News Releases

Sam Donaldson, Charles Gibson, Judy Woodruff, Jack Womack to Present First Amendment Awards

WASHINGTON— Charles Gibson and Sam Donaldson will present the Leonard Zeidenberg First Amendment Award to Cokie Roberts at the 19th annual First Amendment Awards Dinner on March 12 in Washington.  Gibson is the anchor of ABC’s World News and Donaldson is a contributor to ABC News.     

Judy Woodruff, senior correspondent with the NewsHour on PBS, will present the First Amendment Leadership Award to Google Inc. Eric Schmidt, chairman and CEO of Google will accept the award.

Jack Womack, senior vice president of domestic news operations and administration for CNN/US, will present the First Amendment Service Award to Susan Grant, Executive Vice President of CNN News Services.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation will be presented with a special award for the support of First Amendment issues and Sunshine Week by RTNDF President Barbara Cochran. Alberto Ibargüen will accept the special First Amendment Award.

RTNDF previously announced that Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC’s Hardball, will emcee the First Amendment Awards Dinner

The black-tie event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m. at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, 1150 22nd Street NW, Washington. To purchase sponsorships, tables or tickets, contact Allyson McKithen  Media wishing to cover the event should contact Stacey Staniak at 202.467.5214. Information about the First Amendment Awards is available at www.rtnda.org.

RTNDF provides training programs, seminars, scholarship support and research in areas of critical concern to electronic news professionals and their audience. The foundation’s work is supported by contributions from foundations, corporations, members of the Radio-Television News Directors Association and other individuals.