Technology News & Literature

Photo: Christy Bowe (Sept. 2025)

Alan Kotok is chair of the National Press Club Photography Team, a professional photojournalism group since 2019. He has organized the Club's annual members photography exhibit since 2016, which is now among the largest photojournalism exhibits in the U.S. In 2020, Kotok received NPC's Bernie Krug award, the highest award for volunteer service by a Club member. He is also a member of the National Press Photographers Association and contributor to the Alamy stock photo agency.

From 2010 through 2023, Kotok edited and published Science & Enterprise, a daily news report on the intersection of science and business. During that time, Science & Enterprise was among the first news media to report on breakthroughs such as messenger RNA, Crispr gene editing, artificial intelligence for drug discovery, and the Covid-19 pandemic.

From August 2003 through June 2010, Kotok served as managing editor of Science Careers, the online employment, career development, and funding portal of Science Magazine. Since 2017, Kotok has contributed articles on science, business, technology and innovation for Medium and Futurism, describing scientific and technological developments of companies and their impact on business.

In addition, he served for 10 years as editor of PublicDiplomacy.Org, the Web site of the Public Diplomacy Association of America, as well as the organization's newsletter.

Latest feature articles
"Documentary reveals Leonardo da Vinci's 'relentless curiosity'". National Press Club. 14 Nov. 2024. A new documentary series on Leonardo da Vinci is among the most complex projects filmmaker Ken Burns and his team have taken on and is the first on a non-American theme.
"Sports, fitness can bolster mental health, White House council says". National Press Club. 30 May 2024. Organized sports and concentrated physical activity can help young people cope with stress threatening their mental health.
"Panel calls for U.S. media to hold Indian leader accountable for 2002 massacre". National Press Club. 8 Mar. 2023. Discussion of media, government, and press freedom in India and the U.S.

Kotok has written or co-authored five books, three for print and two e-books. The most recent title is Cienfuegos Rainbow, available through all leading e-book outlets.

Kotok previously served with Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) as director of publishing, from 2001 to 2003 and earlier as DISA's Director of Education. He joined DISA in October 1999 as standards manager for the OpenTravel Alliance. Before joining DISA, Kotok served 10 years with Graphic Communications Association (GCA, now IDEAlliance) as Director of Management Technologies and then as Vice President for Electronic Business. Before joining GCA, Kotok founded an export company serving the U.S. computer industry and served 15 years with U.S. Information Agency.

Kotok has a B.A. in journalism from the University of Iowa, a Master of Science in communications from Boston University, and postgraduate work in Technology of Management at The American University in 1981-82. He serves on the Professional Advisory Board to the journalism school at University of Iowa.

Alan Kotok at a news conference on cancer immunotherapy, Nov. 2016. Screenshot from C-Span video.