The Media Institute – Working for a Strong First Amendment and Sound Communications Policy

Luncheon Speakers

Paul Gallant, Managing Director/TMT Policy Analyst at TD Cowen, provided a Wall Street investment perspective on the technology and telecommunications sectors, as well … Read More »

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Issue Watch

ABC Files First Amendment Lawsuit Against FCC

ABC filed an unprecedented First Amendment lawsuit against the FCC on Aug. 18, claiming that its investigations and regulatory actions are part of a Trump … Read More »

Danielle Thumann Servers, FCC Commission Seat Nominee

Danielle Thumann Severs Nominated to FCC Seat

President Donald Trump has nominated Republican Danielle Thumann Severs, who is a senior counsel to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, to serve on one of the … Read More »

FCC Votes To Modify TV Station Ownership Caps

In a landmark vote that is likely to encourage a wave of deals in the broadcast station business, the Federal Communications Commission has voted to … Read More »

Media & Communications Policy Blog

Informed and thoughtful commentary on a variety of First Amendment and communications policy issues.

Who Can Save Local Television? The Merger Main Street May Need
By Adonis Hoffman, Esq.

By most accounts, America’s local television stations are in trouble. Declining viewership, diminished advertising revenue, and devastating competition from streaming services have left local broadcasters … Read More »

The letters TMI are colorfully displayed

TMI Embraces Too Much Information
By Michael O’Rielly

For many of us, The Media Institute – an esteemed forum for convening, debating, and defending the First Amendment’s protections for American media – is … Read More »

Paramount Deal Doesn’t Trigger Foreign Ownership Concerns
By Michael O’Rielly

After months of a publicly contested bidding war over the Warner Bros. Discovery assets, Paramount ultimately prevailed. The company now moves to the deal … Read More »

Press Releases

The Media Institute Announces That Freedom Forum Chair Jan Neuharth And FOX Television Stations CEO Jack Abernethy Will Receive Awards at ‘Free Speech America’ Gala

Distinguished Media Veteran Patrick Butler Will Be Featured Speaker at Oct. 27 Event FOR RELEASE: August 24, 2026 Contact: Michael O'Reilly The Media Institute 703-506-8030 Vienna, Va., August 24, 2026 [...]

Communications Forum Luncheon Series Kicks Off 2026 Season In February With NTIA Administrator Arielle Roth

FOR RELEASE: January 28, 2026 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-506-8030 Vienna, Va., Jan. 28, 2026 – The Media Institute’s Communications Forum Luncheon Series will launch its 2026 [...]

Comm. Olivia Trusty Looks at FCC’s Role in America’s Communications Future In ‘Conversations of Note’ Paper for Media Institute’s Madison Project

FOR RELEASE: January 26, 2026 Contact: Richard T. Kaplar The Media Institute 703-506-8030 Vienna, Va., Jan. 26, 2026 – A paper released by The Media Institute’s initiative “The Madison Project: [...]

Law & Policy

The Institute participated with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and other media groups recently in the following friend-of-the-court briefs and letter.

U.S. v. Lemon and Fort

Civil Rights Statutes Should Not Be Misused To Constrain Journalism

View Brief

Bean Maine Lobster, Inc. v. Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation

TMI Joins a Whale of a Defamation Debate

View Brief

TMI Comments To FCC

Media Institute Comments on FCC’s News Distortion Policy

VIEW COMMENTS

Digital Media Center

Digital Media Center Partners With Parks Associates

Parks Associates 2026 “Future of Video” Conferences

UPCOMING CONFERENCES

Future of Video: Business of Streaming

IN-PERSON

November 18 – 19, 2026
Future of Video
Event Info | Click to Register

Learn more about these conferences here: www.futureofvideo.us.

Net Vitality 3.0: Identifying the Top-Tier Global Broadband Internet Ecosystem Leaders

CLICK HERE

Wednesday, October 29, 2025

2025 ‘FREE SPEECH AMERICA’ GALA

The Institute’s “Free Speech America” Gala took place on October 29, 2025, at The Four Seasons Hotel in Washington, D.C. We honored Gary Shapiro with our Freedom of Speech Award and Hans Vestberg with our American Horizon Award. The evening’s Featured Speaker was FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty. Institute Board Chairman Richard E. Wiley was the Master of Ceremonies.