The inaugural of Myron Belkind as the 107th President of the National Press Club (NPC), held on January 25, 2014, was a diplomatic event par excellence. Club photographer Noel St. John captured the occasion in a series of stunning photographs. Twenty-five of the diplomats who attended the event, which was given an international theme to reflect Belkind’s global career assignments, were ambassadors from various countries. Roger Isaacs of the South African Embassy sung beautiful renditions of the national anthems of both the United States and South Africa.
Not even when Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi or Manmohan Singh came to speak at Club luncheons has the NPC Ballroom seen so many colorful Indian saris, which were worn even by NPC staff. Bhangra dancing from India, performed by students from the George Washington University, enlivened the event, as did Chinese Lion Dancing sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office. The variety of national costumes on display and the languages spoken throughout the reception, dinner and after-party was simply amazing.
The audience had an opportunity to appreciate firsthand Belkind’s ability to bring people together across cultural, linguistic and national boundaries. Many attendees wore the “tilak”—a red dot placed on the forehead by Hindus as a symbol of auspiciousness—including former NPC President Gil Klein, who served as Master of Ceremonies and administered the Oath of Office.
John Cosgrove, a former Club president and the first recipient of the President’s Award of Distinction, charmed the audience with a story of how President John F. Kennedy showed up for his inauguration in 1961. While President Obama was unable to attend, his remarks welcoming Belkind were read aloud.
South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, said Belkind “understands that the world must be one that embraces people of other ethnicities, of other religions, of other languages and of other cultures.” Ambassador Rasool previously “praised Belkind for spearheading a tribute at the Club to the life and legacy of former South African President Nelson Mandela in November, 2012—an event that celebrated the leader’s contributions to freedom and a vibrant press while he was still alive.”
Belkind’s distinguished career in journalism with the Associated Press (AP) has included stints as a foreign correspondent and bureau chief in Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, London and Tokyo. He is currently an adjunct lecturer at the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. As Chairperson of the International Correspondents Committee, Belkind has led outreach efforts to bring diplomats and journalists together and foster open communication. He has played an important leadership role in many capacities at the Club, which have prepared him well for his new job as president. Sporting an Indian Nehru jacket, one could easily imagine him taking the oath of office as a prime minister of India.
Former CNN anchor Frank Sesno, Director of the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs—Belkind hired him at AP in 1979—said that Belkind “stresses to students the importance of accuracy, credibility, fairness and including many points of view in coverage.”
On the back of each inaugural ticket were the sagacious words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The future depends on what we do in the present.” Gandhi lit the flames of liberty in South Africa and then in India with his non-violent approach to resistance, suggesting that the future depends on the past.
“We don’t know what the world will be like in 100 years,” Belkind told the audience, “but I am confident that there will still be a craving for information and for news, irrespective of how it is delivered or received.”
Photo Credit: Noel St. John
a global affairs media network
A Diplomatic Inaugural at the National Press Club
March 25, 2014
The inaugural of Myron Belkind as the 107th President of the National Press Club (NPC), held on January 25, 2014, was a diplomatic event par excellence. Club photographer Noel St. John captured the occasion in a series of stunning photographs. Twenty-five of the diplomats who attended the event, which was given an international theme to reflect Belkind’s global career assignments, were ambassadors from various countries. Roger Isaacs of the South African Embassy sung beautiful renditions of the national anthems of both the United States and South Africa.
Not even when Prime Ministers Indira Gandhi or Manmohan Singh came to speak at Club luncheons has the NPC Ballroom seen so many colorful Indian saris, which were worn even by NPC staff. Bhangra dancing from India, performed by students from the George Washington University, enlivened the event, as did Chinese Lion Dancing sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office. The variety of national costumes on display and the languages spoken throughout the reception, dinner and after-party was simply amazing.
The audience had an opportunity to appreciate firsthand Belkind’s ability to bring people together across cultural, linguistic and national boundaries. Many attendees wore the “tilak”—a red dot placed on the forehead by Hindus as a symbol of auspiciousness—including former NPC President Gil Klein, who served as Master of Ceremonies and administered the Oath of Office.
John Cosgrove, a former Club president and the first recipient of the President’s Award of Distinction, charmed the audience with a story of how President John F. Kennedy showed up for his inauguration in 1961. While President Obama was unable to attend, his remarks welcoming Belkind were read aloud.
South Africa’s ambassador to the United States, Ebrahim Rasool, said Belkind “understands that the world must be one that embraces people of other ethnicities, of other religions, of other languages and of other cultures.” Ambassador Rasool previously “praised Belkind for spearheading a tribute at the Club to the life and legacy of former South African President Nelson Mandela in November, 2012—an event that celebrated the leader’s contributions to freedom and a vibrant press while he was still alive.”
Belkind’s distinguished career in journalism with the Associated Press (AP) has included stints as a foreign correspondent and bureau chief in Kuala Lumpur, New Delhi, London and Tokyo. He is currently an adjunct lecturer at the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs. As Chairperson of the International Correspondents Committee, Belkind has led outreach efforts to bring diplomats and journalists together and foster open communication. He has played an important leadership role in many capacities at the Club, which have prepared him well for his new job as president. Sporting an Indian Nehru jacket, one could easily imagine him taking the oath of office as a prime minister of India.
Former CNN anchor Frank Sesno, Director of the George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs—Belkind hired him at AP in 1979—said that Belkind “stresses to students the importance of accuracy, credibility, fairness and including many points of view in coverage.”
On the back of each inaugural ticket were the sagacious words of Mahatma Gandhi: “The future depends on what we do in the present.” Gandhi lit the flames of liberty in South Africa and then in India with his non-violent approach to resistance, suggesting that the future depends on the past.
“We don’t know what the world will be like in 100 years,” Belkind told the audience, “but I am confident that there will still be a craving for information and for news, irrespective of how it is delivered or received.”
Photo Credit: Noel St. John
