OCTOBER 2026

Working for a Strong First Amendment and Sound Communications Policy

AN e-NEWS UPDATE FROM THE MEDIA INSTITUTE

FREE SPEECH AMERICA GALA

Jan Neuharth, Jack Abernethy Take Honors at Institute Gala

Jan Neuharth, Chair and CEO of Freedom Forum, was honored for her support of free speech and the First Amendment, while Jack Abernethy, CEO of FOX Television Stations, was recognized for his visionary industry leadership at the Institute’s “Free Speech America” Gala on Oct. 27. Freedom Forum Trustee and Secretary Barbara Wall and political strategist Mo Elleithee presented awards to Jan and Jack respectively. The Media Institute’s James Madison Fellow, Patrick Butler, was the evening’s Featured Speaker. WTOP News Anchor Shawn Anderson presided as Master of Ceremonies at the festive event, which took place at The Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown.

We’re adding photos, speeches, and more to our Gala webpage. Follow it HERE.

‘FREE SPEECH AMERICA’ GALA YOUTUBE CHANNEL

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COMMUNICATIONS FORUM LUNCHEON SERIES

Edward ‘Smitty’ Smith of T-Mobile To Speak in November

Edward “Smitty” Smith, Executive Vice President and Chief Public Policy Officer for T-Mobile, will speak on Nov. 19. Smitty is responsible for shaping and safeguarding the company’s policy, regulatory, and governmental interests worldwide, and will share his insights on telecom industry developments.

COMING UP...

Scott Blake Harris, Managing Partner of Crest Hill Advisors in Washington, will headline our final luncheon of the season on Dec. 8. With expertise in areas that include technology, telecom, spectrum, and AI, Scott will offer his perspectives on market and policy developments affecting these sectors in the year ahead.

Check out our most recent luncheon speaker, Robert Folliard. Rob stressed the importance of concentration within television markets and migration to the NextGen TV standard.

Robert Folliard of Gray Media addresses the need for TV market consolidation and NextGen TV

COMMUNICATIONS FORUM YOUTUBE CHANNEL

THANK YOU to our 2026 luncheon series sponsors! Be sure to include this luncheon series in your 2027 budget now. If you’re not a sponsor but would like to attend the November and December luncheons, contact Susanna Coto at coto@mediainstitute.org for details. JOIN US!

#TMICommForum

DIGITAL MEDIA CENTER / MADISON PROJECT

New White Paper: ‘The Optional Self’

A new white paper by Stuart N. Brotman examines the rapid rise of three kinds of digital stand-ins – avatars, recommendation engines, and artificial companions – and their escalating consequences for individual agency, democratic discourse, and free expression culture.

Titled “The Optional Self: Digital Proxies and the Future of a Free Expression Culture,” the paper offers a five-principle policy and design framework defining human functions that cannot be delegated to machines.

Stuart is Digital Media Laureate and Distinguished Senior Fellow at The Media Institute. “The Optional Self” is published jointly by the Institute’s Digital Media Center and The Madison Project: Free Speech and Press in American Democracy. The full paper can be read HERE.

Free Speech and Press
Celebrated Oct. 19-25

Free Speech Week, a nonpartisan event celebrating freedom of speech and press, was celebrated nationwide Oct. 19 through Oct. 25 with a flurry of activity by media groups, schools, universities, and individuals interested in commemorating and protecting these vital freedoms.

The week promoted awareness of free speech and press in the United States among all age groups and walks of life. It was created in 2005 by The Media Institute, which continues to provide promotional support and manages the Free Speech Week website. Learn more at freespeechweek.org.

ISSUE WATCH

Supreme Court: Political Ad Rate Rules Intact

Broadcasters will not face another court-driven change to political advertising discount rules before Election Day after the Supreme Court blocked an order that would’ve forced FCC action.

Judge Deals Blow to White House Bans

A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction extending CNN, MS NOW, and Politico’s access to the White House following President Donald Trump’s September ban of the news outlets.

We had a terrific time at our “Free Speech America” Gala on Oct. 27! We were privileged to honor Jan Neuharth and Jack Abernethy – and to welcome our Featured Speaker Patrick Butler, award presenters Barbara Wall and Mo Elleithee, and Master of Ceremonies Shawn Anderson. MANY THANKS to our Gala sponsors!

Free Speech Week, which ran from Oct. 19 to Oct. 25, was a success once again! Media outlets, schools and universities, and individuals took the opportunity to celebrate free speech and press in America. The Media Institute is proud to be the creator and facilitator of this popular annual celebration

We look forward to welcoming Edward “Smitty” Smith of T-Mobile as our Communications Forum luncheon speaker on Nov. 19. Rounding out our 2026 season on Dec. 8 will be Scott Blake Harris of Crest Hill Advisors in Washington. We hope to see you there!

The white paper we just released, “The Optional Self” by TMI’s Digital Media Laureate Stuart Brotman, is a fascinating look at the impact of three digital stand-ins that are reshaping our concept of a free expression culture – and definitely worth your attention.

As we celebrate free speech and press this month, the stakes could not be clearer: These constitutional guarantees do not defend themselves, and delay carries a cost. They will persevere only if citizens and institutions act with timely vigilance, principle, and resolve. That’s why The Media Institute exists. This is what we do.

But we depend entirely on your support to keep the Institute going – through your sponsorships of our Communications Forum Luncheon Series and “Free Speech America” Gala (our major fundraiser), and your Operating Support.

If you’re working on your corporate budget for 2027, please be sure to include The Media Institute – we need your support! Learn more about donating HERE. THANK YOU for your support! –Mike O’Rielly

#TheMediaInst