Jane Fonda and her recently relaunched Committee for the First Amendment have been tapped as the inaugural recipients of the Impact Entertainment Visionaries Award by the ACLU of Southern California and the Social Impact Entertainment Society.
The award will be presented jointly by the ACLU SoCal and the SIE Society during the Impact + Profit 25 Conference on Dec. 4 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
The Impact Entertainment Visionaries Award aims to honor “artists and creators whose work exemplifies the power of storytelling to expand cultural freedoms and representation; advance inclusion and spark dialogue on equity and justice; inspire social and behavioral change; [and] collaborate with advocacy organizations and institutions to extend impact beyond the screen,” according to the ACLU SoCal and the SIE Society. This year’s honorees were chosen for “their enduring leadership in using storytelling, visibility and creative courage to defend freedom of expression and expand the boundaries of civic discourse.
Fonda recently relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment on behalf of founding members including Aaron Sorkin, Anne Hathaway, Ashley Nicole Black, Ayo Edebiri, Barbara Streisand, Barry Jenkins, Florence Pugh, Issa Rae, Judd Apatow, Julie Plec, Kerry Washington, Lee Daniels, Natalie Morales, Nikki Glaser, Pedro Pascal, Rob Reiner, Rosario Dawson, Sean Penn, Spike Lee and Viola Davis. In its founding phase, the committee has moved to bring together a growing coalition of artists and storytellers committed to safeguarding creative freedom and resisting censorship. It recently issued a statement from hundreds of artists calling for vigilance against government censorship and intimidation in the creative community and has seen its membership surpass more than 2,000 in just a few weeks.
Originally founded in 1947 by artists including Henry Fonda, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall and Danny Kaye, the Committee for the First Amendment took a stand against censorship and fear during the House Un-American Activities Committee hearings.
“The Committee for the First Amendment stands as a reminder that defending freedom of expression has always been central to democracy — and to the mission of the ACLU,” said ACLU SoCal Executive Director Chandra S. Bhatnagar. “We are honored to recognize Jane and this new generation of creators who are carrying that legacy forward.”
SIE Society co-founders Tobias Deml, Rebecca Grahame Forde, William Nix and Robert Rippberger said the award presentation will be a featured moment at Impact + Profit 25, the SIE Society’s flagship annual conference presented in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs. The event brings together leaders from entertainment, advocacy, innovation and investment to explore how storytelling can shape culture and drive measurable social progress.
The third annual Impact + Profit 25 conference, set for Dec. 4-5 and presented with support from the Golden Globe Foundation and Hollywood, Health & Society, will feature panels on media integrity, mental health, Native representation and more.
Speakers and participants will include Bhatnagar (ACLU of Southern California), Kate Folb (Hollywood, Health & Society), Kim Masters (Puck News, KCRW’s The Business), Joel Simon (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, CUNY), Dr. Mel Herbert (The Pitt), Erica Lynn Rosenthal (USC Norman Lear Center), Beth Hoffman (University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health), Josh Arce (Partnership with Native Americans) and Jessica Matten (Rez Ball, Dark Winds, Standing Bear), among others.
A selection of sessions (and their official descriptions) follows.
- Freedom of the Press Under the Current Administration — Presented by the Golden Globe Foundation, this session brings together journalists and advocates defending freedom of the press and the essential role of truth in sustaining democracy.
- The Pitt: The Power of Authentic Stories to Drive Action — This panel explores how the television series The Pitt integrates real-world social and structural issues into powerful, authentic narratives that resonate with healthcare workers and communities alike. Developed with guidance from Hollywood, Health & Society, the series grounds its storytelling in research and lived experience to illuminate the human impact of systemic inequities in healthcare.
- Moving Mental Health Out of the Shadows — A candid discussion about shifting stigma and expanding access, this panel highlights how media narratives can help normalize conversations around mental health and foster pathways to care.
- Redefining Native Americans in Media: Progress, Visibility & Authenticity — As audiences and creators demand authentic representation, this session highlights Native American artists and advocates who are reshaping narratives on-screen and behind the camera.
- Defining and Measuring Impact: Insights from the SIE Academia Report — How can creators, funders and studios better define, measure and scale the real-world impact of the stories they tell? This session explores new research on the evolving field of social impact entertainment and the tools emerging to strengthen accountability, transparency and measurable outcomes.
“Impact + Profit is about community coming together at a time that often feels like chaos,” Nix said. “We’re bringing creators, funders and changemakers into one space to explore how stories rooted in truth, empathy and shared purpose can help rebuild trust and drive meaningful change.”
Added Debora B. Freitas López, executive director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs: “We are proud to partner with the SIE Society to advance the science and practice of impact storytelling. Our shared goal is to ensure that evidence-based communication continues to shape healthier, more equitable societies — both on-screen and off.”
Additional speakers and sessions will be announced in the coming weeks. Visit www.conference.siesociety.org for more information.
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