Dr. Anthony S. Fauci accepted the Association Foreign Press Correspondent’s (AFPC-USA) Honorary Award of the Year in December 2020 for his lifetime contribution to public service. Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the NIH, is one of the world’s most-cited biomedical scientists. “I am not a journalist, but a physician-scientist and public health official,” Dr. Fauci said, after expressing his thanks and gratitude to the Association of Foreign Press for presenting him with this award. “These are two very different career paths, but they have some common features.” He explained that clear communication is essential in his work, especially when new diseases, like the coronavirus, emerge. 

“My experience with COVID-19 has reinforced some key lessons about communications that I have learned over many outbreaks in the previous four decades. For me, these apply to all audiences”, Dr. Fauci said.

1. Lesson Number One - Fidelity to the Truth: Dr. Fauci believes that virtually all truths are revealed by science-based evidence and data. Consistency and truth-telling are critical to maintaining integrity.  “We must tell the truth, even if it means saying ‘I don’t know,” he said. People need to hear the actual truth versus how they want it to be. Dr. Fauci believes telling the truth builds credibility.

2. Lesson Number Two - Transparency: “We earn public trust when we are open and honest and do not withhold information. Make sure everyone understands where we are going, what our goals are, and how we propose to achieve them,” Dr. Fauci said. “When we falter in transparency, people stop believing what we say or stop listening altogether.”

3. Lesson Number Three - Communicate Clearly to Achieve Understanding: Dr. Fauci believes it is important for people of all fields to use language that everyone can understand. It’s an essential practice to build “public trust in science as the pathway to resolving the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuring that the fruits of our research, such as vaccines, have the greatest potential benefit,” he said. “As COVID-19 vaccines are deployed, we have formidable communication challenges ahead of us, as we work to convey with honesty, transparency and clarity, the benefits of vaccinations to sometimes skeptical audiences.”

Fauci ended his remarks addressing the Foreign Press Correspondents with the message: “Please stay safe, keep well and continue your important and outstanding work.”

CNN’s chief international anchor, Christiane Amanpour was also the Honorary Awardee of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA) in recognition of her lifetime contributions to the excellence of journalism. Amanpour, who is also the host of PBS’s “Amanpour & Co.,” spoke to viewers of her hopes for the future of journalism, and what journalists must do to prevent another fake-news epidemic.

1. Respect for Journalism: Amanpour, decked out in a light brown blazer, the glass AFC award by her side, first spoke of how she believes the Biden-Harris administration will respect journalism and its place in America’s civil society.

   Amanpour spoke of her hopes that journalists will no longer be accused of fake news, or be insulted by “the highest official in the land” -- a reference to former President Donald Trump. With Trump out of office, and respect placed back on the journalism field, she is faithful that other citizens, who were encouraged by the last administration, will stop taking their anger and frustration out on journalists.

2. Courageous Reporting: Amanpour wants journalists to take advantage of the opportunity to relaunch their ability to “report without fear nor favor” under the new American presidential administration. Journalists need “to be aware that no democracy is solid without a free, fair and independent journalistic community,” she said. Her strong beliefs were inspiring and empowering to viewers. Encouraging them to recommit to these ethics

3. The Last Four Years: Amanpour went on to speak about the tumultuous last four years under the Trump-Pence administration. She informed listeners that the administration under former President Trump taught journalists that they can’t give their journalistic platforms to just anybody to use, even if that person holds the most powerful American office. Whether the medium is broadcast, cable, radio, digital, or print journalism, journalists must protect their platforms from the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and conspiracy theories. 

   “There must be a new contract between us the journalist, and them, the elected officials, or any other actor in leadership roles around the world,” Amanpour said. “If they don’t tell the truth or deliberately lie, we are going to hold them accountable and we are not going to offer them unfiltered and unfettered access to our platforms.”

4. Parting Words: Amanpour ended her speech by congratulating the seven winners of the AFPC-USA scholarship. She then left viewers with one last inspirational piece of advice: “As journalists, we must always be committed to holding elected officials accountable for respecting the rule of law and for respecting democratic institutions. Of course, the basis of all of this is fact and truth.”

