Ladies and john but we welcome to the podium. [inaudible] hi everybody, it has been so wonderful tonight to meet so many old friends, and reconnect with so many people. So tonight we salute the talented journalists who have signed up to work their hearts out, undaunted by the financial gloom and our industry. So lets raise a glass to those who keep telling amazing stories, and showing us why we must continue to care. Your jobs require more knowledge, more skill than ever. And the wellbeing of our citizens depends on your success. So as you know, the u. S. Military believes it should never send an officer on a Difficult Mission without proper training. They dont say, as before and correspondence were once told, off you go, youll figure it out. Oh and file before you land. Our journalists are in a fight for their life. And they deserve all of the training and support we can possibly muster to help them cover and ever more complex world. Here is what nps is doing to help. The National Press foundation is training and educating journalist paired mpf logs Record Number of training days in 2019 teaching journalist about issues from az. It took reported to the Pacific Ocean to learn about the impact of Climate Change on oceans in the region. Gabe reported to deep dive on Dementia Research and care. We brought reporters uptodate on vaccines and infectious diseases. We taught them about science and agriculture and how food gets from farm to table. We looked up laws and reforms in the criminal Justice System and we brought statehouse and local government reporters to washington to learn about tools and resources they can use back home. Our paul muller fellowship is given the next generation of report is a ninemonth tutorial on how to cover washington, congress, white house, and executive agencies like the pentagon. I think this program is give me a wealth of knowledge and not in terms of context but data thats available out there. A lot of insights and resources at a perspective that is going to help me better protas and report on some of these stories. I already have two or three specific story ideas i am ready to pursue us into the radio back. This program really puts into perspective some of the data on issues that i report on. Two or three weeks after we learn how to cover courts and the department of justice, there were packets mailed to congress and i had to cover the justice department. I was only able to do that because of the great session on how to approach them for reporting trade so enjoy the people who really take times to walk us through regulatory systems but it would take a long time to figure out on your own. These are actually stories people want and need. And then i can provide them tillman thats a great feeling. [applause] before we move onto the rest of tonights awards, we would like to pause for a moment to recognize the incredible contributions that our retiring president , Sandy Johnson, has made to the National Press foundation. Heres a short video that talks about her impressive career. As president of the npf, sandy has made Journalism Training Program the Gold Standard in getting journalists the tools and knowledge they need. She has worked tirelessly to extend the foundations reach. Bringing a new financial support, recruiting and moving a strong effective team. And representing, always the highest values of our craft. Her claim to fame is a call that she didnt make in the 2000 election. There is 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 missing and she held off. A decision that proved to be rights, and demonstrated her commitment to accuracy and integrity. For her fax matters, words matter. Sandy, you have impacted the lives of thousands of journalists. Our profession is better because of you. On behalf of them and your legions, friends, and admirers, congratulations, thank you and best luck in the future. It has been an honor serving sandy and mpf. By feel like i received more than i got gave. She is organized and hardworking and has been a great example of consensus in leading a group of smart accomplished opinionated folks. There are three things that we all know that Sandy Johnson loves. Her family, quality journalism and baseball and we would hate to rank them. All of us on the npf board have enjoyed working with the over the past 15 years. First as a colleague, then as a board chair, and then your leadership is the National Press foundation. You bring to the table quality journalism, leadership skills, and a sense of humor. Well miss all of that and wish you well next phase of your life. [applause] [applause] we are not done yet. Thank you for your tireless dedication to our mission at the National Press foundation, and for your lifetime of contributions to great journalism in washington. We have some things for you. First,. [inaudible] [laughter] sorry. [laughter] so in recognition of your service as a long time and cf board member and president , we called on politicos worker two is here with us tonight. [applause] the previous winner of the npf award to create a portrait of you which we have right here. [applause] [laughter] so we hope you can find a place for it. Would you like to say anything . Thank you very much, its very much appreciated but lets get this program back on track. [laughter] she is always like that. Anyway we will now continue with the awards presentation. Ladies gentlemen, donna vice chair of the National PressFoundation Board of directors. [applause] are a close enough. Good evening everyone i hope you enjoyed your dinner so far. This is the inaugural year for the Heinrich Foundation award for distinguished reporting on trade. We are so honored that merle heinrich has placed his support for journalism and the National