Membership

The Overseas Press Club of America is the nation’s oldest and largest association of journalists engaged in international news. Every April, it awards the most prestigious prizes devoted exclusively to international news coverage.

It was founded in 1939 by nine foreign correspondents in New York City, and has grown to 450 members world-wide.

The club’s mission is to uphold the highest standards in news reporting, advance press freedom and promote good fellowship among colleagues. It also aims to help educate new generation of journalists and to contribute to the freedom and independence of the press throughout the world.

OPC Activities Include:

Scholarships

The OPC Foundation bestows 15 scholarships or fellowships every year for graduate and undergraduate students studying at American colleges and universities, or Americans studying abroad, who aspire to become foreign correspondents.

Website

The OPC’s website and the monthly newsletter, the Bulletin, keeps foreign correspondents around the world connected to colleagues and updated on international reporting issues. The website hosts an internal messaging system that allows members to contact other directly while keeping emails private. Global Parachute provides information and networking tools for correspondents traveling to new locations.

Services

The OPC offers free wallet-sized photo IDs to working journalists. The website’s resources page lists links to services offered by other organizations that support international journalists and press freedom.

Programs

Panel discussions and video chats on current international events, book nights with authors and international film previews.

Training

The OPC’s website hosts a training archive that includes videos of programs hosted in New York City and online video chats with award winners and newsmakers. Topics include tips on investigative reporting and how to stay safe while reporting on hostile groups.

Awards

Following intense competition, the club presents 22 awards for coverage of international news. Each year, a special President’s Award goes to one journalist to honor distinguished service in the field of journalism.

International Relationships

The OPC has reciprocal relationships with about 40 press clubs around the globe. Members can also get special privileges at all 15 Club Quarters hotels in the United States and 4 Club Quarters hotels in London, England as well as Stephen’s Green Hibernian Club in Dublin, Ireland.

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