Written by Jan Cook

Just who, exactly, belongs to the Washington Speechwriters Roundtable? 

In August 2003, we tried to answer that question using a pretty cool Internet-based survey tool called Zoomerang. 

Back then, we were a much smaller group, but the survey results are still enlightening.

70 responded to the survey
 62 are salaried employees
   6 are freelancers
   1 is looking to become a speechwriter
   1 is a vendor providing speechwriting and/or training

44% spend 75% or more of their time researching and writing speeches.
 20% spend less than 25%
 19% spend 50-75%
 17% spend 25-50%

42% work in government
 28% for nonprofit/associations
 17% for corporations
  7% in military
  6% in education

91% are in the DC Metro area

49% write for both the CEO and other senior executives
 46% write only for CEO
  7% write for only senior executives
 17% write for assorted others, including board members

47% work in a setting of 2-4 speechwriters
 46% work as the sole speechwriter
  7% work in a setting of 5 or more speechwriters

32% write 20-50 speeches a year
 31% write 100 or more
 22% write 20 or fewer
 15% write 50 - 100

51% work 40-50 hours a week
 25% work about 40 hours
 24% work 50 or more hours

56% supervise others

36% have been writing speeches for more than 10 years
 26% for 3-5 years
 22% for 5-10 years
 16% for less than 3 years

64% consider speechwriting their primary responsibility

68% have attended a meeting of the Roundtable.

38% would be willing to pay Roundtable dues of $15-30.
 32% would pay $30-$50
 22% would pay $15 or less
  6% would pay more than $50

Note: The survey also collected information on how much speechwriters earn.  That information is only available to Roundtable members who have contributed an article to this website.  It can be found in "Members Only > Articles." 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jan Cook writes speeches for the president of Georgetown University.  She has previously written for the presidents of the American Red Cross and other nonprofits and trade associations in Washington. 

Feeling bereft of professional companionship, she helped re-animate the Washington Speechwriters Roundtable in 2001.

Comments?  Members who have contributed an article can post a comment about Jan's article here: http://www.washingtonspeechwriters.com/blog/ForMembersOnly/Comment/_archives/2005/5/15/867785.html#post_comment

(The link will fail if you don't qualify).