MICROSOFT has also been a proud and constant supporter of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA). Doug Dawson, Head of Global Communications at Microsoft, addressed the live streaming annual Annual Awards Ceremony of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents and presented Microsoft's sponsored 2020 Scholarship Awardees.

Ray Kerins is the Senior Vice President and head of corporate affairs of BAYER. BAYER is one of the major supporters of the AFPC-USA, helping it accomplish its mission to provide foreign journalists with valuable resources to higher their skills, establish networks, find employment opportunities and further their education.

“We at BAYER believe in a free and independent press,” Kerins said in his speech during the 2020 AFC scholarship awards ceremony lived streamed on Dec. 22. “Any threat to the freedom of the press is a threat to the existence of our democracy”, he said. Kerins explained journalists’ need for resources to produce quality journalism. He spoke of the 25% drop in newsrooms jobs over the last decade and their dwindling budgets.

“Fewer newsroom jobs mean fewer opportunities for the next generation of journalists to learn and hone their craft. At stake is far more than the careers of these aspiring communicators,” Kerins said. “But what is truly at risk is the very existence of high quality local, national and international information upon which all of us rely to make some of the most important decisions.” 

“Decisions,”  Kerins continued, “that affect our lives, the lives of our fellow citizens, the lives of our children, and our democracy.” The three journalists chosen to receive the Bayer Scholarship are Sarah Peter from Saint Lucia, Mariel Lozada from Venezuela, and Oheneba Ama Nti Osei from Ghana. “These three outstanding journalists are emblematic of the bright future for this profession and, by extension, our society,” Kerins said.

Bayer offers unrestricted support to the AFPC-USA. The company also helps provide assistance for training programs and donates to top professional organizations for journalists. “We are committed to offering journalists like these our support,” Kerins said. “Because it is the right thing to do for our country and our world.”

“There are many diverse and divergent opinions in society. We need to make sure all voices are heard, so no one group stands above another”, said Scott Vazin, Vice President and North American chief communications officer of Toyota Motor Corporation. TOYOTA is also a proud supporter of the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA).

Vazin spoke those words at the 2020 AFPC-USA scholarship awards ceremony, live-streamed on Dec. 22. Vazin also shared his hopes for the future of journalism and announced the winners of the TOYOTA scholarships. “In our business, it’s critical to provide accurate and factual information, but with the rise of social media and a 24-hour news cycle, we’ve seen the importance of factual, non-biased opinions declining,” Vazin said. “We need to make sure the next generation is doing what they can to tell better stories that are more engaging, help improve the way society is informed, and ensure our first amendment rights are never eliminated.”

Vazin has been a part of the communications business for about three decades. Over the years, he’s become saddened to witness a change in journalism and reporting. TOYOTA partnered with AFPC-USA to help combat this unethical journalistic pattern. Toyota is a multinational automotive manufacturer. Vazin and the North American TOYOTA branch are premium sponsors and supporters of the AFPC-USA. Regarding the three recipients of the Toyota scholarship awards, Vazin said: “Reading the resumes of our scholarship recipients. I’m blown away by the depth and breadth of their studies and experiences. And have no doubt they will set the benchmarks for their chosen fields.” Vazin hopes the scholarship awardees will uphold the Association Foreign Press Correspondence’s traditions, values, and integrity.

Damon Jones, the chief communications officer at Procter and Gamble, believes great journalism improves democracy. P&G is an American multi-national consumer goods corporation that generously supports the Association of Foreign Press Correspondents (AFPC-USA). Jones congratulated the scholarship recipients on Dec. 22, during the live streaming of the 2020 AFC-USA scholarship awards ceremony. He expressed his pride for these scholarship recipients’ work and confidence in their ability to continue connecting nations and connecting people. “Great journalism increases the strength of our society. And great journalism increases accountability in every sector,” Jones said.  “Great journalism deserves to be strengthened, nurtured, and supported along every step of the way,” Jones continued. “P&G and Jones are proud to do their part”.