About us
Whether it’s eating, drinking, conversation and debate, events and films, The Frontline Club offers everything you would expect from a media club.
With its history rooted in the freelance video news industry, the Club has drawn together a diverse group of people who share a similar journalistic spirit.
More about us
Set up by Vaughan Smith in 2003 in honour of colleagues at the Frontline Television News agency who died pursuing their work, the Club celebrates this history with a selection of artefacts and memorabilia and changing photographic exhibitions that have included iconic images from some of the world’s finest photographers, including Robert Capa.
As well as the private clubroom, which has internet access, daily newspapers and a selection of magazines, there are also seven bedrooms available to members. Food is served in the clubroom and there is an award-winning restaurant. Both the clubroom and restaurant menus include British classics with much of the produce supplied by Vaughan Smith from his Ellingham Farm in Norfolk.
The second floor houses the events room, used for the Frontline Club’s packed programme of debates, documentary and film screenings which bring together many of the world’s best journalists, photographers, filmmakers and cameramen.
The programme is run by the Frontline Charitable Trust, set up to promote independent journalism and provide training in the safety and health of journalists and other media workers in areas of conflict.
History
The Frontline Club opened its doors soon after the Frontline Television News agency closed down. Frontline TV was created over Christmas lunch in the midst of the chaos and confusion of the Romanian revolution. It went on to become a key player in the independent fringe of television newsgathering.
"Frontline will be remembered as one of the high peaks of journalism. Martha Gellhorn certainly thought so, and she was a pretty good judge" John Simpson
The Club quickly became a centre for a diverse group of people united by their passion for quality journalism and dedication to ensuring that stories that fade from headlines are kept in sharp focus. It exists to promote freedom of expression and support journalists, cameramen and photographers who risk their lives in the course of their work.