WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thirteen individuals and organizations have been singled out by the The RTDNA Foundation for their efforts to promote responsible journalism and preserve the constitutionally guaranteed rights to do so.
Introducing the class of 2024 First Amendment Award honorees.
All recipients will be honored March 9 at the 33rd annual First Amendment Awards at The Watergate Hotel. They will join 141 previous recipients who stood for the values of the First Amendment.
“It is our sacred duty to promote, protect and defend the First Amendment, which makes journalism the only vocation specifically protected in our Constitution,” said RTDNA Foundation President Dan Shelley. “The individuals represented in this group of recipients embody the spirit of such journalism. And, their work reminds us why it is so important to defend the First Amendment each and every day.”
In addition to recognizing responsible journalism, the First Amendment Awards is the Foundation’s biggest annual fundraiser, enabling the Foundation to ensure the broadcast and digital news profession remains a critical part of our nation’s free press for generations to come and supporting scholarships for journalism students.
“The First Amendment Awards gives us all a chance to pause and reflect on the brave and brilliant work done in the name of journalism,” said RTDNA Foundation Chair Allison McGinley. “It is a true honor to get a chance to recognize these outstanding recipients.”
The 2024 First Amendment Award winners are:
- Gio Benitez, ABC News
- Lauren Chooljian, New Hampshire Public Radio
- Ingrid Ciprián-Matthews, CBS News
- Evan Gershkovich, The Wall Street Journal
- Dylan Lyons, Spectrum News 13 (Orlando), Citation of Courage (post-humous)
- Joan and Eric Meyer, Marion County Record, Citation of Courage
- ProPublica
- Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.)
- Jesse Walden, Spectrum News 13 (Orlando), Citation of Courage
- Clarissa Ward, CNN
- Kristen Welker, NBC News