PressClub Foundations hands. And now it is my very great privilege to present the very first heinrich award to my former colleague paul wiseman, joe mcdonald and of the associated press. [applause] National PressFoundation Judges praise the ap series for its big picture historical look at americas trade history. And the reporters for their ability to cut through the political rhetoric with clear, colorful and lively writing. Here to accept their award on behalf of the team are paul and. [applause] first i want to take think the Heinrich Foundation and the National Press foundation and say how proud i am to share with and joe. They are real pros, reporters reporters both of them. Thanks to to aps economics editor. Into Business Editor brad for letting me do this work and for making it better. Hard to believe that for five years ago, trade reporting is almost an afterthought. The u. S. Trade representative was always calling us trying to get us to write about trade. That is not a problem now. [laughter] President Trump has upended trade policies so thoroughly and with such speed, that it is sometimes hard to keep your bearings. I remember a day a couple of years ago word came out he was threatening to put tariffs on 100 billion in chinese imports. It sounded insane. In previous trade battles, sanctions were measured in millions not billions of dollars. Surely it was a bluff. But it wasnt. Things have just escalated from there, the United States is now taxing 360 billion in chinese imports and wall street is just happy it isnt more. The reality has changed, its hard to keep up with the days events, let alone to try to come up with a context that makes sense to readers. At ap we have been looking for unique ways to tell the story, we compared china today to the United States in the late 1700s an early 1800s. Both were dens of intellectual thievery. We look at how businesses respond to trumps their spice shifting out of china and sometimes cheating. We look at trades that fly under the radar. Disputes over turkish cherry tarts and rubber bands from thailand. We will continue to look for angles that provide context and may be are a little bit fun. Some trade watchers expect 2020 to be a quieter year now that has assigned a trade one phase agreement with china. I would not count on it. To live like to say thanks again to the hind direct foundation in the National Press foundation for recognizing a beat should have never been an afterthought and certainly is not one anymore. [applause] this award for excellence in journalism is given annually to u. S. Broadcasters whose body of work represents the highest standard of journalism. Judges praise this years winner, danna basch of cnn good fan climbed there judges praised her for her consistent excellence and reporting in her commitment to fairness. She is a threetime winner of the National Winner of the award. Please join me and honoring danna basch. Two i am danna basch from washington washington doesnt take weekends off and neither do we. You to the question i do the answer welcome to politics am danna basch so danna basch is getting award for excellence in broadcast journalism. That surprises no one. I wish they were giving out awards for great people, great mothers, great friends. You deserved those awards too. And especially this on. Im going to take to the next level and be an activist. You have memory of that moment that you got the email . You also made an accusation the president spending money. [inaudible] what would cnn talk about, there talk a lot more about the issues. My offices next door to dan as an theres lots of shoes, throw pillows and fuzzy blankets on her couch. And a huge wonder woman poster that speaks volumes. But the real live wonder woman as you danna and what you bring to work every single day. Repeal replaces something terrific. Mr. President what was going to your mind it north korean a . What is that speech mean to you . We met what you doing to rig the election . If i told i might have to kill you. Good evening and welcome dana basch, its danna for some reason. A stock about you dumping me for handsome film star. [laughter] i also want to congratulate you on your award, thank you for all you do. You are surely the best of the best. On behalf of the acting president of the United States, i want to congratulate you on this award. Thank god you are there, we need you. Sue maggie are probably the first person in American History or World History to make a joke about your you know what on a debate stage. I only made a joke about my hands, i very powerful hands. Congratulations on this distinguished award. So high danna its brian grandson i wish i could be there with you tonight at the National Press foundations award to you which you so richly deserve. It is now my disembodied friend and i will be talking. [laughter] Dana Bach Fishburne just wanted to congratulate you interNational Press foundation award. Way to go girl. Congratulations to my spirit animal and role model, dana bach known deserves it more. Went to congratulate you interNational Press foundation award. I have to say no ones gotten such this prestigious award kudos my friend. Congratulations on this very welldeserved monarch, are viewers are so lucky to have your excellent reporting and i am truly lucky to call you my friend. We all love you. [applause] [applause] wow, that was incredible. I would see people who knew me well did that because you got all aspects of my life and my very eclectic interest. So thank you from cnn for doing that. Thank you so much, donna, thank you so much Sandy Johnson, congratulations on an incredible term. Think is much the National Press foundation it has been terrific to sit with bob tonight to learn about your