National Press Club Hosts Annual Fourth Estate Gala, Recognizing ABC News' Martha Raddatz with Its Highest Journalism Honor

The New York Times, Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, and Los Angeles Times journalist Rebecca Ellis also honored

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Press Club honored three distinguished journalists and one of America's most storied press institutions at its annual Fourth Estate Awards Gala on Thursday, November 12, at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Martha Raddatz, ABC News' chief global affairs correspondent and co-anchor of This Week with George Stephanopoulos, accepted the Club's highest honor, the Fourth Estate Award, in recognition of her more than three decades of reporting from the world's most dangerous and consequential places. Her daughter, Greta Williams, and many of her ABC News colleagues were in attendance. In her remarks, Raddatz spoke about a career defined by bearing witness to politics and war and the irreplaceable value of storytelling. "Stories are at the heart of everything," she said, adding that "surrounded by professionals who care about stories and strive to tell the truth, the important work of journalism will continue."

The New York Times accepted the Club's domestic John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award for its extraordinary defense of a free press this year — challenging restrictive Pentagon press policies imposed by the Trump administration and backing five of its journalists who received government subpoenas seeking not only their communications, but the phone records of their families. The Trump administration ultimately withdrew the subpoenas after a federal judge threatened to quash them.

José Rubén Zamora, founder of el Periódico in Guatemala, was recognized with the international Aubuchon Award for his reporting into government corruption — work that led to his arrest in 2022 and imprisonment in 2023 on charges internationally condemned as politically motivated. His son, José Carlos Zamora, accepted the award on his behalf, calling on guests to embrace "radical collaboration and radical solidarity" in defense of press freedom. "Without freedom there is no democracy," he said, "and democracy depends on journalism exercising it."

Rebecca Ellis of the Los Angeles Times accepted the Neil and Susan Sheehan Award for Investigative Journalism for her investigation into a childhood sexual-abuse settlement that uncovered exploitation on a massive scale — prompting a criminal fraud investigation, a State Bar probe, and legislation to penalize unethical lawyers. In her remarks, Ellis urged the audience to invest in local investigative journalism. "All it takes is one story to course correct," she said.

"Tonight is a powerful reminder of the continued importance of journalism. Yet, I don't need to look far to be reminded of the pressures and threats journalists face right now. These threats are personal, intentional, and demand our attention," said National Press Club President Mark Schoeff Jr. "Community, connection, and a collective defense of a free, independent press remains more important than ever."

The gala raised funds in support of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the Club's nonprofit affiliate, which provides professional development, training, and scholarships for journalists across the country.

The Fourth Estate Award has been presented annually since 1973, when it was first awarded to Walter Cronkite. Past recipients include Helen Thomas, Tom Brokaw, Christiane Amanpour, Bob Woodward, Andrea Mitchell, Gwen Ifill, Lester Holt, and Robert Costa, who received the award in 2025.

About the National Press Club

The National Press Club is the world's leading professional organization for journalists. Founded in 1908, the Club has 3,000 members representing nearly every major news organization. The Club's mission is to promote and defend press freedom, provide training and resources for journalists, and serve as a gathering place for the profession. Learn more at press.org.

About the National Press Club Journalism Institute

The National Press Club Journalism Institute is the Club's nonprofit affiliate, providing world-class professional development, training, and scholarships for journalists. The Institute reaches more than 9,000 journalists annually through virtual trainings, in-person workshops, and other programming. Learn more at pressclubinstitute.org.

Contact: Dan Griffin, Communications Director of the National Press Club, [email protected]

SOURCE National Press Club