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

Luncheon Speakers

Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of USTelecom, shared his thoughts on the telecom industry in a fireside chat with Media Institute President Richard Kaplar on … Read More »

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Issue Watch

Senate Hearing Witnesses Spar Over Ownership Caps

During a major Senate hearing on broadcast ownership caps, witnesses and U.S. Senators generally agreed that local journalism faces serious challenges that … Read More »

Trusty: Ownership Deregulation Will Boost Broadcast Competition

FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty is defending the agency’s sweeping media ownership reforms, echoing the comments of many broadcasters that outdated … Read More »

FCC Opens Probe Into ABC’s ‘The View’

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launched a probe into ABC’s “The View” after the program held an interview with Democratic Texas Senate … Read More »

Media & Communications Policy Blog

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

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 »

Why Innovation Needs the First Amendment
By Guest Author Gary Shapiro

Our American democracy and our freedoms have long been models for others. For some 250 years, our ability to argue, debate, clash, and ultimately come … Read More »

TV Consolidation – A Moat Against Extinction
By Adonis Hoffman, Esq.

Broadcast television, once the unquestioned center of American life, now stands at the edge of obsolescence. What was once a cultural hearth has been … 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.