2025 First Amendment Award Recipients

Steve Inskeep, NPR

Steve Inskeep has been a host of NPR’s Morning Edition since 2004, where he is known for his compelling interviews with presidents, congressional leaders, and everyday Americans, including Pennsylvania truck drivers, Kentucky coal miners, and Yemeni refugees. His storytelling brings attention to both headline-making events and the voices of those often unheard.

Over his career, Inskeep has hosted Morning Edition from locations across the globe, including New Orleans, Detroit, Cairo, and Beijing. He has covered wars in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen; investigated conflict in Nigeria, earning a Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award; and explored immigration with a 2,428-mile journey along the U.S.-Mexico border.

In 2008, Inskeep and NPR’s Michele Norris received an Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton for “The York Project,” a series of conversations about race during the presidential campaign. He has also been part of NPR teams honored for coverage of Iraq and Afghanistan and has twice received Silver Batons for this work.

Inskeep is the author of four  books: “Instant City: Life and Death in Karachi,” a 2011 exploration of the Pakistani megacity; “Jacksonland,” a history of the conflict between President Andrew Jackson and Cherokee Chief John Ross during the 1830s; “Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Frémont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War,” and “Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America” published in 2023.

A native of Carmel, Indiana, Inskeep graduated from Morehead State University in Kentucky.

The RTDNA Foundation says: "For more than two decades, Steve Inskeep has developed a reputation as one of journalism’s best interviewers. While many powerful decision-makers seek to use media appearances to trumpet talking points, Steve challenges them at every turn, regardless of title or party. His questions are tough, but fair, and that accountability makes our democracy stronger."

Omar Jimenez, CNN

Omar Jimenez, an Emmy Award-winning CNN correspondent, is based in New York. He joined CNN in 2017 and has reported on numerous national and international stories, including the murder of George Floyd, the first major COVID-19 outbreak in the United States, and the sudden death of Kobe Bryant.

While covering protests in Minneapolis following George Floyd’s death, Jimenez and his team were detained live on air by Minnesota State Patrol. They were released after about an hour and resumed reporting. He later helped lead CNN’s coverage of the trial and conviction of the former officer charged in Floyd’s murder.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jimenez covered its medical and economic impacts, reporting from emergency rooms, jails, and hotspots across the United States.

Before his current role, Jimenez worked for CNN Newsource in Washington, D.C., covering breaking news for the network’s more than 900 affiliates. His reporting included the aftermath of the Notre Dame Cathedral fire in Paris, the Las Vegas mass shooting — the deadliest in modern American history — and the devastation from hurricanes in Florida and Texas during CNN’s Emmy-nominated 2017 coverage.

Jimenez began his career at WGEM-TV in Quincy, Illinois, as a multimedia journalist. He later joined WBAL-TV in Baltimore, Maryland, as a reporter and fill-in anchor, covering high-profile stories including the trials of officers charged in Freddie Gray’s death.

Jimenez holds a degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he also played varsity basketball.

The RTDNA Foundation says: "Omar Jimenez has covered several of the most consequential news events of this generation, often putting him at odds with those in power. He doesn’t back down; he politely, but firmly, seeks and reports the truth and proudly articulates the right of a free and fair press. Omar is a shining example of brave and excellent journalism.”

Charles D. Tobin, Ballard Spahr

Chuck Tobin has spent three decades fighting to protect the First Amendment rights of hard-working journalists around the country.  

A litigator and former newspaper reporter based in Washington, D.C., Chuck leads Ballard Spahr LLP’s Media Law Group across the firm’s 18 offices. With clients that include the nation’s leading news organizations, Chuck and the Ballard Spahr team organize coalitions of major broadcast, print, and online media in FOIA and courtroom-access lawsuits. Most recently, he led a coalition, which included RTDNA, in securing seats for reporters in court during the D.C. and Florida prosecutions of President Donald Trump.

Chuck also defends the media in libel and privacy lawsuits in state and federal courts throughout the country. He helps hundreds of newsrooms clear stories and advises clients on subpoenas and privilege issues, copyright matters, First Amendment rights, and drone journalism.  He has appeared in courts in more than half of the United States.

Prior to entering private practice, Chuck spent eight years as in-house counsel at Gannett. He has taught media law and ethics at George Washington University and the University of North Florida.  Before entering law school, Chuck was a reporter for The News-Press in Fort Myers, Florida.

Throughout his career, Chuck has served in leadership roles for free press and media law organizations, including Chair of the Media Law Resource Center Defense Counsel Section, the American Bar Association Forum on Communications Law, and the D.C. and Florida Bar Media Law Committees.  He also proudly serves on the Alumni Council of his alma mater, the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications, which elected Chuck to its Alumni Hall of Fame.

The RTDNA Foundation says: “Chuck Tobin has dedicated his life’s work to defending and protecting journalists and journalism, ensuring a vibrant future for both. He continues to lead the charge for press access and press freedoms, a fight that is as important now as it has ever been. RTDNA and the RTDNA Foundation are lucky to consider Chuck a friend, and our democracy is lucky to have him as an advocate.”

Rachel Scott, ABC News

Rachel Scott serves as ABC News’ senior political correspondent, covering President Trump’s second term and Capitol Hill. Her reports appear across all ABC News platforms, including Good Morning America, World News Tonight with David Muir, and This Week with George Stephanopoulos.

