Lets raise a glass to those who keep telling Amazing Stories and we must dont care. Your jobs require more knowledge, more skill than ever, the wellbeing of our itizens depends on your success. So as you know, the u. S. Military believes it should ever send an officer on a Difficult Mission without proper training. Hey dont say, as we foreign correspondents were once told, after you go, youll figure it out. And file before you land. [laughter] are, as mindyists said, in a fight for their life and they deserve all the support we can possibly muster to help them over an ever more complex world. Nps is doing to help. The National Press foundations sole mission is educating d journalists. They launched a direct number of teaching ays in 2019 it tooksts from a to z, reporters on the Pacific Ocean to learn about climate change. Deep dive onters a dementia care. Up on news about vaccines and infectious diseases. How food gets from farm to the table. Looked at flaws and reforms in the criminal justice system. Statehouse and local government reporters to washington to learn about tools resources of fake news. Paul mir is giving the next for reporters a ninemonth tutorial on how to congress, white house, and executive agencies like the pentagon. I think this program will not a wealth of knowledge only in terms of sources and contact but the kind of data thats available. A lot of insight and esources, and a perspective that will help me better produce and report on these stories. Two specific story ideas im ready to pursue as soon as i get back. This program will put into perspective some of the data on issues that i report on. We wo or three weeks after learned how to cover sports in the department of justice, there were package bombs made to and i had tongress cover the justice department, and i really only felt ready to we had a great it. Sion on how to approach i enjoyed the people who took through walk regulatory systems. It would take you a long time to understand on your own. That people stories want and people need and that i can provide them to them and thats a great feeling. [applause] before we move on to the rest tonights awards, we would like to pause for a moment, to the incredible contributions that our retiring president , Sandi Johnson, has to the National Press foundation. Heres a short video that talks her impressive career. Nps hes sident of the made his journalism Training Programs the Gold Standard in journalists the tools and knowledge they need. And as worked tirelessly well to extend the foundations reached. Bringing in new financial and leading uiting a strong, effective team, and the highest always craft. Of our her claim to fame is a poll she didnt make in the 2000 election. A lot of pressure on her to call the state of florida and the election for george bush. She said the numbers didnt add up. There were votes that were held off. Nd she a decision that proved to be demonstrated her commitment to accuracy and integrity. Her, facts matter. Words matter. Impacted the e lives of thousands of journalists. Our profession is better because of you. Them and your legions of friends and admirers, congratulations. You and best of luck in the future. Its been an honor serving, but i feel like i have received than i have given. Shes smart, organized and hard orking and how to gain consensus and lead a group of smart, accomplished and folks. Ated there are three things weve all come to know that Sandi Johnson loves. Family, quality journalism and nationals baseball. We wouldnt dare rank them. I appreciate working with you over the past 15 years. As t as a colleague, then board chair and finally your five years as the leader of the National Press foundation. A bring to the table commitment to quality journalism, leadership skills humor. Good sense of well miss all of that and wish you well in the next phase of your life. [applause] not done yet. Mra[applause] thank you for your lifetime contributions to great journalism in washington. For you. Ome things first. Oh. Sorry. So, in recognition of your long time board member and as president , we called on politicos matt who with us tonight. [applause]. Nps barry winner of man cartooning award to credit a we have of you, which right here. Mra [applause] we hope you can find a special place for it. If you would like to say anything. Thank you very much. Very much appreciate it. But lets get this program back track. [laughter] shes always like that. With , well now continue presentation. Ladies and gentlemen, donna vice chair of the Foundation Board of directors. Good evening. This is the hinrich year for distinguished reporting on trade. Were so honored that merl hinrich has placed his support national lism in the foundations hands. Now it is my great privilege to to my the first award former colleague paul wiseman, mcdonald and of the associated press. Its praised the serious for historical look at americas frayed history and the reporters for their ability to cut through political rhetoric with clear, colorful and lively writing. Accept the award on batch of the team are paul and ann. First i want to thank the Hinrich Foundation and the press foundation for this award. To say how proud i am to share it with ann and joe. Pros, reporters reporter, both of them. Andto the editor fred to Business Editor brad foss, work and g me do this for making it better. Its hard to believe but four or five years ago, trade reporting afterthought. The u. S. Trade rep was always calling us trying 20 get us to trade. Bout thats not a problem now. [laughter] ended ident trump has up trade policies so thoroughly and ith such speed that its sometimes hard to keep your bearings. I remember one day a couple of ago, word came out that he was threatening to put tariffs a hundred billion dollars in chinese imports. It sounded insane. In previous trade battles, measured in e millions, not billions of dollars. It was a bluff. But it wasnt. Escalated from there. Taxing ed states is now 