RTDNA Foundation announces 2026 First Amendment Award honorees
The RTDNA Foundation will recognize 12 outstanding individuals and organizations at the 2026 First Amendment Awards, celebrating their efforts to promote responsible journalism and preserve the constitutionally guaranteed rights to do so.
All honorees will be recognized March 12 at the 35th annual First Amendment Awards at The Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. They will join more than 150 past recipients who stood for the values of the First Amendment.
“At a time when the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment are challenged on every front, the journalists, organizations and individuals we honor today stand as powerful examples of courage, integrity and unwavering commitment to the free flow of information,” said RTDNA Foundation President Tara Puckey. “Their work informs, supports and strengthens our communities, and it definitely protects the core principles that make a free press essential to democracy. We are proud to shine a spotlight on these champions of press freedom and to celebrate their vital contributions.”
Past honorees include local reporters, network anchors, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and multiple U.S. Senators. The awards honor the First Amendment and the bold and brave efforts many take — whether in an instant or throughout their careers — to protect it.
"Exposing wrongs and telling the truth, no matter the consequence, is core to our job as journalists,” said RTDNA Foundation Chair Sheryl Worsley. “Sadly, we are seeing more retribution both professionally and personally against those who uncover corruption and bring it into the sunlight. We honor those who have paid a high price while standing up for the First Amendment by raising awareness in their communities."
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.
This year, those 12 scholarship and fellowship recipients will be recognized at the Watergate Hotel during the First Amendment Awards.
The 2026 First Amendment Award winners are:
Juju Chang, ABC News
The RTDNA Foundation chose to honor Chang because she has distinguished herself as one of the most compelling storytellers, known for her bold reporting and ability to bring humanity and depth to complex issues. Over a lifetime in journalism — from newswriting to anchoring Nightline — she has demonstrated a commitment to long-form, thorough reporting that elevates the public consciousness in increasingly challenging times.
Vladimir Duthiers, CBS News
The RTDNA Foundation selected Duthiers, now a featured host of CBS Mornings, for his tireless work covering some of the most difficult topics of our time. A veteran foreign correspondent whose longtime career includes award-winning coverage of crises — from natural disasters to terrorism — Duthiers continues to embody journalistic courage and a commitment to telling stories that would not be heard without his microphone.
Kevin Goldberg, Freedom Forum
The RTDNA Foundation is honoring Goldberg, vice president at the Freedom Forum, for his tireless work defending and promoting free expression, press freedom and open access to information — values at the heart of the First Amendment. Through advocacy, public engagement and support for journalism innovation, he helps safeguard a diverse and independent media environment.
Jennifer Griffin, Fox News
The RTDNA Foundation selected Griffin for her trusted and tenacious reporting covering the Pentagon. She joined dozens of colleagues in boycotting the Pentagon’s new press-access rules, standing firmly for transparency and the public’s right to know. Her principled resistance reflects a career spent holding power to account and defending the essential role of an independent press in national security reporting.
Tom Llamas, NBC News
The RTDNA Foundation chose Llamas, now anchor of NBC Nightly News, for his commitment to carrying forward the strong legacy of NBC’s flagship newscast while expanding its reach to younger and wider audiences. Llamas is the first individual to serve as the solo anchor of both an evening broadcast program and a one-hour primetime streaming newscast, showing a dedication to innovation and to meeting the evolving needs of today’s viewers.
The RTDNA Foundation selected NPR and PBS News for their perseverance after politicians demeaned them and Congress cut their federal funding. NPR and PBS News continue to provide free, independent journalism to millions of Americans — especially in regions underserved by commercial media — sustaining the tradition of public-interest reporting rooted in First Amendment values. Their enduring commitment to in-depth news, cultural programming, and civic-minded content reflects the vital role of public media.
Bill Owens, (former) 60 Minutes
The RTDNA Foundation selected Bill Owens, just the third person to run 60 Minutes in its 57-year history, for his principled stand in defense of journalism. Owens resigned as executive producer in April, citing a loss of his editorial independence. Owens worked at CBS News for 37 years and left after President Trump filed a lawsuit against the network and the show on dubious grounds. Owens’ career exemplifies the kind of rigorous, high-impact journalism that sustains public trust and defends the First Amendment’s promise of a free press.
Manu Raju, CNN
The RTDNA Foundation is honoring Raju, CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent and anchor of Inside Politics Sunday, for his dogged, behind-the-scenes political coverage, reinforcing the critical watchdog mission of the press. Raju’s fearless reporting has earned praise from colleagues and criticism from both sides of the aisle, a testament to his steady presence informing the public about Capitol Hill’s most consequential developments.