father, and your grandfather for whom this award is named. And i know that he, your grandfather specially was so focused on the free and fair media and press, and that is why this award exist. Im so incredibly honored to be here because my son who is actually here tonight he will attest to the fact that when sandy called to tell me about this, we were in the car and i almost drove off the road. I was so surprised because i know the company that i am in tonight. My idols, my mentors, Andrea Mitchell late great trail brazing women Cokie Roberts gwen ifill its really hard to wrap my mind and my head around this. I am just hoping that you guys didnt use the Iowa Democratic party aptitude calculate the votes. [laughter] and if you did, just erase it and will pretend like it never happened. This is really special to me because of where journalism is right now. We heard about how hard it is but i want to look at it from the positive side. That is that i am stopped on a regular basis from the supermarket to the airport were people safe thank you. I just want to thank thank you and shake your hand and they say it which such sincerity and deep emotion, im sure this happens to a lot of people in this room. For me i have to be honest is a little bit jarring at first its not like i am an emergency room doctor, i am not a firefighter, i am not saving lives for a living i am just a person new talks on tv and reports the news. But as time has gone on, these times have gone on, i realize people get it, they do, they get what journalism means more than they have in a direct and trent generation then you bob woodward, and your colleague investigated and broke the watergate stories. And you change the generation and inspired a generation of young people to get into this business. Most people i encounter really understand at a deep level how important it is to get the facts, to get the truth, and even the face of the tax not just on the truth but on those of us who try to tell the truth. I am a really, really lucky to work it in a place where facts matter and they matter a lot. Orchard is guarded, it is protected, and is not taken for granted. I wanted say a special thank you to jeff for leading me and ill make colleagues at cnn and that mission of reporting the facts. Thank you. [applause] so this is my 207th year at cnn. Im a secondgeneration broadcast journalist, my dad was a producer at abc news. [applause] he was a producer at abc news for 40 years and my whole childhood i doubt i was not going to get into this crazy business. I was at the beach as a kid when the pope died we had to leave. [laughter] late nights, early morning, i grew up seeing up close theyre down side of your lives being completely dictated by world events out of your control. But he obviously saw the upside. I grew up and control rooms, i grew up around the rush of adrenaline when news was breaking. It was in my dna, ended a certain point in college i just stopped fighting it. I tried some internships and tv news and really loved it. And i have to say this was a very big surprise to my parents. Lets just say i was a late bloomer and had a little too much fun in high school. My dad likes to say that he is convinced i graduated from high School Without knowing there were three branches of government. [laughter] my mother said he journalism to and like my dad graduated northwestern. But a woman breaking into news, tv news especially in 1967 it was not easy. She graduated with honors from a prestigious university, billing job my mom could get was at a secretary with the local news station where she was expected to iron her bosses pants. She did have a brief stance as an anchor at one of the original cable outlets in chicago but left the business soon after it went on to find her calling as a jewish academic educator. Mom i am so honored to carry the torch, so thankful to you and dad for teaching me so much for this business, but most importantly leading by example and showing me what it means to strive to be a good person and every part of our lives. Thank you. [applause] and speaking of moms, that is my favorite title. It is my favorite job. Thank you to my son jonah, he is here tonight, for making me not just a mom but a very, very proud mom every single day. Thank you. I also want to thank everyone i work with at cnn, anyone who works in tv news knows that the team sport. I want to thank those who i worked with ted barrett i spent a decade within congress. We just heard talk about the estrogen suite where we are in the d. C. Bureau. All of my colleagues, on the Political Team and beyond who are the most collaborative, smart, and really, really fun people that anyone could work with. Thank you dispenser, my cheerleader and person, and all of my dear friends mike old friends who are here and came evening. Lastly i just want to tell you about this locket i am wearing tonight. This was my great grandmother matildas locket and insider pictures in it. She gave it to my grandmother terry my grandmother terry, her daughter. It was the last time they saw each other during world war ii. My grandparents were escaping now to europe to come to america and her parents were proud hungarians and they thought they were going to be safe there. But eventually hitler invaded hungary just like hitler invaded so many countries before, rounded up the jews and matilda my great grandmother, my greatgrandfather rudolph, their daughter and my great aunts, mother were all taken to al switch. Thats where they perished. Last month, it was a 75th anniversary of the liberation and my greatgrandparents didnt 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 always prevail. And i thank you for that. Thank you for this award. [applause] ladies and gentlemen w