The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation (CVJF) has announced that Tonya Mosley, co-host of NPR’s acclaimed program Fresh Air, will headline the 2026 Coachella Valley Media Hall of Fame luncheon. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa in Rancho Mirage, California.
Mosley is a celebrated journalist known for her insightful interviews and coverage of pivotal national events. Before joining Fresh Air, she co-hosted NPR’s Here & Now, where she guided listeners through major moments including the COVID-19 pandemic, the racial reckoning of 2020, and live coverage of the January 6 Capitol insurrection.
Her career spans television and radio, with reporting roles at Al Jazeera America and KQED, where she served as Silicon Valley bureau chief. Mosley also founded TMI Productions, which produced the award-winning series Truth Be Told and She Has a Name.
“Public media is under pressure, and trustworthy storytelling has never been more vital,” said Randy Lovely, CVJF president. “Tonya’s reporting and interviews cut through the noise—she reminds us why a strong, local-to-national news ecosystem matters.”
The luncheon will honor five influential media figures whose work has shaped the Coachella Valley’s journalism landscape:
- Jimmy Boegle, founding editor and publisher of the Coachella Valley Independent
- Larry Bohannan, veteran golf writer for The Desert Sun
- Lina Robles, longtime co-host of El Show del Greñas
- Ric and Rozene Supple (posthumously), pioneering radio station owners and philanthropists
Additional awards include Journalist of the Year and Rising Star, recognizing outstanding local talent. The event will be emceed by Laurilie Jackson, journalism educator at College of the Desert and part-time reporter/anchor at KESQ. Jackson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2025.
This marks the third annual Hall of Fame ceremony hosted by CVJF. Learn more about past honorees and purchase tickets at www.cvjf.org.