Hoberman, Weiswasser Join Media Institute's First Amendment Advisory Council

FOR RELEASE: May 31, 2007

Contact: Richard T. Kaplar
The Media Institute
703-243-5700

Arlington, Va., May 31, 2007 - Henry S. Hoberman of ABC, Inc. and Stephen A. Weiswasser of Covington & Burling LLP have joined The Media Institute's First Amendment Advisory Council, it was announced today by Bruce Sanford, Esq., chairman of the council.

Henry S. Hoberman is Senior Vice President for ABC, Inc. and head of litigation, East Coast, for The Walt Disney Company. He joined ABC/Disney in 1998 as Vice President in charge of ABC's nationwide litigation group and was promoted in 2001 to Senior VP. He was promoted to his current position in September 2006. From 2004 to 2006, Mr. Hoberman served as Chairman of the Board of the Media Law Resource Center, and remains on its board. Prior to joining ABC/Disney in 1998, he was a partner in the Washington office of Baker & Hostetler. Mr. Hoberman is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and its Law School.

Stephen Weiswasser has been a partner in the Washington office of Covington & Burling since 1998, specializing in communications and media. His previous positions have included Executive VP and General Counsel of Gemstar-TV Guide International, Inc. (1999-2001); Presi-dent and CEO of Americast (1995-1998); Senior VP of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (1986-1995); President of the Capital Cities/ABC Multimedia Group (1993-1995); General Counsel of Capital Cities/ABC, Inc. (1986-1991); and other executive positions with ABC Television and ABC News. The Harvard Law graduate had been a partner at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering from 1974 to 1986.

"Henry Hoberman and Stephen Weiswasser are both industry veterans who combine hands-on experience with strong First Amendment sensibilities," said council Chairman Bruce Sanford. "We are delighted that the First Amendment Advisory Council will be able to benefit from their expertise." Mr. Sanford, a nationally recognized communications attorney, is a part-ner in the Washington office of Baker & Hostetler.

A listing of the First Amendment Advisory Council is attached. The Media Institute is a nonprofit foundation in Washington, D.C., specializing in First Amendment and communications policy issues. For more information visit www.mediainstitute.org.

Floyd Abrams, Esq.
Cahill Gordon & Reindel

Robert Corn-Revere, Esq.
Davis Wright Tremaine

Lucy A. Dalglish, Esq.
Executive Director
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Kevin Goldberg, Esq.
Fletcher, Heald & Hildreth, P.L.C.

Nat Hentoff
Author and columnist

Henry S. Hoberman
Senior Vice President ABC, Inc.

Adonis Hoffman, Esq.
Senior Vice President & Counsel
American Association of Advertising Agencies

Tony Mauro
Supreme Court Correspondent
American Lawyer Media

Ashley Messenger, Esq.
Editorial Counsel
U.S. News & World Report

Prof. Robert O'Neil
Founding Director
The Thomas Jefferson Center
for the Protection of Free Expression

Bruce Sanford, Esq.
Chairman
Baker Hostetler LLP

Rodney Smolla
Dean
T.C. Williams School of Law
University of Richmond

Stephen A. Weiswasser
Covington & Burling LLP

Kurt A. Wimmer, Esq.
Gannett Company, Inc.

Laurence H. Winer
Professor
Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law
Arizona State University