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OPC Freedom of the Press Committee Seeks an Intern
Wednesday, 01 Feb 2012

The OPC Freedom of the Press Committee is looking for a spring intern to assist with documenting and publicizing attacks on the press worldwide in articles for the web site, letters to foreign governments and through social media. The intern will be invited to attend the annual awards...

Gold Rush to Asia Not Far Fetched Nor Too Far Away
Wednesday, 21 Dec 2011
Rebecca Fannin and William J. Holstein

OPC member Rebecca Fannin spoke at an OPC luncheon on November 29 to discuss her book, Startup Asia: Top Strategies for Cashing in on Asia’s Innovation Boom. About 22 people gathered around the table, many of whom also have a deep understanding of the region and the...

A Few Recollections of Andy Rooney
Saturday, 05 Nov 2011
Andy Rooney received the OPC President's Award in 2010. Here, Rooney shares one

Of all the bon mots from Andy Rooney, few had more resonance for his fellow members of the OPC than this line from his last "60 Minutes" appearance. "A writer's job is to tell the truth."

Al Kaff Reflects on Vietnam
Wednesday, 26 Oct 2011
Al Kaff meets the princess, as his wife Diana looks on.

Tracy Wood, long my friend, suggested I describe the life of a correspondent in Saigon before most of the Viet Hacks arrived. So here goes. Ernie Hoberecht, then the UP vice president for Asia, sent me to Saigon in 1956, not because of any news requirement but...

People Remembered: Al Kaff
Tuesday, 25 Oct 2011
Albert E. Kaff

Albert E. Kaff, 91, died of a heart attack at St. Vincent's Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut, at 12:15 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25. He had been an OPC member since 1962 and was a longtime foreign correspondent and vice president of UPI and a contributor to the publications...

OPC Forum: Who Is a Journalist?
Tuesday, 25 Oct 2011
MetroFocus Web Editor John Farley, kneeling, was arrested while reporting on the

Like the Arab Spring uprisings, Occupy Wall Street protests raise the issue: Who should be recognized as a journalist? OPC members: log in and tell us your views on this issue.

INSI Launches in North America as Media Deaths Climb
Monday, 24 Oct 2011
From left: Michael Holmes, Cami McCormick, Hannah Storm, Santiago Lyon and David

The International News Safety Institute marked the launch of its North American arm on Friday, October 14. A panel of celebrated reporters and industry leaders spoke about dangers and risks, in what has been one of the bloodiest in recent years for those working in journalism. Watch...

O'Shea Pulls No Punches in Book on Newspapers, Zell
Friday, 21 Oct 2011
Lisa Anderson and Stevenson Swanson flank author Jim O'Shea and interlocutor All

When Jim O'Shea took the reins of the Los Angeles Times, he sensed a shift from quality writing to quarterly earnings. After several staff cuts over his 18 months as editor, O'Shea refused his bosses demands to cut again. The stand he took cost him his job but also...

Getting to the Story and Reporting on Humanitarian Issues
Friday, 21 Oct 2011
From left: OPC member Brian Byrd, panelist Dr. Hina Chaudhry and OPC Executive D

The OPC, New York Women's Initiative for CARE and New York University's Wagner School hosted a panel on "Humanitarian Emergencies: the Role of the Media" at NYU on September 22. Panelists included Allan Dodds Frank, Cath Turner, Dr. Hina Chaudhry...

Press Freedom Withers in the Arab Spring
Thursday, 13 Oct 2011
Hadi al-Mahdi, murdered in Baghdad.

Whatever its long-term impact on the cause of liberty and democracy, the Arab Spring movement has been bad news for press freedom.  To nobody's surprise, countries still cracking down on their uprisings continue, often viciously, to oppress journalists trying to cover the protests....