HUNTINGTON, NY – The 2025 Folio Awards brought the best in news and media together with the community – for one reason: To move forward. The Folio Awards is more than an awards ceremony. It’s a reminder of what matters. In a world where noise and distraction dominate, we paused to focus on the stories that truly resonated – the ones that informed, challenged, and connected us.
The truth: The media needs the community. And the community needs the media.
We can’t have quality journalism without public support. That means more than likes and shares – it means subscribing to local news, advertising with trusted outlets, and standing behind the people and platforms that are working to make a difference.
We’re proud to bring news, media, and the public together – to build understanding, strengthen accountability, and ensure that trusted, quality news and information remain the foundation of our communities. When the public understands how the media works, and the media understands the needs of the public, both get better.
That’s what the Folio Awards are about. That’s what we’re about. And we’re just getting started.
Lifetime Achievement
We honored CBS News Co-Anchor and Long Island native Maurice DuBois with our 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award.
A trusted and steady presence in journalism, Maurice represents the very best of what the public expects – and deserves – from the news. His nearly 40-year career stands as a testament to integrity, professionalism, and public service. Longtime friends Peter McGowan, CBS New York Vice President of Operations, Technology & Innovation, and Terence Allen Nelson, CBS News videographer, gave heartful tributes to Maurice, who shared the day with his father. The audience responded with a standing ovation.
See the coverage by CBS New York
Distinguished Service
We presented two Distinguished Service Awards, an honor reserved for legacy news outlets.
77 WABC Radio – whose signal has been broadcasting for more than a century and serves as the entry point for the Emergency Alert System in New York – is now one of the top talk stations in the country. Accepting the award was station owner and Red Apple Group Chair John Catsimatidis. In his remarks, the self-made billionaire best known for owning supermarkets, oil refineries and real estate, noted it was running WABC that gave him the most pleasure.
WNYW/FOX 5 earned our Distinguished Service Award for its commitment to serving the public interest for more than 80 years. Home of the iconic public service campaign, “It’s 10 p.m., do you know where your children are?”, FOX 5 continues its deep commitment to the community through innovation and editorial independence. Accepting on behalf of the station was News Director Emad Asghar.
These honors recognize the critical role these outlets have played, and continue to play, in informing, protecting, and shaping the public.
Folio Emcee
The event was emceed by one of New York’s most trusted journalists, David Ushery of NBC 4 New York, who was masterful in setting the tone. He brought his signature combination of gravitas and quick wit to the stage, framing the importance of the moment while keeping the energy high for a buzz-worthy event.
Hazel Sanchez and Dan Mannarino of PIX11 News presented this year’s Folio Award winners across the news and media landscape. But they did more than announce names—they entertained, engaged, and kept the spotlight where it belonged: on the people and stories that made a difference. (They also earned the people’s vote for best dressed.)
Best in News & Media
Every winning piece – and the people behind it – holds special meaning. These stories helped improve our lives and strengthen our communities. They reflected the needs, concerns, and values of the people they served, and reminded us what quality news and media looks like when it’s done right. The judging process fosters understanding of how to recognize quality news and media, which means this program provides the community with a valuable media literacy education. The winning entries provide feedback on what the public wants and needs in their newsfeeds. Combined, this makes the Folio Awards unlike any awards program in the country.
This year, FMC unveiled its signature Truth & Impact Award, which was won by Newsday’s Sandra Peddie for her story on Sex Trafficking on Long Island. This award includes a cash prize of $1,000.
Congratulations to the best in news and media for 2025 and thank you to our dedicated judges who volunteer hours of their time to review the news, and digital and social media entries that come to us from around the country.
Due to space limitations, only a few of the winners are pictured here. Please watch our social media feeds on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook & X for more photos.
2025 Folio Awards
We opened with a tribute to WCBS Newsradio 880—a trusted voice that understood what it meant to serve the public. Its absence is deeply felt, not just in New York, but across the country. It set the tone for a program focused on impact. Many thanks to the incomparable Wayne Cabot for voicing our remembrance, written in the style of Charles Osgood, one of the early Newsradio anchors. Take a Listen
Behind the Scenes
Thank you to artist Asia Lee, whose stunning landscape photography transforms the Folio Magazine into a true keepsake. Special thanks to designer Valerie Hnatik, who continues to elevate each edition with creativity and care.
And heartfelt appreciation to Marisa Mellick, Leila Zogby, Patricia Chambers Daly, and Cindy Mardenfeld for their exceptional coordination and behind-the-scenes work that helped make the event a success.
In Gratitude
The Folio Awards are made possible by the support of our members, sponsors, and partners.
Thank you to the Folio Awards Sponsor: FourLeaf Federal Credit Union
We also gratefully acknowledge our program sponsors and magazine advertisers:
- Rubenstein
- Northwell Health
- Mount Sinai South Nassau
- CBS New York
- WABC-TV
- NBC 4 New York
- WNYW/FOX 4
- Protiviti
- The EGC Group
- The Bartol Law Firm
- SUNY Old Westbury
- Montclair State University
- St. Joseph’s University
- Jody Fisher PR
- Robert B. Catell
- Moritt Hock & Hamroff LLP
- WLIW-FM & WLIW PBS
- Henry Schein
Become a Member of FMC
Since 1979, we’ve worked to hold media accountable and serve the public interest by keeping communities informed and engaged with quality news. Keeping local news local, responsive and responsible to the public it serves, is our legacy. Our work has transformed into one of today’s greatest social responsibilities: Building a trustworthy, credible media landscape and a media literate society. By addressing both sides of the coin – media accountability and media literacy – we move everyone forward, together. We call it media savvy. Our programs focus on cutting-edge media relations infused with media literacy and provide a platform to allow organizations to establish relationships with the best in news and media. FMC is the authority on the modern media landscape. We invite organizations that value corporate social responsibility, education, community engagement and digital wellness to join us.
