Jan Neuharth, Chair & CEO of Freedom Forum, and Jack Abernethy, CEO of FOX Television Stations, To Be Honored

FOR RELEASE: October 13, 2026

Contact: Michael O’Rielly
The Media Institute
202-412-3892

McLean, Va., October 13, 2026 – The Media Institute’s “Free Speech America” Gala, honoring Jan Neuharth, Chair and CEO of Freedom Forum, and Jack Abernethy, CEO of FOX Television Stations, announces their award presenters: Barbara Wall and Mo Elleithee. The Gala takes place Oct. 27 at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Barbara Wall, who serves on the Board of Trustees of Freedom Forum, will present the Freedom of Speech Award to Jan Neuharth, Chair and CEO of Freedom Forum. The Freedom of Speech Award recognizes an individual who has worked to advance free speech, a free press, and the First Amendment.

Mo Elleithee, a political strategist and policy institute director, will present the American Horizon Award to Jack Abernethy, CEO of FOX Television Stations. The American Horizon Award recognizes an individual for visionary leadership in the communications industry.

Barbara Wall is a Trustee and Secretary of Freedom Forum. She is the former Chief Legal and Operating Officer of USA TODAY Co. and serves on its board of directors. Ms. Wall chairs the American Press Institute board of trustees and serves on the board and executive committee of the News/Media Alliance.

Mo Elleithee is the founding Executive Director of Georgetown University’s Institute of Politics and Public Service. A former Democratic National Committee Communications Director who worked on four presidential campaigns, he is a longtime political commentator who appears regularly on CNN, MS NOW, PBS NewsHour, the BBC, and KCRW’s Left, Right & Center.

Under Jan Neuharth’s leadership, Freedom Forum has built on its longstanding leadership in press freedom and First Amendment education, expanding its work to make the five freedoms meaningful in the lives of all Americans. She has championed new ways to bring the First Amendment to life and meet people where they are – such as launching Freely Fest, a First Amendment music festival.

Since 2004, Jack Abernethy has overseen FOX Corporation’s 29 owned-and-operated stations in some of the nation’s largest television markets. The FOX stations are industry leaders in locally produced programming, which has more than doubled under Mr. Abernethy’s leadership to 1,500 hours of locally produced news per week – more than any other owned-and-operated broadcast group.

Longtime media executive Patrick Butler will serve as the event’s Featured Speaker. He is The Media Institute’s James Madison Fellow, specializing in First Amendment initiatives. Most recently he was President and CEO of America’s Public Television Stations.

Information about sponsorship opportunities and benefits 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 organization specializing in communications policy and the First Amendment. Visit the Institute online at mediainstitute.org.

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