Trey Yingst Honored with RTDNA Foundation’s First Amendment Award, Champions Unafraid Journalism
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst was celebrated Thursday night at the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Foundation’s 2025 First Amendment Awards, held at the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C. The prestigious award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional dedication to practicing, promoting, and defending journalism. The RTDNA Foundation, the charitable arm of the Radio Television Digital News Association, annually bestows the honor upon journalists, elected officials, and other figures who champion the principles of the First Amendment.
Yingst’s recognition underscores his commitment to delivering unwavering, unflinching, and unafraid journalism, particularly in the face of global conflict and increasing threats to press freedom. Previous First Amendment Award recipients include distinguished figures such as Walter Cronkite, Sam Donaldson, Diane Sawyer, Mike Wallace, Bob Woodruff, and Evan Gershkovich, placing Yingst among the industry’s most respected voices.
During his acceptance speech, Yingst expressed profound gratitude to the RTDNA Foundation for the honor. He acknowledged the vital role of the Murdoch family, his dedicated crew, and the Fox executive team, including CEO Suzanne Scott, president Jay Wallace, and senior executive vice president Irena Briganti, in supporting his impactful reporting. He emphasized that their collaborative efforts made his coverage possible.
"Thank you to the RTDNA Foundation for this incredible honor," Yingst stated. "The credit for our world-class reporting belongs to the Murdoch family, my crew, and the Fox executive team, including CEO Suzanne Scott, president Jay Wallace, and senior executive vice president Irena Briganti, who are here tonight. This coverage is not possible without you."
Yingst also extended heartfelt appreciation to his father, who encouraged his early journalistic endeavors. He recounted his beginnings, posting news reports to YouTube at the age of 19, and the unwavering belief his father had in his potential.
"To my father, thank you," Yingst said. "You believed in me before anyone else. When I was 19 years old posting news reports to YouTube that no one watched, you believed this was possible."
Throughout his career as an international reporter, Yingst has reported from nearly 20 countries, including Ukraine, Syria, and Israel, covering conflicts such as the Israel-Hamas war, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. He also highlighted the brave Palestinian journalists in Gaza who have risked their lives to report the news.
Yingst’s remarks resonated with a deep understanding of the current challenges facing journalism. He underscored the significance of the First Amendment in an era marked by attacks on journalists, the spread of misinformation, and attempts to silence those holding truth to power.
"We live in a dangerous time of attacks on journalists, of misinformation, and of efforts to silence those who are holding truth to power. Our work is more important now than ever. The First Amendment is more important now than ever," Yingst stated.
He concluded his address by urging the audience to recognize their critical role as the "fourth estate," capturing human experiences and amplifying the voices of the voiceless. He emphasized that journalists are not the enemy of the people but rather their voice, encouraging them to continue using that voice with courage, conviction, and integrity.
"If you take anything away from my remarks today, let it be this. The people in this room, each one of you, play a critical role, acting as the fourth estate, capturing the experiences of humans, and being a voice for the voiceless," Yingst added. "Journalists are not the enemy of the people. Journalists are the voice of the people. May you continue to use that voice in a way that is unafraid, unwavering, and unflinching."
The RTDNA Foundation’s decision to honor Yingst was based on his exceptional ability to humanize the horrors of conflict, making them tangible for audiences worldwide. The Foundation also recognized his leadership in advocating for safety and mental health resources for journalists who witness trauma while reporting.
"As the world endures conflict on multiple continents, Trey Yingst has a remarkable ability to humanize the horror, making it all the more real for an audience an ocean away. He also has been a leader in the industry, advocating for safety and mental health resources for journalists who witness trauma repeatedly to share it with their audiences," the RTDNA Foundation said in a statement.
Fox News Channel personalities, including "Fox News Sunday" anchor Shannon Bream, chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin, and correspondent Lucas Tomlinson, attended the awards ceremony to show their support for Yingst.
In addition to his reporting, Yingst authored "Black Saturday: An Unfiltered Account of the October 7th Attack on Israel and the War in Gaza," a New York Times bestseller published by Fox News Books. The book delves into the events of October 7 in southern Israel and the subsequent war.
A Fox Nation series based on the book follows Yingst and the Fox Jerusalem Bureau team as they cover the terror attack, document the aftermath of massacres in Israeli communities along the Gaza border, and enter the Gaza Strip during the Israeli ground invasion. The series exemplifies Yingst’s commitment to delivering firsthand accounts and in-depth reporting from conflict zones.
The recognition of Trey Yingst with the RTDNA Foundation’s First Amendment Award highlights the critical importance of courageous and ethical journalism in a rapidly changing world. His dedication to truth-telling, even in the face of danger, serves as an inspiration to journalists everywhere.
