Student journalist Santiago Campos, a senior at the International School of the District of Columbia in Washington, D.C., wowed the News Emmy Awards crowd Wednesday night by appearing on CBS News after accepting this year’s Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship, named after the legendary CBS journalist.
As former CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley, who presented the award, looked on, Campos said he wanted to thank CBS News. “While funding this generous gift for my education, I also want to acknowledge how the recent direction of the station has tarnished the legacy of Mike Wallace, the namesake of this scholarship.”
“As corporate elites take control of the very conduits through which our information flows, journalism that serves people is becoming harder to come by, but increasingly important. And what people want is the truth. If at any time you hesitate to say the word genocide or remain silent in the face of outright lies, remember to ask yourself: Who is this for? We hope you choose us.
Perry, who has been critical of CBS Editor-in-Chief Bari Weiss, who has brought sweeping changes to CBS, praised Campos’ speech.
“I look forward to seeing your work in the future,” said Mr. Perry. “God, we need young men like you right behind us. I know Mike Wallace is looking down on you with pride at this very moment.”
At the beginning of his presentation, Perry also name-checked veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who was in the audience. Perry’s shoutout to Alfonsi drew long applause from the News Emmy audience, but Alfonsi said that day that she believed CBS News had removed her from the newsmagazine.
“We’ve had a lot of great correspondents on 60 Minutes over the years,” he said. “I see Sharyn Alfonsi in the audience, one of the people nominated tonight for her incredible work.”
Perry previously criticized CBS News for bowing to political pressure from the Trump administration. On “60 Minutes” last year, the reporter discussed the departure of former executive producer Bill Owens, noting that “Paramount has begun to oversee our content in a new way.”
Campos was awarded the $10,000 2026 Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences’ 47th Annual News & Documentary Awards in New York. His award-winning novel told the story of the recent immigration crackdown and the fear it has caused across the country through the personal story of his own family.
“Santiago has a talent for meticulous storytelling and a work ethic honed over four years of production classes in high school,” Perry said. “Whether in front of or behind the camera, this student reporter is passionate, careful, and hands-on about the stories he tells. His mission is to help people understand complex stories that have a profound impact on society and give voice to the voiceless. Mike sees something of himself in this year’s recipients.”
Campos also recently received the 2026 Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship from the National Press Club in Washington, DC. The group said its judges were “impressed by his powerful reporting on how U.S. immigration policy impacts local communities.”
Campos produced an article for PBS NewsHour Student Reporting Labs featuring interviews with relatives about their deportation stories.
Read more about the 2026 News Emmy Awards here. Mr. Perry and Mr. Campos appeared approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes after the ceremony began. Or see below:
