Four Federal News Network journalists were honored with Echo Awards at the program’s debut ceremony held on Thursday. The accolades highlighted FNN’s reporting on the federal government, notably covering major shifts in the government workforce over the past 18 months.
Reporter Drew Friedman took home the trophy for Best Government Management Journalist, while senior reporter Jory Heckman was named Best Government Policy Journalist. Terry Gerton, the host of The Federal Drive, was recognized as the Best Broadcast/Podcast Host.
Tom Temin, the former host of The Federal Drive, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the event. Temin’s journalism career spanned 48 years, with more than 17 of those years spent hosting The Federal Drive. He stepped down in April of last year.
The Echo Awards were established earlier this year by several public relations firms focused on the federal sector, with the goal of celebrating excellence in journalism that covers public sector matters—spanning defense, procurement, technology, and state, local and education reporting. The initiative seeks to promote transparency and recognize the contributions of journalists reporting on government affairs.
Friedman and Heckman were honored for their extensive reporting on workforce policies across agencies ranging from the Office of Personnel Management to the IRS, as well as for their in-depth investigative features and surveys of both current and former federal workers.
Friedman, who has concentrated on workforce coverage since joining FNN in 2022, published an investigative piece last autumn examining the challenges and delays in the federal retirement system following large-scale separation incentive programs. She has also covered shifts in federal hiring practices, compensation and benefits, and the role unions have played in legal battles against the Trump administration and its push to reshape the civil service.
Friedman regularly breaks exclusive stories on new initiatives coming out of the Office of Personnel Management—including its Tech Force hiring initiative and online retirement platform—and conducted an exclusive sit-down interview with OPM Director Scott Kupor in November. She also first reported on OPM’s decision to scrap its annual Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey after the agency postponed it indefinitely.
Heckman’s reporting at FNN, where he has been since 2014, has chronicled workforce and policy changes across a range of federal agencies, including the IRS, the Postal Service, the State Department, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. His coverage also encompasses federal building management, which is closely connected to evolving office attendance requirements. He has monitored the status of telework accommodations for federal employees with disabilities following the implementation of return-to-office mandates.
In the lead-up to tax filing season, Heckman also reported on staffing shifts at the IRS, where leadership reassigned employees to bolster taxpayer services. He has additionally covered hiring efforts at multiple agencies following widespread layoffs and the legal challenges that followed.
Since taking the helm as host of The Federal Drive just over a year ago, Gerton has spoken with a diverse roster of experts from government and the private sector. Her daily broadcasts provide analysis on procurement, policy, technology, and other matters relevant to federal employees and government contractors.
Craig Abod, CEO of Carahsoft, said Temin, the program’s former host, has been a central figure in the federal community for over 30 years.
“Tom has authored commentary over the years that executives in both industry and government have come to rely on,” Abod remarked while presenting Temin with his lifetime achievement award. “The Federal Drive has been essential listening during the morning commute for those of us working in the federal space.”
Abod also pointed to Temin’s philanthropic contributions, noting he raised upward of $100,000 for three charities with federal ties: the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund, Friends of Patients at the National Institutes of Health, and the U.S. War Dogs Association.
Three additional FNN reporters earned nominations for Echo Awards. Jason Miller, FNN’s executive editor, received nods in both the Best Government Management Journalist and Best Government Policy Journalist categories, while reporters Justin Doubleday and Anastasia Obis were nominated for Best Government Technology Journalist and Best Up and Coming Journalist, respectively.
In their remarks upon receiving their awards, FNN journalists underscored the vital role of a free press in illuminating critical issues and its indispensability to a functioning democracy. Keynote speaker Katherine Jacobsen, the Committee to Protect Journalists’ U.S. and Canada program coordinator, emphasized that the struggle for press freedom has never been simple.
“A strong and independent media can report the story as it unfolds and keep people in power answerable,” Jacobsen stated during her address at the ceremony. “We’re seeing journalists refuse to be silenced. We’re seeing editors stand their ground and newsrooms continuing to report even when doing so carries personal risk.”
Jacobsen noted that CPJ has documented at least 129 journalists killed last year in connection with their work—the most the organization has recorded in 30 years of tracking such data. She also reported that around 300 journalists were jailed for their reporting, marking the second-highest figure in the past three decades.
“Without the press, there is no transparency and no accountability for those in power,” she said. “CPJ recognizes the warning signs of press freedom eroding. What’s taking place in the U.S. today is not normal, and we should not accept it as such.”
CPJ says they have observed an increase in journalists seeking training on how to handle both potential and actual threats.
FNN publisher Jeffrey Wolinsky also addressed the critical importance of journalism in today’s environment.
“We’re
“It’s a tremendous honor to recognize the outstanding work of our dedicated journalists and storytellers, whose reporting truly makes a positive impact daily,” Wolinsky remarked. “In an era where reliable journalism is crucial for well-informed communities, their commitment to factual reporting, holding power to account, and crafting meaningful stories is more vital than ever.”
“A big congratulations to Terry, Drew, and Jory for their award-winning projects, and a heartfelt thank you to Tom, whose Lifetime Achievement award celebrates a long career of journalistic excellence and service,” he continued. “We are incredibly lucky to have such a remarkable group of professionals.”
FNN funded the Echo Awards’ scholarship program, which will provide financial assistance to two students at the University of Maryland for the 2026-27 school year, inspiring them to enter the field of journalism after they complete their studies.
Additional Echo Awards recipients included:
- David DiMolfetta from NextGov/FCW, recognized as Best Investigative Journalist;
- Amy Kluber from GovCIO Media & Research, honored as Best Government Technology Journalist;
- George Seffers from SIGNAL Magazine, awarded Best Defense Journalist;
- Keely Quinlan from State Scoop, named Best State, Local and Education Journalist;
- Ross Wilkers from Washington Technology, recognized as Best Government Contracting Business Journalist;
- Miranda Nazzaro, previously with FedScoop, awarded Best Up and Coming Journalist;
- Anne Armstrong, a prominent leader in government and technology media, received the other Lifetime Achievement award.
Copyright
© 2026 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
