Covington to be Honored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Covington to be Honored by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

May 9, 2024

WASHINGTON—The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has announced that Covington will be honored at this year’s Freedom of the Press Awards, which recognize the accomplishments of leaders in the news media and legal fields whose work embodies the values of the First Amendment. The 2024 Freedom of the Press Awards will be held on October 16, 2024 in New York City.

Covington will be recognized with the inaugural Freedom of the Press Pro Bono Service Award. This award honors those who have dedicated significant time and support to journalists and newsrooms through ProJourn, which brings together teams of law firm media lawyers and in-house counsel to meet the growing needs of local journalists.

Working with ProJourn, Covington has provided crucial pro bono legal support on both editorial and business matters as a part of the firm’s Kurt Wimmer Media Freedom Pro Bono Initiative, launched as a tribute to Covington’s late partner Kurt Wimmer, an international leader in media law and 2010 recipient of the Reporters Committee’s First Amendment Award (now the Freedom of the Press Award). Through the Wimmer Initiative, Covington undertakes a broad range of pro bono matters aimed at protecting and advancing media freedom and assisting nonprofit newsrooms.

The Reporters Committee provides pro bono legal representation, amicus curiae support, and other legal resources to protect First Amendment freedoms and the newsgathering rights of journalists.

Covington has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service. The firm is frequently recognized for pro bono service, including 12 times being ranked the number one pro bono practice in the U.S. by The American Lawyer. Much of the firm's pro bono work is anchored in meeting local needs, serving economically disadvantaged individuals and families in our surrounding communities, in addition to its long history of serving vulnerable clients and important causes throughout the U.S. and the world.