| The mission of the Press Club of Long Island is to promote the association of journalists on Long Island to further the ethics and ideals of the profession; to advance, develop and formally recognize higher standards of journalism; to stimulate social and intellectual exchange between members of the press; to raise public awareness of the profession; to promote the development of future journalists from the ranks of high school and college students; and to promote the spirit of fellowship among journalists and civic responsibility to the community.
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."
- First Amendment, ratified December 15, 1791
THE PRESS CLUB OF LONG ISLAND WAS CREATED TO PROTECT THE IDEAL OF A FREE PRESS FOR LONG ISLAND JOURNALISTS. As the local arm of the Society of Professional Journalists, the club is dedicated to furthering ethics in reporting, freedom of information and freedom of the press for journalists on Long Island.
The club was founded in 1974 in response to a reporter who was jailed for failing to reveal a source. The club's first president, Karl Grossman, says the founders borrowed a media list from a local P.R. firm, sent letters to members of the press. More than fifty journalists showed up for an historic first meeting at the Three Village Inn in Stony Brook. PCLI not only gave journalists a place where they could connect, but more importantly promoted journalism advocacy. During its first year, PCLI adopted a constitution and operated for several years as an independent organization before joining
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