Event Coverage Highlight

Deidre Depke, left, receives the ceremonial gavel from outgoing OPC President Marcus Mabry. Photo: Chad Bouchard

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2016—The Overseas Press Club of America, a 77-year old organization that awards the most prestigious prizes devoted to international news coverage, elected a new president Tuesday night at its annual meeting in midtown Manhattan.

Deidre Depke, New York Bureau Chief of Marketplace, the public radio show, was elected president of the OPC, as the club is widely known.

Depke, 54, started her journalism career at BusinessWeek magazine before moving to Newsweek to serve as foreign editor. After a stint as general manager for TheWeek.com, she took over as editor at The Daily Beast.

“I’m very excited to build on the work done by past presidents of the OPC to create an expanded role for the club in the era of digital media,” Depke said. “I’m also grateful for the help of members and supporters as the OPC continues to advocate for fair compensation and adequate safeguards for global correspondents, particularly at a time when so many are working at great risk to themselves.”

The OPC was founded in 1939 in New York by a group of foreign correspondents to encourage the highest standards of professional integrity and skill in the reporting of news and to promote the freedom of the press throughout the world.

The club also announced results of the election for other officers and board members.  Deborah Amos, of NPR, Calvin Sims of International House and Pancho Bernasconi of Getty Images were elected vice presidents. Abigail Pesta, a freelance journalist, is the club’s new treasurer and the secretary is Liam Stack of The New York Times.

Active members elected to the board are: Rukmini Callimachi, Christopher Dickey, Charles Graeber, Douglas Jehl, Scott Kraft, Rachael Morehouse, Michael Oreskes, Roxana Saberi and Lara Setrakian.

Associate board members elected are Emma Daly, Bill Collins and Sarah Lubman.

Depke replaces Marcus Mabry, U.S. Lead, Twitter Moments, who will remain on the board.