[2] The association was founded in 1950 in Limoges, France on the initiative of Canadian journalist Émile-Dostaler O'Leary,[2] who served as the organisation's first president.

[1] Although initially a venue for French-speaking journalists to convene, over time the UPF became a professional union.

[2] It is an international nongovernmental organisation recognised by the European Parliament, La Francophonie, and the United Nations, among others.

[4] Past recipients of the prize include Michel Auger (2000), Le Rénovateur (2003), and May Chidiac (2005).

[4] As of August 2008, Alfred Dan Moussa of Côte d'Ivoire is the president of the UPF.