Overseas Press Club of America

OPC Past President David A. Andelman writes about the recent release of Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani, who had been jailed at the infamous #Evin prison since her arrest in April: Andelman Unleashed joined with Cartooning for Peace in a global campaign from the moment of her latest detention on April 21. Now, it appears, she has been liberated, as this group of the world’s leading cartoonists exulted this week: Violently arrested on April 13 by agents of the intelligence services of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) while she was trying to display a drawing near the presidential palace in Tehran, Atena Farghadani has since been held in Evin Prison, infamous for its poor conditions. She has just been released after more than 8 months of imprisonment. Read More: https://lnkd.in/eXxH8xiG

Combating disinformation increasingly involves "media literacy," or teaching people how to consume and understand the news. Register for our upcoming Forum session with Poynter Institute and MediaWise as we discuss teaching media literacy across three continents: https://buff.ly/3ZEB0Ug

Please check out this video of our program today, an "In the Thick of It" discussion on turmoil in #Georgia with three reporters who have been on the ground in #Tbilisi - learn more about protests, the upcoming Presidential election there, & more: With Sophiko Megrilidze, a senior producer with the Tbilisi bureau of The Associated Press; Daro Sulakauri a Georgian photojournalist; and Will Cathcart, an American journalist, producer, and former media advisor to the president of Georgia. Singeli Agnew, a documentary filmmaker and governor of the OPC, moderated the discussion. Use the links below to see more from our panelists. Daro Sulakauri’s Instagram: @darosulakauri https://lnkd.in/dBXZY6jW Sulakauri’s recent Catchlight project, “Shifting Borders” https://lnkd.in/d997h2Nw Will Cathcart’s Instagram: @willcathcart https://lnkd.in/dB5Rx3ex Cathcart’s opinion piece, published in The Hill on Dec. 13: “Georgia stands strong for democracy — America must stand with Georgia” https://lnkd.in/dUvGRV4P Read more from Sophiko Megrilidze in The Associated Press https://lnkd.in/dC6Bv8m3 https://lnkd.in/dTjjxi5A 

We've gathered tips from PR pros and journalists for how to maximize end-of-year media opps and look ahead to 2025 🤝 ⏰ Timing is everything: Caro founder Caroline McKay prioritizes understanding when editors are wrapping up/heading out of town so pitches don't get lost in the shuffle 🔄 Don't forget to follow up: Freelance writer Aly Walansky says that follow-ups are OK and necessary, but PR pros should try to add new information to their follow-up 🔮 Focus on 2025: Holiday gift guide coverage has usually wrapped up by December, so try to focus on what is next -- new year/fresh start content, 2025 trends and thought leadership pitches Check out our latest blog for more tips: https://bit.ly/3CZx8UU

📢 [ALERTE DESSINATEUR] #Iran Arrêtée violemment le 13 avril 2024 alors qu’elle tentait d’afficher un dessin à proximité du palais présidentiel à Téhéran, Atena Farghadani était depuis détenue dans la prison d’Evin. Elle vient tout juste d’être libérée, après près de 8 mois d’emprisonnement : https://lnkd.in/eb6YJArE Cartooning for Peace se réjouit de sa libération, mais rappelle que personne ne devrait être emprisonné pour avoir exprimé ses convictions. Si la libération d'Atena Farghadani est un soulagement, elle souligne aussi la nécessité de continuer à dénoncer les injustices qui sévissent en Iran. ------ 📢 [CARTOONIST ALERT] #Iran Atena Farghadani was violently arrested on 13 April 2024 when she tried to display a drawing near the presidential palace in Tehran. Since then, she was held in Evin prison. She has just been released after nearly 8 months in prison: https://lnkd.in/eybSVGpC Cartooning for Peace welcomes her release, but reiterates that no one should be imprisoned for expressing their beliefs. While Atena Farghadani's release is a relief, it also underlines the need to continue to denounce the injustices rampant in Iran.

.Journalismfund Europe is offering professional development grants for environmental journalism as part of its Earth Investigations Program. Organizations supporting investigations of environmental issues can apply by Feb. 13. https://buff.ly/3YgmzSM

🚨 Too many women journalists around the world face offline and online attacks, putting their safety at risk: 73% report experiencing online violence, and 1 in 3 consider leaving the profession due to this violence. From trolling to physical assaults, these threats and attacks target them for their work and gender. To tackle this crisis, IWMF & UNESCO are launching Safeguarding Women’s Voices: Enhancing Gender-Responsive Safety Strategies, a program to promote gender-responsive safety strategies in newsrooms around the world. 📅 Applications are open now through January 10! Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/dCGmBPkZ

Master the essentials of reporting, writing and storytelling with the Modern Journalism course from NYU and Rolling Stone. 100% online. Get info now.

Tomorrow, on 12/13 at noon ET, join the OPC for a discussion with three reporters who have been on the ground in #Tbilisi to learn more about the protests, the upcoming Presidential election there, and the challenges in covering this particular conflict in #Georgia. Sophiko Megrilidze is a Senior Producer with the Tbilisi bureau of The Associated Press. She has covered the war in Chechnya; conflicts and political tension in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan; the migrant crisis in Europe; the devastating earthquake in Van, Turkey; the Nord – Ost hostage crisis in Russia; and tensions in Ukraine. Daro Sulakauri is a Georgia photojournalist. Using mixed media, her work chronicles the social and political issues in the Caucasus. She graduated from the International Center of Photography in New York, then returned to the Pankisi Gorge in Georgia to document refugees from the Chechen conflict. She won Magnum Photos’ Young Photographers in the Caucasus Award in 2009. Will Cathcart is an American journalist, producer, and former media advisor to the president of Georgia, based in Tbilisi for 16 years. He has reported on conflicts across the region, including the war in Ukraine, for Foreign Policy, CNN, The Daily Beast, Literary Hub, and others, while also producing work for Anthony Bourdain and National Geographic. Singeli Agnew, a documentary filmmaker and governor of the OPC, will moderate the discussion. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/dcKc2d9X

Check out these video clips from last night's book night, co-sponsored with Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), on "At the Edge of Empire" by Edward Wong, diplomatic correspondent for The New York Times, moderated by Tracy Jan: https://lnkd.in/eWX83sWV