By Cathy Manso
In this Q&A, Scott Kraft, the outgoing OPC president, reflects on his journey with the Overseas Press Club, from serving as a Hal Boyle jury chair to leading the organization. A longtime foreign correspondent who spent more than a decade reporting from Africa and Europe for the Los Angeles Times, Kraft is now its editor at large. He discusses what drew him to the OPC and why its community of international journalists remains so meaningful to him.
As he hands over the presidency to Sandra Stevenson, Kraft looks back on some of the defining moments of his tenure and shares his hopes for the OPC’s future, including how the organization can continue adapting to a rapidly changing journalism landscape.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Manso: How did you discover the OPC?
Kraft: I think I first became aware of the OPC when one of our foreign correspondents won an award. But I became more involved when the awards chair at the time, Robert Friedman from Bloomberg, reached out to invite me to chair the Hal Boyle awards jury.
The judging process got me hooked on the OPC. As a jury chair that year and for several years after, I was able to select my jury, so it was a wonderful excuse to reach out to talented, award-winning journalists I knew (and some I didn’t yet know) and invite them to join the jury. Reviewing the entries and debating the final decision with my fellow jurors is always inspiring. The ambition and quality of the work was – and remains – extraordinary, and it was heartening to see that it came not just from major organizations but also from smaller outlets and freelancers.
That whole process is what made me want to get more involved.
Manso: What inspired you to take on the role of president of the OPC, and did you feel you fulfilled the role you envisioned
Kraft: I think anyone who has been a foreign correspondent is profoundly marked by that experience. It becomes something that is kind of in your blood because it’s an experience like no other. I was a correspondent for the LA Times for a little over 10 years in Africa and Europe, and even later, when I became an editor in the home office, I still remembered the excitement, the challenge, and the camaraderie of being a foreign correspondent.
After a few years as a jury chair, I was asked by the chief judge to take over and run the awards process, which I did for about five years. During that time, I joined the Board.
The glue that holds the OPC together, I believe, is that we are all people who care deeply about international news and many of us have this shared experience of having been foreign correspondents. And I’ve always felt a special kinship with OPC members. These are my people and I feel so comfortable working with them.
In addition, the work we get to judge and the awards we present every spring are reminders that this work still matters. It’s so fulfilling to be part of that.
I’d also say that it’s been a lot of fun and incredibly gratifying to be able to lead this organization. We’ve accomplished many of the things we hoped to, but there is still much more to do. I hope we’ve left the new leader and the new Board something to build on.
Manso: What have you learned during your presidency with the OPC?
Kraft: One of the biggest things I’ve learned is how important the Board of Governors is. It represents many walks of life in journalism, many generations, and many perspectives. It’s also a working board. It does the work of the organization, from programming to judging awards.
That makes the OPC quite different from many nonprofit boards. The strength of the board is one of the most amazing things about the organization.
Manso: What makes the OPC board different from other boards?
Kraft: As a foreign correspondent, I always found that my closest colleagues were often people from other organizations. You share tips, travel together, and help each other out in the field even if you’re competitors back home.
The OPC board feels like a reflection of that. It brings together people from different news organizations who share a mission to support foreign correspondence and international reporting. It feels like your own news organization in a way.
Manso: How should the OPC address major journalism challenges like AI and misinformation?
Kraft: I think the OPC needs to be nimble and be able to adjust to the changes in our industry. We’ve been around since 1939, and the organization has survived by adapting.
One of our key roles is educational – to help our members develop the tools they need to adapt to changes and challenges in the industry. So, we do programs on big stories, on new tools, and on issues like cybersecurity and AI. We also partner with other organizations for training on safety and for support when governments try to restrict reporting.
We’ve also done a lot to support freelancers and journalists in crisis, including microgrants during the pandemic and support for journalists in Ukraine after the invasion.
Manso: What was the toughest moment during your presidency?
Kraft: The best moments are always the awards, the speakers, and the incredible work we recognize.
The toughest moments are connected to another part of the award dinner – the candlelighting ceremony – during which we honor journalists who are harassed, imprisoned, injured, or killed for doing this work.
It can be frustrating to feel we can’t do more, but it’s important that we spotlight those sacrifices and remember them. Our partnerships with organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists have been especially important in that regard.
Manso: What advice would you give the next president, Sandra Stevenson?
Kraft: Sandra will be amazing in the role. She’s smart, cool-headed, widely respected, and deeply passionate about programming.
I’d love to see the organization continue to reach out to new partners and audiences, and to cast a wide net for new members. Last year, for example, we partnered with Johns Hopkins and its School for Advanced International Studies on a joint event during which journalists and academics shared a stage to talk about China coverage. That event drew several hundred people.
I’m also confident that our new leadership team, including Sandra and Lauren Walsh, who will succeed Patricia Kranz as executive director in October, will continue expanding the organization’s reach and ambition.
Manso: What is one major accomplishment coming soon for the OPC?
Kraft: We’re in the process of changing our tax status from a 501(c)(6) to a 501(c)(3), which should allow people to donate to us tax-deductibly. That will open doors for partnerships, programming, recruiting, and organizational growth.
It fits our mission, because we are an educational organization that supports international correspondents.
Manso: What comes next for you after your term ends?
Kraft: I will continue to co-chair the awards with John Daniszewski, so I’ll still have a role. More broadly, I want to be the strongest supporter the OPC can have and be available to help Sandra and Lauren with whatever they need.
Founded in 1939, the Overseas Press Club of America is the nation’s oldest and largest organization for journalists covering international news. It is also one of the world’s foremost associations dedicated to recognizing excellence in international journalism, advancing press freedom, and fostering a global community of media workers. Through its prestigious awards, educational programming, and professional events, the OPC supports journalists and celebrates the vital role of international reporting in informing the public and strengthening a free press.