Overseas Press Club


The Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member, as was war correspondent Peggy Hull. The club seeks to maintain an international association of journalists working in the United States and abroad, to encourage the highest standards of professional integrity and skill in the reporting of news, to help educate a new generation of journalists, to contribute to the freedom and independence of journalists and the press throughout the world, and to work toward better communication and understanding among people. The organization has approximately 500 members who are media industry leaders.
Every April, the OPC holds a dinner to award excellence in journalism for the previous year.
The awards are juried by industry peers. The organization also has a foundation that distributes scholarships to college students who want to begin a career as a foreign correspondent. Many scholarship winners secure international assignments at some of the most prestigious news outlets in the world.
In April 2008, the OPC relaunched its website to include community features for members like forums, commenting, page sharing through email/print/download and RSVP and bill pay functions.

Awards

AwardGiven ForYear FirstLast Year
Lowell Thomas AwardBest radio news or interpretation of international affairs1947
George Polk AwardBest reporting requiring exceptional courage and enterprise abroad19481973
Robert Capa Gold Medal AwardBest published photographic reporting from abroad requiring exceptional courage and enterprise1955
Ed Cunningham AwardBest magazine reporting from abroad1955
Mary Hemingway AwardBest magazine reporting from abroad19551983
Cornelius Ryan AwardBest non-fiction book on international affairs1957
Ed Stout AwardBest reporting in any medium on Latin America19591974
Ben Grauer AwardBest radio spot news from abroad19601994
Thomas Nast AwardBest cartoons on international affairs1968
President's AwardDistinguished service in the field of journalism19682009
Madeline Dane Ross AwardBest international reporting in the print medium showing a concern for the human condition1973
Bob Considine AwardBest newspaper or news service interpretation of international affairs1975
Hal Boyle AwardBest newspaper or news service reporting from abroad1977
Edward R. Murrow AwardBest TV interpretation or documentary on international affairs1978
David Kaplan AwardBest TV spot news reporting from abroad1980
Olivier Rebbot AwardBest photographic reporting from abroad in magazines or books1980
Malcolm Forbes AwardBest business reporting from abroad in newspapers or news services1983
Morton Frank AwardBest business reporting from abroad in magazines1984
Eric & Amy Burger AwardBest international reporting in the broadcast media dealing with human rights19842004
Carl Spielvogel AwardBest international reporting in the broadcast media showing a concern for the human condition1991
Whitman Bassow AwardBest reporting in any medium on international environmental issues1992
John Faber AwardBest photographic reporting from abroad in newspapers or news services1994
Robert Spiers Benjamin AwardBest reporting in any medium on Latin America. Robert Spiers Benjamin was a founding member of the club.1997
Joe & Laurie Dine AwardBest international reporting in any medium dealing with human rights1998
Artyom Borovik AwardOutstanding reporting by a Russian journalist who displays courage, insight, balanced yet aggressive reporting, and independence of thought20002007
Feature Photography AwardBest feature photography published in any medium on an international theme2004
Online JournalismBest web coverage of international affairs20082009
General Excellence OnlineBest overall international coverage on a web site: how the site maximizes the multimedia capabilities of the web to cover key issues, how coverage goes beyond other platforms and brings the story to its readers2010
Best Online Coverage of Breaking NewsBest online coverage throughout a 72-hour period of a breaking news event2010
Best Use of MultimediaBest use of techniques such as interactive graphics, Flash and slideshows to report on international news or developments2010
Best Online Investigation of an International Issue or EventBest original or exclusive reporting for a news web site that provides new insights into an event or trend of international significance2010
Best Use of VideoExcellence in original video on an international topic created specifically for a news web site2010
Best Online Commentary Best international affairs commentary or blog2010