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

Presenting Sponsor

Champions

James A. Attwood, Jr.

Legacies

Dodi Fromson and Family

Advocates

ABC News
Advance Publications, Inc.
Chevron
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP
DCI
Denise and Michael Kellen Foundation
Dow Jones and The Wall Street Journal
The Glocer Family
The New York Times
Norman Pearlstine

Defenders

Amy & David Abrams
The Baltimore Banner
BlackRock
CNN
Craig Forman
Kanowa Trust
Knight Foundation
The Lenfest Institute for Journalism 
NBCUniversal News Group
News Media Alliance 
Newsweek
POLITICO
Joshua Ramo
Scripps
Jim Smith and Pam Kushmerick
The Washington Post

Partners

Anonymous
Linda Greenhouse
McGuireWoods LLP
National Basketball Association
Recht Kornfeld P.C.
Wallace House Center for Journalists

Supporters

Margaret & Mark Batten
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP
Kris Fischer
Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation
Jane Rosenthal
McGuireWoods LLP
Travelers
Leslie Wayne

Contributors

Ronald Olson

Sponsor list current as of July 30, 2026