Jim Rodenbush, (former) Indiana Daily Student
The RTDNA Foundation selected Rodenbush, former director of student media at the Indiana Daily Student, for his bold and brave stand, refusing a directive from university administrators to censor his students’ right to cover news freely. His termination shortly afterward — and the university’s subsequent decision to suspend the print edition — spotlighted the fragile state of student press freedom and rallied national support for editorial independence.
Vitus “V” Spehar, Under the Desk News
The RTDNA Foundation chose V Spehar to recognize how Under the Desk News delivers clear, accessible and often under-reported stories from a distinctive “under the desk” perspective. V’s innovative approach has opened new pathways for civic engagement, particularly among younger viewers who may feel disconnected from traditional media. By blending authenticity and creativity, V has expanded the reach of trustworthy journalism in the digital age.
Citation of Courage
Asal Rezaei, CBS News Chicago
The RTDNA Foundation is honoring Asal Rezaei, a general-assignment reporter for CBS News Chicago, with the Citation of Courage. Rezaei has repeatedly risked her personal safety to shed light on stories of public importance, most recently when she was shot at with a pepper ball at an immigration-detention facility. Her willingness to stand her ground and continue reporting — despite physical danger — exemplifies the bravery and resilience of a free press committed to informing the public, even under threat.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Bertrand, (ret.) WGN Radio
The RTDNA Foundation is celebrating Steve Bertrand with the Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor designated contributions to local news. Bertrand has been a trusted voice on WGN Radio for four decades, anchoring news since 1992 and earning the confidence of generations of Chicago listeners. Over his career, he covered many of the most significant local and national events of the past 40 years while mentoring colleagues and helping define the standard for excellence in local radio journalism. His retirement in 2025 marks the culmination of a lifetime dedicated to informing the public and strengthening the role of local news.
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About the Honorees
Juju Chang, ABC News
Juju Chang is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-anchor of ABC News’ “Nightline.” A trailblazer known for her powerful storytelling, she regularly contributes to “Good Morning America,” “20/20” and “IMPACT x Nightline” on Disney+ and Hulu.
Chang's in-depth reporting over four decades spans the COVID-19 pandemic, mass shootings, climate migration and gender-based violence across the globe. Chang’s acclaimed coverage includes “Stop The Hate,” addressing anti-Asian violence, and “Murder in Atlanta,” which earned a Front Page Award. She also received honors from GLAAD, Peabody, DuPont and Murrow for her long-form pieces on immigration, LGBTQ+ rights and mental health.
Born in Seoul and raised in California, Chang began at ABC as a desk assistant and rose to national prominence. A Stanford alumna, she’s
Vladimir Duthiers, CBS News
Kevin Goldberg, Freedom Forum
Kevin Goldberg is a vice president and First Amendment expert at Freedom Forum, where he works to educate the public on the importance of the First Amendment and oversees Freedom Forum’s network of experts.
Goldberg is a regular presenter at conferences and has spoken at events sponsored by the U.S. State Department and nonprofits in more than a dozen countries around the world, as well as having appeared on major media outlets such as MSNBC, NPR, Fox television stations and the Forbes Breaking News Channel as a legal expert on First Amendment issues. He also speaks to students at every education level ─ from elementary schools to college to law school and other graduate programs ─ and to community groups around the country, including having taught a class in journalism and First Amendment law for seven years at George Mason University.
Prior to joining Freedom Forum, Goldberg served as vice president, legal for the Digital Media Association, which represents the world’s leading audio streaming companies. Before DiMA, Goldberg spent 25 years in private practice at two law firms where he focused on the First Amendment, the Freedom of Information Act, and intellectual property issues for clients, including the News Leaders Association, Association of Alternative Newsmedia, World Press Freedom Committee and Global Investigative Journalism Network, providing legislative advocacy, litigation strategy as well as training on free speech, free press and open government issues.
Goldberg serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations supporting journalism and the First Amendment, including the National Press Foundation, where he is a past board chair, the Alternative Newsweekly Foundation, where he is current board president, the Public Access Television Corporation of the District of Columbia, where he is current board vice president, and the Tiffany Shackelford Foundation, where he serves as board secretary.
He graduated from James Madison University in 1992 with a B.A. in communication with a concentration in broadcast television and radio. He earned his law degree from George Washington University in 1995.
Jennifer Griffin, Fox News
Jennifer Griffin currently serves as the Chief National Security correspondent for FOX News Channel (FNC). She joined FNC in October 1999 as a Jerusalem-based correspondent. Prior to that, she reported for 3 years from Moscow for FNC.
Since 2007, Griffin has reported daily from the Pentagon, where she questions senior military leaders, travels to war zones with the Joint Chiefs and Secretaries of Defense, and reports on all aspects of the military and the current wars against ISIS and Al-Qaeda.
