OUR YEAR IN REVIEW: 2025 MAD HEROES OF THE MONTH

Join us in celebrating those who inspired us and gave us hope in 2025

Every month, The Media and Democracy Project (“MAD”) proudly honors exemplary individuals and publications for their commitment to outstanding journalism, and advocacy for press freedom and democracy.

During our monthly MAD Monday gatherings, we highlight and uplift the inspiring courage these people and news organizations exhibit, honoring them with our “Media and Democracy Hero Award.” At our meetings, we ask our community to contact and thank these individuals, subscribe to their work, and recognize their admirable contributions to a better-informed America.

Please join us on January 22nd 8pm ET/ 5pm PT for a very special MAD Zoom event, our 2025 Extravaganza: A Year in Review. We will celebrate our heroes and work of the past year, and set the groundwork for another exciting year fighting for media reform and democracy. We’ll have special guests and do some fundraising as well.

We are excited to share a recap of all of these honorable awardees from 2025. Let’s take a look…

JANUARY 2025: ANN TELNAES

After an editor rejected her editorial cartoon—which was a powerful condemnation of billionaires (including Bezos!) and their submission to Trump’s autocratic demands at the expense of press freedom—Telnaes resigned from the Bezos-owned Washington Post. She publicly criticized the editor’s decision, deeming it a dangerous form of censorship. We honor her for her unwavering dedication to upholding press freedom, and her inspiring dedication to democracy. Find her work on her website and follow her here Ann Telnaes and on Bluesky.

FEBRUARY 2025: THE ASSOCIATED PRESS - DAISY VEERASINGHAM & JULIE PACE

The Associated Press refused to alter their style guide to rename the Gulf of Mexico despite intense political pressure. Other media organizations such as Google complied. After an unprecedented move to ban Associated Press reporters from accessing the White House, both Veerasingham (AP CEO) and Pace (Executive Editor) took inspiring stances. Rather than bowing to political pressure, together they filed a federal lawsuit against the administration and denounced the move as an unconstitutional retaliation. Their actions and public statements on the matter demonstrate their dedication to defending press freedom and editorial independence. We advise people to subscribe to the AP and to use it as a primary news source—they have an app, a website, and customized email notifications: https://apnews.com

MARCH 2025: RUTH MARCUS

Marcus resigned from the Bezos-owned Washington Post after the publication spiked her piece criticizing Bezos and the policy he adopted that limits the topics published in the Opinions section. In response, Marcus quit the publication, and publicly condemned the decision as a threat to press freedom, calling the decision a capitulation to Trump. Find her recent work as a New Yorker contributor here.

APRIL 2025: BOB MCCHESNEY

The late Bob McChesney was a pioneer who recognized 30 years ago that the advent of internet commerce would upend the funding that supported journalism and that this would harm democracy. He was an early inspiration for the Media and Democracy Project and gave MAD cherished counsel from our inception. He presented twice to our community and gave master classes on media independence, democracy, and journalism. Here’s a sample (with video).

Legendary McChesney quotes: “As the mainstream media has become increasingly dependent on advertising revenues for support, it has become an anti-democratic force in society” and “Our existing media system today is the direct result of government laws and subsidies that created it.” He established numerous organizational and intellectual foundations which advocate for media reform, over several decades of activism and scholarship. One of the nation’s top organizations which defends the public’s right to free and fair information is Free Press, which McChesney co-founded (not related to the Bari Weiss’ pseudo-news outlet). His legacy continues to inspire advocates of press freedom, and his lifetime’s contributions to a better-informed America are immeasurable. A partial Bob reading list is here.

MAY 2025: PROPUBLICA, 404MEDIA, WIRED, & TECHDIRT

All four of these publications have done remarkable investigative work and have also taken measures to ensure that investigative reporting remains accessible to the public, work that is often hidden behind paywalls. Their steps to ensure that their work remains public is admirable, especially in an environment of increasing censorship and privatization of the media. Their expertise in covering Silicon Valley, media oligarchs, and technology powered their extraordinary coverage of power of technocrats, AI, crypto, and the influence of Elon Musk. Their commitment to tackling stories that are both independent and critical of traditional corporate media is an inspiring snapshot of a greater movement for media reform. Subscribe to ALL of them: https://www.propublica.org https://www.404media.co https://www.wired.com https://www.techdirt.com

JUNE 2025: SCOTT PELLEY

Pelley made headlines this year after his fearless remarks on-air celebrating former “60 Minutes” executive producer, Bill Owens, and Owens’ decision to resign from the broadcast, citing a loss of independence to run the program without fear of retribution. Pelley’s live statements and solidarity with Owens proved an impressive display of commitment to press freedom, especially amid Paramount’s merger with Skydance Media, and the $20 billion lawsuit filed by Trump. Pelley’s critique of Paramount’s capitulation to Trump and consequential control over media coverage represents his unwavering commitment to uphold free speech. His work as a CBS Correspondent is here.

