2026 Freedom of the Press Awards

The Freedom of the Press Awards return Oct. 14 to celebrate leaders in journalism and media law.

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

Champion

James A. Attwood, Jr.

Legacy

Dodi Fromson and Family

Advocates

ABC News
Advance Publications, Inc.
Theodore J. Boutrous, Jr. and Helen Boutrous
Chevron
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
DCI
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation
Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
The Glocer Family
The New York Times
Raj & Indra Nooyi
Norman Pearlstine and Jane Boon
Reuters

Defenders

Amy & David Abrams
Axel Springer SE
The Baltimore Banner
BCG
BlackRock
The Brunswick Group
Chan Soon-Shiong Family Foundation
CNN
The E.W. Scripps Company
Craig Forman
Fox News
Lisa Grunwald and Stephen J. Adler
Kanowa Trust
Knight Foundation
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
NBCUniversal News Group
News Media Alliance
Newsweek
POLITICO
Joshua Ramo
Jim Smith and Pam Kushmerick
TEGNA
USA Today
The Washington Post
WilmerHale

Supporters

Ballard Spahr
Margaret & Mark Batten
Marcus Brauchli and Maggie Farley
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Kris Fischer
Susan Goldberg – GBH
Arthur Golden
Guardian News & Media
Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation
Jane Rosenthal
Karen Roth
Jeff Sagansky
Peter Shapiro
Travelers
Leslie Wayne

Sponsor list current as of August 28, 2026.