2026 Freedom of the Press Awards
The 2026 Freedom of the Press Awards will be held on Oct. 14, 2026, at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York.
Support the Freedom of the Press Awards
Please see our sponsorship brochure to reserve and/or purchase sponsorships, tables, tickets, and advertisements, or to make a donation in support of the 2026 Freedom of the Press Awards.
2026 Honorees
The 2026 Freedom of the Press Award winners are:
Career Achievement Award
Norman Pearlstine, journalist
Michele Norris, Senior Contributing Editor, MS NOW; Founding Director, The Race Card Project; Host, Your Mama’s Kitchen podcast
Catalyst Award
The Marshall Project
Local Champion Award
trina reynolds tyler, Data Director, Invisible Institute
Pro Bono Service Award
David A. Schulz, Director, Yale Law School Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic
Event Chairs
James A. Attwood, Jr., Senior Advisor, The Carlyle Group
Steven R. Swartz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Hearst
Sponsors
Legacies
Dodi Fromson and Family
MS NOW
Advocates
ABC News
Advance Publications, Inc.
Chevron
DCI
Dow Jones
The Glocer Family
The New York Times
Norman Pearlstine
Defenders
Amy & David Abrams
BlackRock
CNN
Knight Foundation
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
News Media Alliance
POLITICO
Joshua Ramo
Scripps
Jim Smith and Pam Kushmerick
The Washington Post
Supporters
Margaret & Mark Batten
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Kris Fischer
Linda Greenhouse
Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation
McGuireWoods LLP
Travelers
Leslie Wayne
Contributors
Ronald Olson
Sponsor list current as of July 14, 2026