NYSBA Attends the Media Institute's 2026 Free Speech America Gala

The Media Institute Chair Kathy Kirby and President/CEO Michael O’Rielly with FOX Television CEO  Jack Abernethy and NYSBA President and Media Institute Trustee Heidi Raphael

The annual event took place at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, DC.

NYSBA President and Media Institute Trustee Heidi Raphael, NAB Chief Communications Officer Jennifer Jose and Partner at Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP/ David Oxenford

The annual gala celebrates and acknowledges the freedoms of speech and press and pays tribute to leaders who have advanced America’s communications industry and have strengthened its culture of free expression.

Jack Abernethy, Chief Executive Officer at FOX Television- received the American Horizon Award and Jan Neuharth of the Freedom Forum was honored with the Freedom of Speech Award.

The event was emcees by WTOP Afternoon News anchor Shawn Anderson.