Variety Wins 20 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards
Variety magazine emerged as the big winner at the 18th annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards, taking home a total of 20 first-place trophies. This marked a significant increase from the 14 awards they received in the previous year’s competition. The accolades spanned a wide range of categories, showcasing the publication’s excellence in various fields such as hard news, business reporting, commentary, criticism, photography, and cover art. This impressive haul of awards made Variety the most decorated print-based publication in the 2025 contest, which was sponsored by the Los Angeles Press Club.
One of the standout wins for Variety was the Print Journalist of the Year award, which was clinched by chief music critic and senior writer Chris Willman for the second time, following his initial win in 2024. Additionally, a number of other talented individuals from the Variety team were recognized for their outstanding work. Editor-at-large Kate Aurthur, international features editor Leo Barraclough, chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario, chief awards editor Clayton Davis, senior entertainment & media writer Matt Donnelly, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman, executive editor Brent Lang, freelance contributor Kristen Lopez, international reporter Naman Ramachandran, executive editor for TV Michael Schneider, and associate web editor Michaela Zee all secured first-place prizes for their respective articles.
The visual team at Variety, comprising of visual director Jennifer Dorn, creative director Haley Kluge, and deputy photo editor Jennifer Halper, also received top honors for their exceptional art and photography contributions. Notable mentions include a cover package on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which garnered praise from the judges. Willman’s cover story on Swift’s tour and the specially crafted cover art that accompanied it were among the winning entries that showcased the magazine’s creativity and journalistic prowess.
Various other members of the Variety team were recognized for their exceptional work in categories such as theater criticism, obituaries, hard news reporting, commentary, and film features. The awards ceremony, which took place at the Millennium Biltmore, honored not only the talented individuals from Variety but also industry legends such as Paul Anka, Larry Mantle, Marlee Matlin, Kasi Lemmons, and Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen.
Overall, Variety’s success at the National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards is a testament to the publication’s commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of arts and entertainment reporting. With a diverse range of accolades and a talented team of writers, editors, and visual artists, Variety continues to set the standard for quality journalism in the industry.