360 billion in chinese imports happy itstreet is just isnt more. The reality has changed. To keep up with the days events, let alone to try to put it into a context that sense to readers. At a. P. Weve been looking for story. Ways to tell the we compared china today to the United States in the late 1700s 1800s, both of which of intellectual thievery. We looked at how businesses to trumps tear refs by shipping out of china sometimes looked at and we trade that seemed to fly under the radar. Disputes over turkish cherry and rubber bands from thailand. Well continue to look for angles that provide context and bit fun. A little some trade watchers expect 2020 to be a quieter year now that has signed a phase one trade agreement with china. It. Ouldnt count on so i would like to say thanks again to the Hinrich Foundation press National Foundation for recognizing a beat that should never have been afterthought and certainly one anymore. Thanks. [applause] the ssol taishoff award for excellence in broadcast is giving to ard someone whose work represents of highest standards journalism. Year they praised from cnn. For her aised her consistent excellenter excellent reporting and her commitment to fairness. Of the three time winner National Press foundations congressional reporting award. Please join me in congratulating dana bash. Good morning, politicians continue take weekends off and neither do we. Welcome to inside politics. Dana bash. Dana bash is getting an award in excellence for broadcast journalism. Surprises no one. I just wish they are giving out great for great people, mothers, great friends. Awards and those especially this one. Are you going to take it to the next level and be an activist on it . You have a memory of that moment that you got beaten almost to death . Accusations ade about the president spending money well talk a lot more about the issue. My office is next door. A monument to things we need. Pillows and fuzzy blankets on our couch and a huge wonder woman post their speaks volumes. But the reallife wonder woman is you, dana, and the gifts you your to friendship and to great work every single day. Repeal and replace was something the terrific is mr. President , what was going your mind looking at north korea. What did that speech mean to you . Doing to rig the election . I might have ou, to kill you. Good evening, welcome. Bash. Correspondent dana its dana. Hi. Here from tv. What do you talk about hardly me for this is the place for it. In all seriousness i just want congratulate you on your National PressFoundation Award and thank you for all you do. Best of the the best. On behalf of the acting president of the United States, you on o congratulate this award. Thank god you are there. We need you. Probably the first person in american history, maybe even world history, to what . A joke about you know on a debate stage. My only made a joke about hands. I have very powerful hands. Congratulations. I wish i could be there with ou tonight to celebrate the National PressFoundation Award so richly which you deserve. Dana bash. Fishburn, just want to congratulate you on your National PressFoundation Award. Go. To congratulations to my inspiration and role model. I just want to congratulate press your National Foundation award. Such to say cj never got a prestigious award so kudos to you, my friend. This very lations on well deserved honor. Lucky to s are so benefit from your excellent reporting and im truly lucky to friend. U my we all love you. [applause] incredible was obviously people who knew me well did that because you got of my life and my very eclectic interest. Thank you. For doing that. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. Congratulations on an incredible term. Thank you so much, to the National Press foundation. Terrific to sit with rod to learn about your father and grandfather for whom this is named. I know that he, your grandfather focused on theso free and fair media and press and thats why this award incredibly im so honored to be here because my son, who is actually here tonight. Hell attest to the fact that when sandy called to tell me about this, we were in the car almost drove off the road because i was so surprised, the company that i am in tonight. Mentors, andrea great trail e roberts, men, koke its hard for me to wrap my head around. His im just hoping that you didnt use the Iowa Democratic party app to calculate the votes got me here and if you did, just erase i and well pretend lying it never happened. Really special to me because of where journalism is right now. Weve heard a lot about how hard but i want to look at it thatthe positive side, and is, that im stooped on a regular basis from the super airport, the everywhere, really, by people who say thank you. I just want to shake your hand. For what you uch do, and they say it with such sincerity and deep emotion. A im sure this happens to lot of people in this room. For me, i have to be honest. T was a little bit jarring at first, i thought, its not like im an emergency room doctor. Firefighter. Im not saving lives for a living. Im just a person who talks on the news but as time has gone on, these times have gone on, i realize people it. They do. They get what journalism means they have in a generation, since you, bob and your you colleague, investigated and broke watergate stories, and you generation, inspired a generation of young people to get into this business. Now most people i encounter understand at a deep level how get the it is to facts, to get truth, even in the attacks, not just on the truth but the attacks on those to tell the truth. Im lucky to work in a place where facts matter. Facts matter a lot. Truth is guarded. Its protected and its not taken for granted. A special thank of reporting the facts. Thank you. [applause] cnn. Is is my 27th year at i entered this field reluctantly. I am a Second Generation broadcast journalist. My dad is here tonight. Newss a producer at abc 441 years and my