Dana Bash (with her award) and Honorary Gala Co-chair Wolf Blitzer at Moment’s 2024 benefit and awards dinner.
More than 300 people gathered at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, Sunday night for an inspirational evening celebrating trailblazers in journalism and democracy at Moment’s 2024 benefit and awards dinner. Guests were welcomed by the evening’s Honorary Co-chairs Wolf and Lynn Blitzer and Ambassador Stuart Eizenstat and Marion Lewin. NPR’s Nina Totenberg was the evening’s emcee.
Honoree Dana Bash, CNN’s chief political correspondent, spoke movingly about the antisemitic harassment she has faced online and in person, including at her home, in the wake of her reporting on the Middle East since October 7. She pointed out that her coverage hasn’t differed from that of other television anchors; the only difference is that she is Jewish. Bash made it clear that she is determined not to let these intimidating tactics deter her from reporting on crucial issues, including antisemitism. She received the Robert S. Greenberger Journalism Award for her commitment to principled, independent journalism and to holding public figures to account. She was introduced by her mother, Moment Senior Editor Francie Weinman Schwartz, and C-Span CEO Sam Feist.
Robert Siegel speaks about the state of journalism today at Moment’s 2024 benefit and awards dinner.
Taking a break from his usual Moment gala emcee duties, Robert Siegel, the former cohost of NPR’s All Things Considered and now a Moment special literary contributor received Moment’s Inspirational Journalism Award. Siegel, who has become an integral part of the Moment family, spoke of the need for journalists to rise to the challenge of this particular moment and to do their “basic job of sorting out fact from fiction,” without fear. In addition to writing for Moment’s literary section, Siegel conducts his trademark interviews for MomentLive! broadcasts. He was introduced by two of his Moment colleagues, Suzanne Borden and Amy E. Schwartz.
Moment Editor-in-Chief & CEO Nadine Epstein and Women and Power Award recipient Debra Katz.
Debra Katz was honored with Moment’s 2024 Women & Power Award for her commitment to fighting employment discrimination and civil rights cases. The well-known firebrand attorney of the #MeToo era told the audience, “I have never been one to accept or tolerate bullies, I will not do so now,” and emphasized that she intends to keep fighting for women’s rights. She was introduced by Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum.
Revered civil rights activist Eleanor Holmes Norton, DC’s longtime delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, received Moment’s Ruth Bader Ginsburg Human Rights Award for her lifetime of work. She was introduced by Rep. Jamie Raskin.
The night also celebrated Moment Editor-in-Chief & CEO Nadine Epstein, who since 2004 has presided over the magazine’s transformation into a multimedia platform reaching more than two million people each year. She was introduced by Ann F. Lewis, who called her both a social entrepreneur and an intellectual who has become a leading voice in the Jewish community.
Nina Totenberg and Leah Siegel end the evening with a rousing rendition of “Que Sera, Sera.”
Guests flew in from as far away as Thailand to attend the gala, and many VIPs and special guests were in attendance. Rabbi David Saperstein gave an opening blessing and vocalist Leah Siegel, Robert’s daughter, warmed everyone’s hearts with moving renditions of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah,” “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Que Sera, Sera.”
The event was a fundraiser to support Moment’s important work. It helps make it possible for us to produce our high-caliber, trustworthy journalism and programs—and to be a haven for thoughtful and respectful conversation in polarized times. Please give a gift in honor of our honorees here.
Clips from the evening, as well as the full video, will be available soon.
Top image: Moment gala 2024 (Photos by Betty Adler and Bruce Guthrie).