The Frontline Club

The Frontline Club describes itself as a ‘media club that uniquely combines eating, drinking and thinking.' It's a three minute walk away from Paddington Station in West London and spread over three floors. The club has a public forum space which holds several events a week and a restaurant which helps to fund its activities. There is also a private clubroom for members.

The Frontline Club grew out of the Frontline Television News Agency which was set up by Vaughan Smith in 1989. At the heart of the organisation was a belief in the independence of the witness and a press free from political and corporate interest. Frontline went on to documents events in some of the most turbulent areas of the world, from Iraq to Bosnia, Chechnya to Liberia before eventually closing down. Smith then established the Frontline club to uphold the values of the news agency and the photojournalists who had worked for it.

The club holds debates and screenings, discussions, exhibitions and book launches. There have been recent discussions on the future of Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. Guest speakers have included economist Joseph E. Stiglitz, Oxford Professor of Russian History Robert Service and the former BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan. Each event is streamed live on the Frontline website and is then archived. You have to register to watch past events. The site also features photography, articles, reviews and details of the journalism training courses Frontline organises. For anyone involved in journalism and for those looking for considered, intelligent and stimulating discussion of current affairs the Frontline Club is indispensable.