pat Moomey, Lucas County EMA Director
• Art Samel, BGSU geography professor, meteorologist and climate researcher
• Robert Shiels, First Alert Chief Meteorologist, WTOL 11/Fox 36

How does weather affect the news?

Spring brings a natural focus by local residents and area meteorology professionals alike on the changing seasons, and with it, the risk of severe weather. From local weather staffs and emergency management agencies, to national weather services and storm chasers and weather watchers on social media, the topic and potential threat of severe weather can quickly take precedence over any activity or news broadcast, while capturing the attention of local residents.

The forum is free and open to the public. Discussion begins at 9 a.m. and will conclude by 10:30 a.m. with time for questions from the audience.

Pressing Issues Forums

The Press Club of Toledo’s ‘Pressing Issues’ forums are organized around topics driven by the news of the day. Panelists representing the newsroom, PR industry and digital communications offer advice surrounding issues in the media and invite audience response.

The Press Club is hosting a Pressing Issues forum on Friday, February 24 from 9-10:30 a.m. focusing on the topic of “Fake News: It’s Real, It’s Here, And Journalists and Communication Professionals Alike Have To Deal With It.” The FREE forum will consist of four panelists who specialize in different areas of media including a digital media manager, assistant professor of journalism, news director and editorial page and associate editor.

Event Details: 

The forum will be hosted by the Toledo Lucas County Public Library, presented at the downtown library in the McMaster Family Center (325 N. Michigan Street) from 9-10:30 a.m. Moderated by Robert Bortel of the Press Club and Director of Student Media at Bowling Green State University, the forum will include presentations by each panelist, as well as Q&A.

How do we identify fake news from real news?

With social media becoming a major resource for breaking news, how do we determine what platforms are trustworthy? With the rise of the political climate during the presidential campaign in 2016, the lines became blurred on which stories were fact.

The Press Club of Toledo’s forum will provide the opportunity for open dialogue on the current and future climate of dependable news sources.

Tackling issues related to fake news are:

Keith Burris, Editorial Page and Associate Editor, The Blade
Anthony Knopps, News Director, WTOL & Fox 36 television
Rebecca Regnier, Digital Media Manager, WTVG-13 television
Saif Shahin, Assistant Professor of Journalism, Bowling Green State University

Pressing Issues Forums

The Press Club of Toledo’s ‘Pressing Issues’ forums are organized around topics driven by the news of the day. Panelists representing the newsroom, PR industry and digital communications offer advice surrounding issues in the media and invite audience response.

There’s no better place to get in the holiday spirit than the decked halls of The Toledo Club! Join the Press Club of Toledo on Thursday, December 8 for our annual holiday mixer. It will be an evening of cocktails, light hors d’oeuvres, and of course, networking!

Press Club of Toledo Holiday Mixer

• Thursday, December 8, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
• The Toledo Club, Sports Bar
• Light hors d’oeuvres provided, cash bar

We encourage members to invite guests as we celebrate the holiday season with fellow media, PR and marketing professionals.

And we have an exciting offer in store for non-members—a special end-of-year membership deal to those in attendance! Start 2017 off on the right foot as an official Press Club of Toledo member.

Election Coverage at Ground Zero

Ohio is at the epicenter of the national election—and Toledo serves as the electoral ‘ground zero’ in the key swing state. As we find ourselves in the thick of the 2016 election, the September 29 Pressing Issues Forum will highlight the challenges and opportunities that local news executives and reporters run into when covering an outsized national race that has also turned into a national story. The panel comes at the perfect time as we come off of yet another visit from one of the presidential candidates.

In addition to a big picture view of the race, each journalist will provide insight into how their newsroom is deploying resources, what storylines they are following, which campaign appears to do the best job in telling its story, and the relative emphasis they are giving to local vs. national races

Join us at 9 a.m. on Thursday, September 29 in the Schmakel Room of UT’s Driscoll Center (D1 on UT campus map) for this unique discussion. In addition to a big picture view of the race, each journalist on the panel will provide insight into how their newsroom is deploying resources, what storylines they are following, which campaign appears to do the best job in telling its story, and the relative emphasis they are giving to local vs. national races

Pressing Issues Forums

Pressing issues is free and open to Press Club members, media, students and the general public.  Parking is available and free in the lot on the north side of Driscoll Center – accessible off of University Hills Boulevard just north of Bancroft.

These forums are organized around topics driven by the news of the day. Panelists representing the newsroom, PR industry and digital communications offer advice surrounding issues in the media and invite audience response.