Aasif Sultan
Aasif Sultan

The National Press Club will give its annual John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award this year to Aasif Sultan, a journalist in Kashmir jailed for nearly a year for his reporting, and to Mackenzie Mays, a Politico journalist who has produced accountability journalism despite harassment. The Club gives the Aubuchon award, which is named after a former NPC president who advocated for press freedom, to one journalist from the United States and one from overseas who push to disclose the truth in difficult circumstances. The awards will be presented at the organization’s annual Fourth Estate Dinner on Oct. 17, which also will honor Amanda Bennett, an award-winning investigative reporter who has worked for the Wall Street Journal, Oregonian and Bloomberg News. For more information about the Fourth Estate Dinner, click here.

Phil Gomes
Phil Gomes

IPR’s Digital Media Research Center is presenting a free webinar on Sept. 26 that will explain the basics of blockchain technology, the innovations that, among other things, supports the Bitcoin cryptocurrency. In “Blockchain Technology: The Marketing Value of Digital Performance,” Bloq chief communications officer Phil Gomes will look at the current state of blockchain, the challenges and possibilities it presents to the PR industry and the direction it is likely to take over the next five to 10 years. To register for the event, click here.

Joe Honick
Joe Honick

Joe Honick, president of GMA International, Ltd and longtime consultant to business, industry and government here and abroad, will direct a class titled “54% Vote But 100% Bitch” on Friday, Nov. 8, in Charlottesville, VA. The 90-minute session will be part of the University of Virginia's “OLLI” program for senior citizens. The objective of Honick's effort will be a totally non-partisan exploration of the "vote," its history and critical importance across all political lines.