The Media Institute – Working for a Strong First Amendment and Sound Communications Policy

Luncheon Speakers

Arielle Roth, Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Commerce and NTIA Administrator, discussed the role of platform owners in free speech and foreign governments’ … Read More »

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Issue Watch

Judge Blocks Search of Washington Post Reporter’s Devices

A U.S. judge on Feb. 24 blocked federal prosecutors from searching devices seized from a Washington Post reporter as part of a leak investigation, saying … Read More »

Carr Defends FCC Role in Dropped Colbert Interview

Two days after CBS late-night host Stephen Colbert said he was barred from airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico (D) because of the network’s … Read More »

FTC Warns Apple News About ‘Left-Wing’ Bias

Apple News, the popular newsreader app that comes installed on every iPhone, is the latest media property to be warned by a regulator appointed by President … Read More »

Media & Communications Policy Blog

Informed and thoughtful commentary on a variety of First Amendment and communications policy issues.

Making TV Great Again – Better Than Ever
By Adonis Hoffman, Esq.

Television is experiencing its most consequential and captivating period of the year, a span of several weeks that began with the Golden Globe Awards, … Read More »

It’s Time for Patriots To Declare Themselves ‘Free Expression Warriors’
By Stuart N. Brotman

As America 250 unfolds this year, it’s a sure bet that the term “patriot” will be used more frequently to describe the brave fighters of the American Revolution and … Read More »

Why I ‘Chose’ The Media Institute
By Michael O’Rielly

Career paths can be carefully mapped or unexpectedly presented. In this case, the role called me. Late last year, it became clear that The Media … Read More »

Communications Forum Luncheon Series Kicks Off 2026 Season In February With NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth

FOR RELEASE: January 28, 2026 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-506-8030 Vienna, Va., Jan. 28, 2026 – The Media Institute’s Communications Forum Luncheon Series will launch its 2026 [...]

Comm. Olivia Trusty Looks at FCC’s Role in America’s Communications Future In ‘Conversations of Note’ Paper for Media Institute’s Madison Project

FOR RELEASE: January 26, 2026 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-506-8030 Vienna, Va., Jan. 26, 2026 – A paper released by The Media Institute’s initiative “The Madison Project: [...]

Richard E. Wiley To Step Down as Media Institute Board Chairman; Prominent Media Attorney Kathleen A. Kirby Named Successor

FOR RELEASE: January 7, 2026 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-506-8986 Vienna, Va., Jan. 7, 2026 – Richard E. Wiley, who has chaired The Media Institute’s Board of [...]

Law & Policy

The Institute participated with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other media groups recently in the following friend-of-the-court briefs and letter.

Bean Maine Lobster, Inc. v. Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation

TMI Joins a Whale of a Defamation Debate

View Brief

TMI Comments To FCC

Media Institute Comments on FCC’s News Distortion Policy

VIEW COMMENTS

U.S. v. Team Finance

Intervention by Media Outlets To Challenge Access Restrictions Is Essential

VIEW Brief

Digital Media Center

Digital Media Center Partners With Parks Associates

Parks Associates 2026 “Future of Video” Conferences

Stay tuned for the schedule of 2026 conferences!

Net Vitality 3.0: Identifying the Top-Tier Global Broadband Internet Ecosystem Leaders

CLICK HERE

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

2025 ‘FREE SPEECH AMERICA’ GALA

The Institute’s “Free Speech America” Gala took place on October 29, 2025, at The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. We honored Gary Shapiro with our Freedom of Speech Award and Hans Vestberg with our American Horizon Award. The evening’s Featured Speaker was FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty. Institute Board Chairman Richard E. Wiley was the Master of Ceremonies.