WASHINGTON—Mo Rocca, a correspondent for “CBS Sunday Morning” whose career goes back to the early days of “The Daily Show,” is set to receive this year’s Library of American Broadcasting Foundation (LABF) Insight Award at the 2026 NAB Show in Las Vegas (April 18-22).
In its fifth year, the Insight Award recognizes an individual or organization for an outstanding journalistic or artistic work or body of work that enhances the public’s understanding of the role, impact and evolution of media. Past winners have included syndicated radio host Delilah, journalist Soledad O’Brien, venerable CBS newsmagazine “60 Minutes” and actor and “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton.
“NAB Show brings together the people and technologies shaping how stories are created and shared,” NAB Executive Vice President of Global Connections and Events Karen Chupka said. “Mo Rocca’s career reflects the enduring role of broadcast storytelling within that evolution, connecting audiences and creators across platforms through stories that resonate.”
Rocca began his on-camera career on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” from 1998 to 2003, later appearing on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” and winning an Emmy as a writer for the 64th Annual Tony Awards in 2011. He joined “CBS Sunday Morning” that year as a correspondent covering stories spanning politics, culture and history.
Rocca has reported on subjects ranging from gerrymandering to the Vatican, where he interviewed Pope Francis, while also profiling Hollywood legends and creating historical portraits of American presidents, often with a fondness for the overlooked.
He also created and hosts the popular podcast “Mobituaries”; is co-author of the bestselling books “Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving" and “Roctogenarians: Late in Life Debuts, Comebacks and Triumphs”; is a frequent panelist on NPR’s “Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me!”; and has created and hosted programs exploring innovation, food and culture.
Earlier in his TV career, he was a writer and producer for children’s TV shows, including the Emmy- and Peabody-winning “Wishbone.”
LABF and NAB praised Rocca’s impact on broadcast storytelling and the media.
“Mo Rocca exemplifies the essence of broadcasting at its best—thoughtful, engaging and rooted in a genuine desire to inform and inspire,” LABF co-chairs Deborah Parenti and Dave “Chachi” Denes said. “Through his work across television, radio and digital platforms, Mo brings history and culture to life with intelligence, curiosity and heart. We are proud to honor him with the 2026 LABF Insight Award.”
Added NAB executive vice president of industry affairs and innovation April Carty-Sipp, an LABF board member: “Mo Rocca has built a career defined by clarity, rigor and an uncommon respect for his audience. In an era crowded with voices, his work shows how broadcast journalism can still set the standard for credibility and thoughtful storytelling.”
Rocca will be honored April 21 at NAB Show during the annual “We Are Broadcasters” event on the Main Stage.
For more on NAB show or to register, visit the NAB Show website.