Griffin reported on the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities as well as Iran’s retaliation. Additionally, she has provided extensive coverage on the Israel-Hamas war live from the Pentagon. She covered the Russian invasion of Ukraine, reporting live from Lviv and Kyiv, Ukraine, where she presented an exclusive sit-down interview with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. In April 2022, she secured an exclusive interview with United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, which took place at Ramstein Air Base in Germany following his meeting with dozens of defense ministers on the war in Ukraine.
A graduate of Harvard University in 1992, Griffin received a B.A. in comparative politics. Griffin played an integral role in the rescue of FNC’s state department correspondent Benjamin Hall. Her efforts were documented in Hall’s New York Times bestseller "Saved: A Reporter’s Mission to Make it Home." In September 2022, Griffin received the Transatlantic Leadership Network’s "Freedom of the Media" Gold Medal for Public Service award.
Tom Llamas, NBC News
Tom Llamas is anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News with Tom Llamas and anchor of Top Story with Tom Llamas, a daily streaming primetime newscast on NBC News NOW. In his role, Llamas leads breaking news and political coverage for NBC News and NBC News NOW.
His previous marathon coverage on big news nights, including the 2024 Election Night and the September 2024 Presidential Debate, has led NBC News NOW to ratings milestones. Throughout the 2024 campaign cycle, he was also a key contributor to NBC News’ network coverage and on Election Night, he provided viewers with the latest breakdown of numbers and results from the Big Board.
Since rejoining NBC News in 2021, Llamas has reported across the globe on major breaking news, including on the New Orleans terror attack, the Israel-Hamas war, the war in Ukraine, the June 2024 assassination attempt on President Trump, the deadly Baltimore bridge collapse, the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, the Tokyo and Paris Olympics and numerous natural disasters, including the 2023 Lahaina wildfires.
A native of Miami, he graduated from Loyola University in New Orleans with Bachelor of Arts degrees in broadcast journalism, as well as drama and speech. Llamas also completed a program at the University of Miami’s Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies, which focused on Raúl Castro and Cuban American voters.
He currently resides in New York with his wife, two daughters and son.
NPR and PBS News
NPR
NPR is a nationally acclaimed, non-profit multimedia organization and the leading provider of non-commercial news, information and entertainment programming to the American public.
Launched in 1970 as a radio network by a group of public radio stations, today NPR is among the most successful news organizations in America and a growing presence in digital media including podcasting, mobile applications and social media.
PBS News
PBS News is the primary daily, breaking and special news producer for PBS. It is the consolidator news brand within News Hour Productions LLC, a wholly owned nonprofit subsidiary of WETA that produces PBS News Hour, Washington Week with The Atlantic; Horizons from PBS News, Compass Points from PBS News; primetime and daytime breaking news and political specials; and documentaries. PBS News also maintains a robust footprint across digital and social platforms.
For over 50 years, PBS News Hour, currently co-anchored by Amna Nawaz and Geoff Bennett, has served as public television's marquee nightly news program.
Bill Owens, (former) 60 Minutes
A leading figure in broadcast journalism, Bill Owens is the former executive producer of the legendary newsmagazine 60 Minutes. Over a distinguished career spanning more than three decades at CBS News, Owens was a pivotal force in shaping some of the most impactful and award-winning investigative journalism on television.
Owens helmed the broadcast during landmark interviews with President Joe Biden, President Donald Trump, Pope Francis, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. He guided 60 Minutes through many of the most consequential events of modern history, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the impeachments of former President Donald Trump, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the Israel–Hamas war. During the 2023–24 season, Owens led 60 Minutes to a historic milestone as the broadcast marked its 50th consecutive season as the No. 1 news program across all broadcast and cable television. In its 56th season, 60 Minutes reached one in three Americans at least once through linear television and live streaming.
Under his leadership, 60 Minutes received its second Insight Award from the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (2022) and an Emmy Award for Outstanding Recorded News Program (2021). In addition to the many honors earned by stories he shaped and supervised, Owens has received multiple Emmy Awards, an IRE Award, and contributed to an RTDNA Edward R. Murrow Award for Overall Excellence.
Owens is from Oyster Bay, New York. He graduated from Towson in 1988 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mass communications.
Manu Raju, CNN
Manu Raju is the anchor of Inside Politics Sunday and CNN’s Chief Congressional Correspondent, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics. Raju is a veteran reporter in Washington, having previously served as a top Capitol Hill correspondent at Politico for seven years. Prior to his time at Politico, Raju reported for The Hill newspaper, Congressional Quarterly and Inside Washington Publishers. He has long been a frequent guest on political talk shows on TV and radio.
Raju has won multiple journalism awards for his reporting on the major battles consuming Washington and his coverage of campaign politics. In 2022, Raju was part of a team of reporters who won the David Bloom award from the Radio and Television Correspondents Association for their coverage of the Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol. In 2022, the Milwaukee Press Club also recognized Raju with its Sacred Cat award, given annually to a national reporter for making distinguished contributions to the field of journalism.
