Eight Major Press Clubs Come Together to Form an Independent National Federation Dedicated to Strengthening Press Freedom
New Delhi: The Federation of Press Clubs (FPC), a non-partisan national apex body for democratically governed press clubs, has been formed with eight leading press clubs as its founding members. Registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, the organisation held its first Governing Council meeting at the Press Club of India on June 22, 2026.
The Federation seeks to provide a collective national voice to press clubs and media professionals across the country.
The founding members of the FPC are Press Club of India, Mumbai Press Club, Press Club Kolkata, Press Club Hyderabad, Chandigarh Press Club, State Press Club M.P., Gauhati Press Club and Agartala Press Club.
The Federation will be managed by a 10-member Governing Council comprising Gautam Lahiri (President), Snehasis Sur, Samar Khadas and Vijay Reddy (Vice-Presidents), Saurabh Duggal (Secretary General), Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty (Assistant Secretary General), Neeraj Thakur (Treasurer), and Praveen Khariwal, Pranab Sarkar and Kagen Kalita as Executive Members.
The Governing Council has decided to open membership to other press clubs and similar media bodies across India in the coming weeks.
The objectives of the FPC include advancing press freedom, protecting journalists, supporting media professionals facing challenges in a rapidly changing media environment, and advocating better working conditions for journalists. Membership will be open to registered press clubs and media bodies that conduct regular elections and comply with statutory requirements under applicable laws.
Speaking on the occasion, Gautam Lahiri, founding President of FPC and former President of the Press Club of India, said the Federation is the culmination of efforts that began in 2016 to strengthen the collective voice of press clubs across India.
“This is a non-partisan body that will work for the betterment of the profession and help create a support system for journalists. Protection of journalists and dignity of life are essential for the survival of journalism,” he said.
Snehasis Sur, Vice-President of FPC and President of Press Club Kolkata, said the changing media landscape requires stakeholders committed to press freedom to come together and pool resources to address emerging challenges.
Highlighting the need to support journalists in smaller towns, Vijay Reddy, Vice-President of FPC and President of Press Club Hyderabad, said district-level press clubs often lack adequate resources despite being the first point of support for journalists in times of crisis.
Samar Khadas, Vice-President of FPC and President of Mumbai Press Club, stressed the importance of transparency and ethical journalism.
“We must remain non-partisan, transparent and accountable while promoting ethical journalism across the country,” he said.
Saurabh Duggal, Secretary General of FPC and President of Chandigarh Press Club, said the Federation has been structured to ensure fair representation from different regions of India and serve as the collective voice of journalists nationwide.
Emphasising the importance of collective action for safeguarding freedom of expression, Sangeeta Barooah Pisharoty, Assistant Secretary General of FPC and President of Press Club of India, said the Federation would work in line with global best practices to strengthen press freedom and democratic values.
