RTDNA announces emcees for 2026 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala
The Radio Television Digital News Association is excited to announce the emcees for the 2026 Edward R. Murrow Awards Gala, which will honor outstanding achievements in journalism and broadcast news. This year’s hosts are Vicky Nguyen of NBC News, Errol Barnett of CBS News, Shimon Prokupecz of CNN, Gio Benitez of ABC News and Michel Martin of NPR.
The Murrow Awards Gala will be held Oct. 12 at Gotham Hall in New York City, bringing together journalists from across the country for a night of celebration.
“Each of this year’s emcees represents the excellence, integrity and commitment to public service that the Murrow Awards were created to recognize,” said RTDNA President and CEO Tara Puckey. “We’re honored to have this remarkable group of journalists help us celebrate the people and stories that represent the very best of our profession.”
Tickets for the 2026 Murrow Awards Gala are available here.
“The Murrow Gala is a rare opportunity to bring our profession together and celebrate journalism at its very best,” RTDNA Chair Blaise Labbe said. “This year’s emcees bring an incredible range of experience and perspective to the stage, and I’m excited to have them help us recognize the journalists and newsrooms behind this year’s outstanding work.”
Learn more about the 2026 Edward R. Murrow Award Gala emcees:
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About the Emcees
Vicky Nguyen, NBC News
Vicky Nguyen is NBC News’ chief consumer investigative correspondent, anchor of “NBC News Daily” and a New York Times bestselling author of the memoir “Boat Baby.”
Nguyen reports across NBC News platforms, including “TODAY,” “NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas” and NBC News NOW.
She graduated as valedictorian from the University of San Francisco and lives in New York with her husband and three daughters.
Errol Barnett, CBS News
Errol Barnett is an award-winning journalist who anchors “CBS Morning News,” streaming weekdays on CBS News 24/7, and reports across CBS News platforms and programs. He also fills in as a co-host on “CBS Mornings,” “CBS Saturday Morning,” and the “CBS Weekend News.”
Barnett has reported from five continents over a career spanning more than two decades. Since joining CBS News in 2016, he has covered major breaking news and served as a Washington, D.C.-based correspondent, including assignments covering the White House and transportation.
Before joining CBS News, Barnett anchored “CNN Newsroom” from Atlanta and a midday news hour from Abu Dhabi during CNN’s Peabody Award-winning coverage of the Arab Spring. He also hosted CNN’s “Inside Africa,” reporting from 22 countries across the continent.
Barnett began his journalism career at age 18 as Channel One News’ youngest anchor and reporter. He earned a bachelor’s degree in political science with a focus on international relations from UCLA.
Shimon Prokupecz, CNN
Shimon Prokupecz is an award-winning journalist and CNN’s senior crime and justice correspondent. Based in New York, he principally covers law enforcement and breaking national news stories, where his standout reporting has garnered accolades and acclaim from the Emmy’s, Peabody’s, and George Polk Awards.
In May 2022, Prokupecz led the network’s months-long coverage of the deadly mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where he garnered numerous exclusives and relentlessly pursued the glaring, unanswered questions about the law enforcement response to the Uvalde, Texas school shooter who killed 19 children and two teachers. His gut-wrenching interview with one surviving teacher underscored the horrific question, “Why didn’t anyone help sooner?”, and resulted in the review of law enforcement and school officials’ roles in the tragedy.
Prior to joining CNN, Prokupecz worked as a producer at WNBC and as an assignment editor at WABC in New York City. He previously served as a paralegal in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office.
Prokupecz is from Brooklyn, New York and is a graduate of Hunter College.
Gio Benitez, ABC News
Gio Benitez is co-anchor of ABC News’ “Good Morning America” on Saturday and Sunday and the network’s transportation correspondent. Based in New York, he covers aviation, space, railroads and the auto industry across ABC News programs and platforms.
Benitez has covered a wide range of major stories for the network, including the Pulse nightclub shooting, the Boston Marathon bombing and El Chapo’s escape from a Mexican prison. He also has a long history of breaking exclusive investigative stories as part of the “GMA Investigates” series, some of which have led to safety recalls.
Before joining ABC News in 2013, Benitez was a reporter and investigative producer at WFOR-TV in Miami. He began at the station as an Emma L. Bowen Foundation work-study scholar.
Benitez is the recipient of three national Emmy Awards and two regional Emmy Awards. Born and raised in Miami, he is fluent in English and Spanish and graduated from Florida International University with a degree in sociology and anthropology.
Michel Martin, NPR
Michel Martin is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and host of NPR’s “Morning Edition.” Previously, she hosted “All Things Considered” on weekends and the “Consider This Saturday” podcast.
Martin also serves as a contributor to PBS’ “Amanpour & Company.”
Throughout her career, Martin has been honored by numerous organizations, including receiving the Candace Award for Communications from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women. In 2019, she was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in journalism.