Europe’s refugee crisis and deadly terrorist attacks are in focus in this year’s Dateline magazine, which will be shared at the OPC’s Annual Awards Dinner on April 28. The issue – and the gala event – honors the work of international journalists covering upheaval in the face of growing threats, which OPC President Marcus Mabry said makes the work of correspondents harder and ever more essential.
Kai Ryssdal, host and senior editor of American Public Media’s Marketplace, will be our presenter. Ryssdal joined Marketplace in 2005, and has hosted the show from China, the Middle East and across the United States. This year’s 22 award winners were selected from more than 480 entries in categories including news coverage, print, cartoons, photography, broadcast, books, commentary and multimedia.
Mabry selected David Fanning, founder and executive producer at large of PBS investigative series FRONTLINE, to receive this year’s President’s Award. In a message to Fanning offering the award, Mabry praised FRONTLINE and Fanning’s “extraordinary, defining” work since the show’s first season in 1983. Fanning retired as executive producer last year after 33 seasons, and still serves at the series’ executive producer at large.
Increasing dangers in the profession remained in the spotlight for the OPC over the last year as terrorists continue to target journalists and governments detain and intimidate colleagues.
Jason Rezaian, journalist and former Tehran bureau chief for The Washington Post who was released from Iran in January after more than 18 months in prison, will light the press freedom candle in memory of journalists who have died in the line of duty in the past year and in honor of those injured, missing and abducted.
The dinner will be held at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Columbus Circle, and begins with a reception at 6:00 p.m., sponsored by multinational computer company Lenovo. International news agency Reuters is sponsoring a “Meet the Winners” reception immediately following the dinner. Tickets for this year’s dinner are $295 for OPC members and $295 for a member’s guest; $750 for non-members. Table prices are $7,500 (Friend), $9,000 (Sponsor), $14,000 (Patron), $18,000 (Fellow). Dress for the event is black tie. The Annual Awards Dinner will be streamed live.