Variety Wins 16 SoCal Journalism Awards, Including Best Website
Variety, a leading entertainment outlet, dominated the SoCal Journalism Awards by winning an impressive 16 first-place awards. This achievement surpassed their previous record of 14 awards in 2023 and doubled their tally from the previous year. The awards ceremony, hosted by the Los Angeles Press Club at the Millennium Biltmore, was attended by over 550 journalists and recognized work published in the 2024 calendar year. Variety had a total of 93 nominations in 56 categories, showcasing their strong presence in the industry.
Some of the notable wins for Variety included best website for Variety.com and entertainment journalist of the year for Chris Willman. The publication’s staff and contributors, including Daniel D’Addario, Owen Gleiberman, and Angelique Jackson, were among those who received first-place trophies in various categories.
The art and photography department of Variety also excelled, with Haley Kluge, Jennifer Dorn, and Ted Keller receiving multiple awards for their creative work. Notable wins included best portrait photo, best cover art, and best page design for different projects featured in the magazine.
Chris Willman, the senior writer and chief music critic for Variety, stood out with four awards, including best magazine columnist, best music feature, and best theater feature. Other notable winners from Variety included Owen Gleiberman for best film criticism, Daniel D’Addario and Ramin Setoodeh for best film feature, and Tatiana Siegel for best personality profile in the music division.
The ceremony also honored veteran newspeople and celebrities for their contributions to journalism and philanthropy. Bill Plaschke, a veteran sports columnist, received the Joseph M. Quinn Award for lifetime achievement, while Clarissa Ward of CNN was awarded the Daniel Pearl Award for courage and integrity in journalism. Actress Kim Fields was recognized with the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award for her contributions to civic life.
In a touching moment, news directors from all of L.A.’s local TV stations received a Special Award for Stellar Coverage of the 2020 Wildfires, showcasing the importance of journalism in times of crisis. The event concluded with the announcement of the upcoming National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, which will take place at the Biltmore in December.
Overall, Variety’s success at the SoCal Journalism Awards highlights their continued commitment to excellence in entertainment journalism and their continued impact on the industry.
