Gvantsa Jobava, President of the International Publishers Association, stated that the freedom of expression, the freedom to publish, and the freedom to read form a trinity of freedoms uniting the book sector. She noted that it is fitting to celebrate the inaugural award winner surrounded by industry peers at the Frankfurt Book Fair, urging the sector to redouble efforts to stand up for these freedoms.
Jessica Sänger, Chair of the IPA’s Freedom to Publish Committee, described the Media Coalition as an initiative that brings together a broad array of organizations to remain vigilant against the erosion of free expression. She highlighted the coalition’s long-standing commitment and consistent success, noting that they have not sought the limelight but should serve as an inspiration for others.
David Horowitz, Executive Director of the Media Coalition, accepted the honor on behalf of the organization’s members. He expressed gratitude to the IPA and specifically thanked the Association of American Publishers and its President and CEO, Maria Pallante, for nominating the coalition. Horowitz emphasized that the coalition was founded in 1973 to unite organizations representing publishers, booksellers, authors, and librarians to fight censorship with a single voice.
The Media Coalition is a nonprofit legal organization in the United States that has defended freedom of expression in courts, including the Supreme Court, since 1973. Its mission is to defend the American public’s First Amendment right to access the broadest possible range of information, opinion, and entertainment. The coalition organizes litigation with and on behalf of members, including the Association of American Publishers, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Authors Guild.
Recent legal victories cited in the announcement include securing the dismissal of petitions to classify A Court of Mist & Fury and Gender Queer as obscene under state law. In the 2023 case of Book People v. Morath, the coalition partnered with Texas bookstores to challenge a state law requiring the review and rating of library materials, which a court held unconstitutionally compels speech. Additionally, in Fayetteville Public Library v. Murray, the coalition successfully challenged an Arkansas law that would have subjected librarians and bookstore owners to criminal prosecution for making materials available to minors.