Gary Shapiro of CTA and Hans Vestberg of Verizon To Be Honored; FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty Will Be Featured Speaker

FOR RELEASE: October 14, 2025

Contact: Richard T. Kaplar
The Media Institute
703-506-8030

Vienna, Va., October 14, 2025 – Two chief executives from the worlds of media and professional sports will present awards at The Media Institute’s “Free Speech America” Gala on Oct. 29 at The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Sam Feist, chief executive officer of C-SPAN, will present the Freedom of Speech Award to Gary Shapiro, CEO and vice chair of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA).

Thaddeus “Tad” Brown, chief executive officer of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE), will present the American Horizon Award to Hans Vestberg, former chairman and CEO of Verizon.

Sam Feist, who joined C-SPAN in 2024, is a veteran of CNN where he served as Washington bureau chief and senior vice president. He oversaw CNN’s internal fact-checking team and Special Events unit, and was the executive in charge of CNN en Español.

Tad Brown oversees one of the largest sports and entertainment portfolios in the world, which includes the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, the NHL’s New Jersey Devils, Prudential Center in Newark, and other notable investments including Joe Gibbs Racing of NASCAR.

In addition to leading CTA, Gary Shapiro is a New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and outspoken supporter of the First Amendment. Hans Vestberg is the architect of Verizon’s 5G network strategy and executed Verizon’s record-setting $53-billion purchase of C-Band spectrum.

FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty will be the event’s Featured Speaker. Media Institute Chairman of the Board Richard E. Wiley will serve as master of ceremonies.

The Freedom of Speech Award recognizes an individual who has worked to advance free speech, a free press, and the First Amendment. The American Horizon Award recognizes an individual for visionary leadership in the communications industry.

Information about sponsorship opportunities and benefits can be found on The Media Institute’s website at https://www.mediainstitute.org/2025-free-speech-america-gala-sponsor-reservation/.

The Media Institute is a nonprofit organization specializing in communications policy and the First Amendment. Visit the Institute online at www.mediainstitute.org.

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