JULY 2025: ADAM ZYGLIS

We recognized Zyglis for his courage for creating a cartoon that effectively portrayed the nuance and truth behind real-world events, without feeling compelled to self-censor. This Buffalo News Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist shared a cartoon that was critical of the GOP’s decision to cut critical agencies that the public depends on in times of crisis, including during the devastating Kerr County, Texas floods. Zyglis received death threats after his First-Amendment protected decision to publish the piece, yet still publicly supported freedom of the press and affirmed his role as a journalist. Find his work on Bluesky, Instagram and at the Buffalo News.

AUGUST 2025: MARISA KABAS

Kabas is an independent, Brooklyn-based reporter and author of The Handbasket. Her work delivers fierce facts, before the mainstream media is willing to do so. Her publication was the first to report a devastating Office of Management and Budget memo, obtaining a copy of the order that had direct impacts on thousands of agencies which received federal funding. Throughout 2025, she continued to deliver high-impact journalism (and scoops!) rooted in public interest rather than profit. Subscribe to The Handbasket and follow her on Bluesky.

SEPTEMBER 2025: KAREN ATTIAH

In September, Attiah reported that the Bezos-owned Washington Post had removed her from her role as opinion columnist after her sharing of social media posts that provided broader context of Charlie Kirk’s murder, including a racist comment made by Kirk himself. She has a legacy of bringing important voices to the Post, including Jamal Khashoggi. The Media and Democracy Project is proud to have selected Attiah as our hero of September on the very day she powerfully announced her firing “The Washington Post Fired Me — But My Voice Will Not Be Silenced.” Her bravery and use of journalism to defend democracy is inspiring, and we are thankful for her dedication to this mission. “Democracy Dies in Darkness, but some of us will still carry on the light.” Follow her here Karen Attiah and on Bluesky.

OCTOBER 2025: WILL BUNCH

Bunch exemplifies the power of opinion journalism to tell the truth and defend democratic principles. Bunch published a hard-hitting opinion piece for the Philadelphia Inquirer in October, urging the Democratic Party to take critical action to defend the nation from the GOP’s dismantling of democracy under Trump. He criticized Democratic leaders for their limited actions that directly fight MAGA’s authoritarian campaign, rightly suggesting that the party instead has been mostly talk. Bunch writes “The reason is simple: Defeating fascism requires a very different type of posture — both politically and morally — than might an old-fashioned political quarrel between liberals and conservatives over tax rates and government services. To truly oppose a fascist Trump regime, we must declare ourselves anti-fascists.” Subscribe to The Inquirer to access his columns and support that worthy outlet and follow him on Bluesky.

NOVEMBER 2025: CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB

The Chicago Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists spearheaded lawsuits against the Trump administration’s assaults on press freedom in Chicago. It also launched an Essential Equipment Fund to protect independent journalists from chemical agents and less-lethal munitions to allow them to report safely in the Chicago area, amid important coverage of protests, demonstrations, and other events that are of public interest. By ensuring that journalists are equipped with the proper tools they need, their work directly supports journalistic freedom and the public’s right to know. This dedication is especially important at this time, as journalists fearlessly report on-the-ground incidents in Chicago and should be able to do so without fear of retaliation from immigration enforcement officers. Donate to the fund and invest in the Chicago Headline Club foundation.

DECEMBER 2025: SENTINEL COLORADO & ABC’s MARY BRUCE

The Sentinel is an outstanding local news outlet serving Aurora, Colorado. It is the only independent news organization that has called for the impeachment of President Trump. The groundbreaking piece by their Editorial Board is exemplary, and a perfect reminder of the vital role that independent journalists play in defending our democracy and the public’s right to know. Their work is not paywalled, and remains accessible to its online and print readers. We interviewed the Sentinel’s inspiring civic-minded Publisher Dave Perry. Make a donation to the Sentinel.

ABC’s Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce exemplified epic courage when she pressed the administration and its commitment to human rights, posing an important question about Saudi Arabia’s involvement in killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. She bravely asked the question in the Oval Office to the Crown Prince. Trump berated her, denouncing her talent as a reporter. Her colleagues failed to rally to her defense—but she alone stood down two autocrats, asked important questions, and stood her ground. Follow her on Zuckerberg’s Instagram and at ABC News.

Both of these MAD heroes underscore the importance of journalism and press freedom under the current administration, and MAD is proud to recognize the Sentinel and Bruce as displaying inspiring courage to defend these rights.

Say “Thank You” To Our Heroes

MAD encourages you to write to these individuals to thank them for being heroes, subscribe to their work, and celebrate their courage and dedication to democracy and freedom of the press. We are delighted to recognize the outstanding work that individuals take to defend these rights.

To support our work, please make a donation so we can continue to illuminate the inspiring stories of outstanding people—in support of a better-informed America—in 2026!

Invest in these worthy professionals and institutions! Support them with your media dollars and your valuable attention.

In solidarity and with gratitude,

The Media and Democracy Project leadership team and community

Please join us on January 22nd 8pm ET/ 5pm PT via Zoom for a very special MAD event, our 2025 Extravaganza: A Year in Review.

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LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026 - A BONUS ACTION: Be a media activist and join us at an upcoming Media and Democracy Project Zoom meeting.

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