The Foreign Press Association (FPA) is a not-for-profit Friendly Society established in 1888. It organises press briefings and events for international journalists based in the United Kingdom.

Members also have access to networking events, briefings on the Royal Family and can apply to attend the parliament press gallery.

History The FPA was founded in 1888 and is the oldest and biggest association of foreign correspondents in the world. It was originally founded by international journalists who came to London to cover the Jack the Ripper case.

The organization has around 500 full members, representing around 300 media outlets from roughly 60 countries around the world.

Membership

Eligibility Members can either be full members or associate members. Full members must derive 75% of their income from journalism and must demonstrably work for international media, while associate members can be non-journalists. The latter option is intended for PR professionals and press attaches. Membership is £250 for either class of membership.

Press cards The FPA is recognised as a press card gatekeeper by the official UK Press Card authority. Press cards in the UK grant the holder access to certain events and locations, including courtrooms and police press conferences. Around 1500 journalists are accredited by the FPA every year.

Leadership

Director

2007–2017: Christopher Wyld 2018–present: Deborah Bonetti

President

1888–1892: T. Johnson, France 1893–1896: Heinrich Pollak, Austria 1896–1911: Gabriel de Wesselitsky, Russia, Novoye Vremya 1911–1919:Joseph Louis Condurier de Chassaigne, France, Le FigaroSonja Hillerich, Deutsche Auslandskorrespondenten im 19. Jahrhundert: Die Entstehung einer transnationalen journalistischen Berufskultur, 2018, p. 78 1919–1921: Charles Sauerwein, France 1921–1924: Jacques de Marsillac, France 1924–1927: J.C. Van Der Veer, Netherlands 1927–1934: Eric Sweden, Sweden 1934–1936: Jean Massip, France 1936–1938: Stefan Litauer, Poland 1938–1940: Adalbert de SegonzacFrench Writer Adalbert de Segonzac January 4, 2002, 1941–1943: Gottfried Keller, SwitzerlandThe Swiss observer : the journal of the Federation of Swiss Societies in the UK, edited by: Federation of Swiss Societies in the United Kingdom, 1950, 1943–1945: Andrew Rothstein, Russia 1945–1947: Dr Hans W. Egli, Switzerland 1947–1952: Gottfried Keller, Switzerland 1952–1954: Dr Hans W Egli, Switzerland 1954–1955: Adalbert de Segonzac, France 1955–1956: Hedvig Thorburn-MacFarlane, Sweden (the first woman President of the FPA) 1956–1958: Richard Jokel, Netherlands 1958–1959: Eric Mettler, Switzerland 1959–1961: Claude Veillet-Lavallee, France, France-Soir 1961–1962: C.J. Van Sluys, Netherlands 1962–1964: Nasim Ahmed, Pakistan, Al-Jamhour Al-Jadid 1964–1966: Hans Benirschke, Germany 1966–1967: Paul Möller, Denmark 1967–1969: Basile Tesselin, France 1969–1971: Henry Gustav Alexander, GermanyWerner Röder, Herbert A. Strauss, Biographisches Handbuch der deutschsprachigen Emigration, Institut für Zeitgeschichte, 2016, 1971–1973: Henri A. Van Der Zee, Netherlands 1973–1974: Sam Plattner, Switzerland 1974–1976: W. Kornacki, Poland 1976–1977: Francis Devred, France 1977–1979: Fritz Beer, Germany 1979–1980: Erik Arni, Finland 1980–1982: Claus Toksvig, Denmark 1982–1984: Syed M. Mustafa, Pakistan 1984–1985: Robert Darroch, Australia 1985–1987: Roland Hill (journalist)S. J. Goldsmith, Britain in the Eye of the World: The Foreign Press Association in London 1888–1988, London 1988, p. 5 Germany 1987–1989: Ali Bahaijoub, Morocco 1989–1991: Reiner Gatermann, Germany 1991–1993: Patricia L. Layman, USA 1993–1995: Mustapha Karkouti, Syria 1995–1997: Barbara Kollmeyer, Germany 1999–2000: Tomohiko Taniguchi, Japan 2000–2002: Tine Van Houts, Netherlands 2002–2003: Philippe Le Corre, France 2003–2005: Catherine Mayer, USA 2005–2007 Annalisa Piras, ItalyAnna Politkovskaya had attended the FPA Media Awards in 2001, 2007–2009: Nazenin Ansari, UK-Iran 2009–2011: Hosny Emam, Egypt 2011–2013: Jurgen Kronig, Germany 2014–2016: Paola Totaro, Australia 2016–2018: Deborah Bonetti, Italy 2018–2020: Bénédicte Paviot 2020–2022: Kate McCure, Australian Media 2022–2023: Daniel Faitaua, New Zealand 2023–2025: Dagmar Seeland, Stern Magazine, Germany 2025–present: Vasil Hristov, Bulgaria

The Foreign Press Association Media Awards The FPA also hosts an annual award ceremony to celebrate global excellence in journalism. Entries are accepted from both United Kingdom and international media outlets. The official site bills the awards as the "Oscars of Journalism."

Categories include:

TV News Story of the Year Print & Web Story of the Year Environment & Science Story of the Year Arts & Culture Story of the Year Radio & Podcast Story of the Year

There are also two categories reserved for FPA members for stories about the United Kingdom in print and web, and in TV and radio respectively.

Past keynote speakers at the ceremony have included:

Queen Camilla Queen Rania of Jordan Chief Minister of Gibraltar, Fabian Picardo Senator Mario Monti, former prime minister of Italy King Felipe VI (then Prince of Asturias) King Charles III (then Prince of Wales)

See also Hollywood Foreign Press Association

References