childhood i vowed i would not get into this crazy business. I was at the beach as a kid with my family and the pope died. We had to leave. Late night, early mornings, i grew up seeing up close the downside of your lives being dictated by world events out of your control. I obviously saw the upside. I grew up in control rooms, around the rush of adrenaline when news was breaking. It was in my dna. At a certain point in college i stop fighting it. I really loved it. I have to say this was a very big surprise to my parents. Lets just say i was a late bloomer and had too much fun in high school. My dad likes to say hes convinced i graduated from high School Without knowing there were three branches of government. Journalism anded graduated from the school of journalism at northwestern. Intowoman trying to break news, tv news especially, it was not easy. She graduated with honors from a prestigious university, the only job she could get was as a secretary at a local news station where she was expected bosss pans. She had a brief stint as an anchor at a cable outlet in chicago. She left the business and went on to find her calling as a jewish academic and educator. I am so honored to carry the torch. Thankful to you and dad for teaching me about everything. About this business and leading by example, showing me what it means to strive to be a good person and every part of our lives. Thank you. [applause] moms, that is my favorite title. My favorite job. Thank you to my son jonah, here tonight, for making me not just a mom, but a very proud mom every day. Thank you. Everyone i to thank work with at cnn, anyone in tv news knows it is a team sport. Special thanks to my producer, in congress. We just heard someone talk about the estrogen sweep, where we are. All of my colleagues on the Political Team and beyond, who are the most collaborative, smart, and really fun people anyone could work with. Thank to spencer, my cheerleader and all of my dear friends, old friends who are here and came this evening. Lastly i want to tell you about this locket i am wearing tonight. This is my great grandmother matildas locket. ,he gave it to my grandmother her daughter. It was the last time they sign tethered during world war ii. My grandparents were escaping nazi europe and her parents were proud hungarians who thought they would be safe. Eventually hitlers made it to jewsry and rounded up the and matilda, my greatgrandmother, my greatgrandfather, their wereter, and my great aunt taken to auschwitz. That is where they perished. The 75thh was anniversary of the liberation of auschwitz. I great grandparents did not make it, but their descendents did. We are here. We are thriving. We are living in the greatest democracy in the world. We are helping to make sure truth and facts prevail. And i thank you for that. Thank you for this award. [applause] ladies and gentlemen, please welcome to the podium steve baker. Thank you very much. The first thing we do is play clip. The clip is of my grandfather. We started the awards in 1980 in honor of best reporting of congress in his name. Clip i found in a piece by howard smith. It was done in 1969. Hes asked about, in light of today, he was asked about how often he was able to change senators mind and how they vote. At first he was enthusiastic about the answer. Then he thought again, you will see it in this clip. Do you think any votes or minds are ever changed on the floor . Not often. Sometimes. It depends on the nature and obviously on the type of speech you make. I think it has happened twice to me. Once on civil rights because i dug up that quote from victor written in his diary, where it says an idea whose time is come is stronger. Is that a great guy or what . Can you imagine growing up his granddaughter . He always gave me history lessons and speeches about Abraham Lincoln and democracy. Im like 13. Or 10, actually. I would go along, ok. Lincoln. Things meany, those so much to me. I am an ardent student still of everett dirksen. Anyway. Back to dirksen. Award goes dirksens to michael cruz of politico. [applause] piece was on mikie sherrill. The story was titled the most important new woman in congress is not to you think. It really was, i told michael, it was a fantastic piece of journalism that shows the local and National Implications of any impact itnd how much can have on washington. Howjudges said he described the congressional process works through the lens of a first year representative and more specifically how moderates slowly pivoted toward impeachment. His reporting revealed the tensions within the democratic caucus. Michael, i present you with the dirksen award. [applause] thank you. I really appreciate watching that video and being here tonight. Up until now, dirksen has been a building on capitol hill. One of many i get lost in. School wasb out of aboutg an annual Magazine College basketball and scouting prospects while playing a middleman between them and the coaches who coveted them. That was going on 20 years ago. Five years ago when i came to politico, i did not know more about politics than any other diligent american. Surprised to be standing here in this room, in this company and for this reason. , grateful to the National Press foundation for its unexpected honor, grateful to work in a place like politico, an institution with the might and nerve to do important work. A place that makes me keep trying to get better. Thank you to robert and john steve, so many others that politico. Peter, garriott, who brought me to politico in the first place. Really no reason to. Appreciate you doing that. Bill, who has been my editor my entire time at politico and most of my time in florida at the st. Petersburg times. Weve been working on stories together for nearly a decade and a half. Especially in a time of such. Urn is such an uncommon gift when i started at politico, there was so much to adjust to, d. C. , the material, the competition, the pace. The only thing i did not have