The University Press Club is a select group of Princeton University undergraduates that are committed to their trade and have a strong enthusiasm for journalism. Professional writers and reporters, such as Vox, The Washington Post, and The New York Times, contribute to regional and national media. The club is one of the oldest student groups at Princeton University, having been established in 1900.
Members of the UPC have served as “Princeton correspondents” for news organizations, periodicals, wire services, and broadcast media for more than 100 years. We have partnerships with regional, national, and international media as part of our professional ties. For their work, all members of UPC are paid. To enhance our member’s experience, we also organize social events and lectures with well-known journalists, academics, and politicians.
University Press Club
The UPC is a group of Princeton University UG’s who freelance professionally for local, national, and regional publications. It is the only student-run organization in the country that is similar to this. Former Press Club members have gone on to become Pulitzer Prize winners and work as journalists for publications including Forbes, The New Yorker, Vanity Fair, The Washington Post, and The New York Times. In addition to working as freelancers, members of the Press Club also run a blog called The Ink where they cover Princeton University activities.
University Press Club- Traditions
Dean’s Date Live Blog
A live blog is updated by members of the University Press Club two times a year, 24 hours prior to Dean’s Date. Funny memes that members create when they finish their final exams, amusing glimpses into their inner thoughts, and clever updates regarding Dean’s Date customs like the Whitman Wail and the Holder Howl may all be found there.
Rukeyser Memorial Lecture Series
The University Press Club invites well-known journalists who are influencing the media landscape of today to provide talks and guidance to students at Princeton University.
UPC Reunions
UPC alumni and club members get together on campus each spring for reunions to celebrate their time as members of the organization, build relationships, and share their passion for journalism.
History of UPC
Undergraduate journalists who covered stories for newspapers all throughout the nation launched the Press Club in April 1900. The idea behind the club was to be a group reporting project where members would pool quotations and leads and membership would be offered to the highest bidder. The Club instituted a candidates period application procedure in 1915.
Candidates would confer with existing club members over a three-month period in order to ultimately submit three folders containing complete news items. The campus weekly student newspaper, the Nassau Weekly, was started in 1979 by a group of Press Club members.
How to Join University Press Club
Applications for the University Press Club are open to first-years, sophomores, and juniors in the fall semester of each academic year. During the two rounds of the application process, candidates will have the opportunity to learn about the foundations of news writing, including features, pitches, speech stories, and profiles.
In order to help candidates form close relationships inside the club, professional journalists who are currently members of UPC will serve as mentors to the applicants. Applicants believe that going through the process itself is a gratifying experience that broadens their understanding of the journalism industry, regardless of the outcome.
Start by Knowing UPC
For the duration of the application process, each candidate will collaborate closely with an existing member; please don’t hesitate to ask questions. During the application process, we also hold informal talks with each candidate to learn more about them and their interests, and to help them learn more about us.
Let us know you are interested
If you would want to apply, please come to one of our open houses or send us an email at [email protected].
Final Step- Apply Now
- Send in a sample of your best work along with a form detailing your prior journalism experience.
- If you have a lot of experience working as a professional journalist, we will schedule an interview with you and let you know when we make a choice.
- It could be possible that that before interview, we get to know more about you. Meet with the UPC mentor you have been given to talk about your writing experience and turn in a second piece of work.
- Don’t be nervous, if you are here for the first time. We will walk you through the steps and assist you in acquiring the abilities required to make a stronger application.
