Distinguished Media Veteran Patrick Butler Will Be Featured Speaker at Oct. 27 Event

FOR RELEASE: August 24, 2026

Contact: Michael O’Reilly
The Media Institute
703-506-8030

Vienna, Va., August 24, 2026 – The Media Institute will honor Jan Neuharth of Freedom Forum and Jack Abernethy of FOX Television Stations at its annual “Free Speech America” Gala on Oct. 27.

Jan Neuharth will receive the Freedom of Speech Award, while Jack Abernethy will receive the American Horizon Award. Long-time Washington media leader Patrick Butler will be the evening’s Featured Speaker. The event will take place at The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Jan Neuharth is Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan, nonprofit foundation dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms. Previously, Ms. Neuharth practiced law in Los Angeles, worked on Capitol Hill for Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker, and conducted political polling for Louis Harris International in London.

Jack Abernethy has served as Chief Executive Officer of FOX Television Stations since 2004, overseeing Fox Corporation’s 28 owned-and-operated stations in some of the nation’s largest TV markets. Under Mr. Abernethy’s industry leadership, FOX stations have more than doubled while excelling at local programming, with nearly 1,000 hours of local news weekly.

Patrick Butler is known for a distinguished media career that has included leadership positions with America’s Public Television Stations, The Washington Post Company, Newsweek Productions, Times Mirror, and Pew Research Center. Previously, he served with distinction in U.S. Senate and White House staff positions. He is The Media Institute’s James Madison Fellow.

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.

“No matter where you are on the political scale, it has been a challenging year, respectively, for the broadcasting industry and the foundational rights preserved under the First Amendment,” said Media Institute President and CEO Michael O’Rielly. “Both Ms. Neuharth and Mr. Abernethy deserve immense credit for their work, and TMI is proud to celebrate their accomplishments with these duly earned awards. We look forward to raising a glass in honor of both individuals at our annual celebratory and reflective Gala,” he said.

Information about sponsorship opportunities can be found on The Media Institute’s website at https://www.mediainstitute.org/2026-free-speech-america-gala/.

The Media Institute is a nonprofit foundation specializing in communications policy and the First Amendment. For more information, visit the Institute online at www.mediainstitute.org.

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