SEPTEMBER 2026

 
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Working for a Strong First Amendment and Sound Communications Policy

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AN e-NEWS UPDATE FROM THE MEDIA INSTITUTE

 
 

‘FREE SPEECH AMERICA’ GALA

Jan Neuharth, Jack Abernethy To Be Honored; Pat Butler Is Featured Speaker

Jan Neuharth of Freedom Forum will receive The Media Institute’s Freedom of Speech Award and Jack Abernethy of FOX Television Stations will receive the American Horizon Award at the Institute’s “Free Speech America” Gala on Oct. 27.    

    

Washington media veteran Patrick Butler will be the evening’s Featured Speaker. The event will take place at The Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown.

 

It’s not too late to sponsor a table but act soon! See sponsorship information HERE-or contact Susanna Coto at coto@mediainstitute.org. It will be a great evening!

#TMICommForum

 
 

COMMUNICATIONS FORUM LUNCHEON SERIES

Edward 'Smitty' Smith of T-Mobile Featured 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.

Robert Folliard Stresses Need for Consolidation

Robert Folliard, Senior Vice President for Government Relations at Gray Media, joined our luncheon on Sept. 24 at the St. Regis Hotel in D.C. to share his views on the need for greater concentration within television markets and migration to the NextGen TV standard.

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

You can still become a sponsor this season! We’re offering a special fall sponsorship package – contact Susanna Coto at coto@mediainstitute.org for details. JOIN US this fall!

#TMICommForum

 
 

FREE SPEECH WEEK

Annual Celebration Slated for Oct. 19-25

Free Speech Week, a national and nonpartisan event celebrating freedom of speech and press, will kick off Oct. 19 and run through Oct. 25. It will be an opportunity for media groups, schools, universities, community groups, and individuals to support free speech and press through their own activities.

 

The week promotes 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.

 

For ideas on how you or your organization can celebrate, visit the FSW website at freespeechweek.org.

 
 

ISSUE WATCH

White House Press Pool Coverage in Turmoil


TV network pool coverage of the White House resumed Friday, Sept. 25. But that night, the White House blocked CNN from traveling with President Donald Trump on Air Force One the next day. 

 

Paramount Settles With States Over Merger


Paramount Skydance has reached a settlement agreement with California and 11 other states that sued two months ago to block the company’s $110-billion merger with Warner Bros. Discovery.

 
 

AT THE INSTITUTE

Our “Free Speech America” Gala is less than a month away! We look forward to honoring Jan Neuharth, Chair and CEO of Freedom Forum, and Jack Abernethy, CEO of FOX Television Stations, at this festive event on Oct. 27. And we’re thrilled to welcome Pat Butler, The Media Institute’s James Madison Fellow, as our Featured Speaker. This will be a memorable evening not to be missed. Mark your calendar now for Tuesday, Oct. 27 at The Four Seasons Hotel in Georgetown. We hope you’ll participate as a sponsor and help honor our distinguished awardees. Learn more about sponsorship opportunities HERE. 

 

Our Communications Forum luncheon on Sept. 24 was a lively event with Rob Folliard, Senior VP at Gray Media. Rob made a great case for TV station consolidation, especially in smaller markets. Our thanks to Rob for an excellent presentation. The luncheons will resume in November with Edward “Smitty” Smith of T-Mobile on Nov. 19. We hope you’ll be there!  

 

Free Speech Week is coming soon! We encourage all of our friends and colleagues in the media to use this opportunity to show your support for free speech and free press through your organizations or personally. The week takes place Oct. 19-25. Find ideas for celebrating at freespeechweek.org.

 

Meanwhile, we’re continuing our efforts to advance sound communications policy, a strong First Amendment, and excellence in journalism. 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 finalizing 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 

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