Echo Awards pick CPJ’s Katherine Jacobsen as keynote speaker

By AI, Created 4:50 PM UTC, May 18, 2026, /AGP/ – The Echo Awards named Katherine Jacobsen, a Committee to Protect Journalists program coordinator, as keynote speaker for the inaugural awards luncheon June 11 in Reston, Virginia. The event will honor public sector media and communications work across nine categories, with voting open through May 15.

Why it matters: - The inaugural Echo Awards are trying to put a spotlight on public sector journalism and communications at a moment when pressure on journalists remains high. - The awards will recognize reporting across nine categories, plus two lifetime achievement honorees. - Jacobsen’s background in press freedom adds a direct connection between the event’s mission and the risks facing journalists.

What happened: - The Echo Awards named Katherine Jacobsen, U.S., Canada and Caribbean Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, as keynote speaker for the first awards luncheon. - The luncheon is scheduled for June 11 at the Carahsoft Conference & Collaboration Center in Reston, Virginia. - Voting remains open until May 15 at voting page. - Ticket and table sales are available at sponsorships and tickets.

The details: - CPJ is a nonprofit that promotes press freedom worldwide and defends journalists’ rights to report safely and without fear of reprisal. - Jacobsen has worked as CPJ’s U.S. researcher since 2019. - Her CPJ work has included reporting on press freedom violations during the Black Lives Matter protests and on the Capital Gazette shooting trial proceedings. - Jacobsen also worked on advocacy efforts involving Canadian journalists denied access to report on anti-logging protests. - Before joining CPJ, Jacobsen reported for The Associated Press in Moscow. - Her Moscow reporting covered nuclear waste dumping, rising HIV rates among drug users and Russia’s air campaign in Syria. - As a reporter in Ukraine, Jacobsen covered the Maidan protests, Crimea’s annexation, the separatist takeover of Donetsk and reform efforts in Kiev for outlets including Businessweek, U.S. News and World Report, Foreign Policy and Al-Jazeera English. - The Echo Awards are sponsored by a host committee that includes W2 Communications, Focused Image, RMK Productions, Boscobel Marketing Communications, Birdsong Partners, Sage Communications, Merritt Group, REQ, Yes& and Carahsoft. - Sponsors include Armis from ServiceNow, BLC Digital Strategies, EIN Presswire, Federal News Network, Knox Systems and O’Dwyer’s PR.

Between the lines: - The selection of a press freedom advocate signals that the Echo Awards want the luncheon to be more than an industry ceremony. - The sponsor list shows broad support from public sector communications firms, media outlets and vendors tied to the government market. - Evan Weisel, principal and co-founder of W2 Communications and a member of the planning committee, said public sector journalism is essential to a transparent democracy and praised Jacobsen’s commitment to defending journalists worldwide.

What’s next: - Organizers will close voting on May 15 and move toward the June 11 luncheon. - The awards will then honor journalists and lifetime achievement recipients across the announced categories. - The Echo Awards’ social channels are on LinkedIn, Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook and X.

The bottom line: - The inaugural Echo Awards are using a well-known press freedom advocate to frame a new recognition program for public sector journalism.