Scott’s career has been defined by her ability to hold leaders accountable. She has conducted exclusive interviews with major figures from both parties, including President Donald Trump, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and former Vice President Mike Pence. In 2021, she traveled as part of the international press pool for former President Joe Biden’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, where her bold questioning on human rights earned global recognition.

Scott’s reporting has earned numerous accolades, including a Peabody Award, an Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award, and multiple Emmy Awards. She has also been named NABJ’s Emerging Journalist of the Year and was included in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list in 2020.

A native of Southern California, Scott graduated from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.

The RTDNA Foundation says: “Few journalists have embodied ‘hold the powerful accountable’ as well as Rachel Scott. She has earned a reputation as a fearless journalist, willing to ask the toughest questions of the world’s most powerful individuals. Work like Rachel’s is why journalism is protected by the First Amendment of our Constitution.”

Lesley Stahl, CBS News

Lesley Stahl, who has spent most of her career with CBS News, is renowned for her groundbreaking political reporting, in-depth investigations, and compelling interviews with global leaders. Over the course of her illustrious career, she has received numerous prestigious awards, including 13 Emmys — one for Lifetime Achievement — the Edward R. Murrow Award, the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Silver Baton, the Founders Award for Journalistic Excellence from the International Center for Journalists, and the Radio Television Digital News Association's highest honor, the Paul White Award.

A correspondent for 60 MINUTES for more than three decades, Stahl has covered some of the most significant news stories of our time. In the 2023-24 season alone, she reported from Israel multiple times surrounding the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, became one of the few Western journalists to enter China under President Xi Jinping, and traveled to Tehran for a rare interview with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Her reporting has taken her to conflict zones such as Iraq, where she covered the plight of Kurdish refugees, and Romania, where she investigated the black market for babies.

Entering her 35th season with 60 MINUTES in 2024-25, Stahl has been with CBS News since 1971. She served as the network’s White House correspondent from 1972 to 1991, covering the Carter, Reagan, and Bush administrations, and was the first woman to anchor Face the Nation from 1983 to 1991. Throughout her tenure, she has interviewed key figures such as Margaret Thatcher, Boris Yeltsin, and Yasser Arafat, while frequently contributing to the CBS Evening News alongside Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather.

Born and raised in Swampscott, Massachusetts, Stahl graduated cum laude from Wheaton College in 1963 with a degree in History. She later served on the college’s board of trustees and is a patron of the New York City Ballet. She resides in New York City and was married to the late screenwriter and author Aaron Latham. They have one daughter and two grandchildren.

The RTDNA Foundation says: “Lesley Stahl is a relentless truth-seeker whose reporting has shaped our understanding of the world for over five decades. With her sharp intellect, fearless interviews, and unwavering commitment to the truth, she has set the gold standard for broadcast journalism. Few journalists have earned as much trust and respect, and even fewer have left such an indelible mark on the profession.”

Trey Yingst, FOX News

As FOX News Channel’s chief foreign correspondent, Trey Yingst has reported from some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. He is currently leading the network’s live coverage of the Israel-Hamas war from Southern Israel. Previously, he reported extensively from Ukraine during Russia’s invasion and provided exclusive coverage of the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, including a rare interview with Anas Haqqani, a leader of the Haqqani Terror Network.

Yingst has broken numerous stories in the Middle East, including uncovering a secret Iranian base and the smuggling of Iranian oil to Syria. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he gained exclusive access to the Coronavirus Critical Care Unit at Sheba Medical Center in Tel Aviv, Israel. His book, Black Saturday, published in 2024, became a New York Times bestseller.

Before joining FOX News, Yingst served as Chief Washington Correspondent for OAN, where he was known for his aggressive questioning of the Trump administration. He began his journalism career while still in college, co-founding News2Share, an online outlet covering conflict zones.

Yingst is a graduate of American University and has been recognized as one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in media and one of AdWeek’s Young Influentials.

The RTDNA Foundation says: “As the world endures conflict on multiple continents, Trey Yingst has a remarkable ability to humanize the horror, making it all the more real for an audience an ocean away. He also has been a leader in the industry, advocating for safety and mental health resources for journalists who witness trauma repeatedly to share it with their audiences.”

Karen DeWitt, New York Public News Network

Karen DeWitt is the 2025 recipient of the RTDNA Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award

Karen DeWitt is the former Capitol Bureau Chief for the New York Public News Network, a collaboration among 13 radio stations across New York State. She was also a regular contributor to the statewide public TV show, New York Now.

She retired in June after 34 years in public radio. 

Throughout her long career, she covered the changing fortunes of the Cuomos — both Mario and Andrew — the fall of Eliot Spitzer, the election of former First Lady Hillary Clinton to the U.S. Senate, and the election of the state’s first female governor. 

She now writes a regular column for the Albany Times Union.

The RTDNA Foundation says: “State political reporting is critically important to a functioning American democracy, and few in the country did it better than Karen DeWitt. For decades, she served the people of New York by challenging politicians in Albany and holding them accountable for their votes, their words, and their actions. Karen set a high bar for statehouse reporting in the United States.”