Raju got his start in media working at the student newspaper The Badger Herald at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, his alma mater. And his writing roots extend to his late grandfather, Gopalakrishna Adiga, a legendary poet from South India who wrote in the language of Kannada. Raju is a long-suffering Chicago sports fan and a native of the Greater Chicago area.
Jim Rodenbush, (former) Indiana Daily Student
For the past 16 years, Jim Rodenbush has worked with award-winning student media organizations, helping to mentor the next generation of journalists.
Most recently, he served as Director of Student Media at Indiana University and taught in The Media School. During his time there, the Indiana Daily Student won 12 Pacemaker Awards from the Associated Collegiate Press and was twice named College Media Outlet of the Year by the College Media Association.
Before coming to IU, Rodenbush managed student media programs at Colorado State, Penn State, and Webster universities. Along the way, he taught courses in reporting, writing, editing and media management.
Rodenbush is a frequent conference speaker and former president of WAUPM and executive director of the Indiana Collegiate Press Association. He holds a bachelor’s in journalism from Webster University and a master’s from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.
Vitus “V” Spehar, Under the Desk News
V Spehar is an award-winning digital journalist, podcaster, and content creator making news more human and accessible. Creator of Under the Desk News, V has built a following of over 4.7 million by delivering current events with clarity, empathy, and wit. They tackle topics from Gen Z voter engagement to gender-affirming care, and their reporting has included interviews with Presidents Biden and Obama, Vice President Harris, and key cabinet members.
V has covered major political and cultural moments, including the 2024 Democratic National Convention and the Paris Olympics for TikTok, and contributed to outlets such as The Washington Post, The L.A. Times, and NBC News. Recognized with a Special Achievement Webby Award, a Shorty Award for News Creator of the Year, and as one of TIME100’s Most Influential Digital Voices of 2025, V is a sought-after speaker on authenticity, resilience, and civic engagement. They are currently working on their debut book with Zando Publishing, coming in 2026.
Citation of Courage
Asal Rezaei, CBS News Chicago
Asal Rezaei is an award-winning reporter for CBS News Chicago.
She joined CBS in 2021, reporting on everything from daily breaking news to national immigration stories. While on assignment at the ICE Facility in Broadview, a federal agent shot at Rezaei’s car with a pepper ball. The account she reported on air garnered international attention.
Before her current role, Rezaei extensively covered the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest following the death of George Floyd for Spectrum News Wisconsin. She covered the Kenosha riots and eventually the trial of Derick Chauvin and the verdict aftermath in Minneapolis. Rezaei was also on the ground for several natural disasters during her time in Greensboro, North Carolina, including a deadly EF-3 tornado and Hurricanes Michael and Florence. During her time in both North Carolina and Wisconsin, Rezaei heavily covered immigration issues, telling the stories of women taking sanctuary from ICE in local churches.
Rezaei began her career at KYMA News 11 in Yuma, Arizona as a morning anchor and reporter covering high-profile court cases and border crimes. She also spearheaded a cold case series and profiled the last two remaining members of a cult embedded in the desert.
Rezaei has a journalism degree from Columbia College Chicago and is on the board of directors for the Chicago Journalists Association.
Lifetime Achievement Award
Steve Bertrand, (ret.) WGN Radio
For 40 years, Steve Bertrand was part of Chicago’s daily conversation on WGN Radio. Arriving as an intern in 1984, he joined the station full-time after graduating from Marquette University in 1985 and remained there until retiring last year.
He worked in nearly every day part including as the afternoon drive host and the morning news anchor. He also spent six years on the road with the Chicago Bears, producing play-by-play broadcasts and hosting pre- and post-game programs.
Bertrand brought a measured demeanor to his broadcasts, along with a sharp sense of humor, that both informed and entertained his listeners.
The Mayor of Chicago declared his last day on the air as “Steve Bertrand Day” in Chicago.
Bertrand was also an early host of Meet the Writers on Barnes and Noble.com, interviewing hundreds of authors, and currently hosts Steve Bertrand on Books on WGNRadio.com.
He is on the Board of I Care International, a charity providing people in Mexico and Central America with eye exams and glasses. His most recent clinic was in El Salvador.
Knowing the value of experiencing other cultures, Bertrand leads group trips to Europe and South America each year.
He and his wife, Sharon, have two daughters and live in Chicago’s northern suburbs.
About the RTDNA Foundation
The RTDNA Foundation, a 501(c)3 educational foundation, was created to help RTDNA members embody and uphold the standards of ethical journalism and promote leadership in the newsroom. The Foundation works for an America in which the press is able to hold the powerful to account, shine a light on corruption and act as a catalyst for positive change in local communities without denial of access, undue restriction, or fear of attack. We train and equip local journalists and journalism students to know their rights and report seek and report truth ethically – upholding your right to know.