Variety Dominates 2025 SoCal Journalism Awards with Record-Breaking Wins
Variety emerged as the top winner at the 2025 SoCal Journalism Awards, securing 16 first-place awards, the highest number among all entertainment outlets. This marked a significant increase from the previous year's eight wins and set a new record for Variety at the SoCal Awards, surpassing the previous high of 14 in 2023. The awards ceremony, hosted by the Los Angeles Press Club, was attended by over 550 journalists and featured Variety with 93 nominations across 56 categories.
Variety's success at the awards ceremony was highlighted by various staff members and contributors receiving first-place trophies in different categories. Notable winners included Chris Willman, who was honored as the entertainment journalist of the year, and the art and photography department, which excelled in multiple categories. The magazine's website, Variety.com, was recognized as the best website, further solidifying Variety's position as a leading entertainment publication.
Individual accolades were also bestowed upon several Variety writers and editors, with Chris Willman winning four awards, including best magazine columnist and best music feature. Chief film critic Owen Gleiberman secured the best film criticism award, while Tatiana Siegel and Daniel D'Addario received recognition for their outstanding profiles in the music and film divisions, respectively. The awards ceremony celebrated the diverse talents and contributions of Variety's team across various entertainment categories.
In addition to the first-place awards, Variety also received numerous second- and third-place honors, showcasing the publication's overall excellence in journalism and entertainment coverage. The event featured honorary awards for veteran newspeople and celebrities, including a lifetime achievement award for sports columnist Bill Plaschke and the Daniel Pearl Award for courage and integrity in journalism presented to Clarissa Ward of CNN. Actress Kim Fields was honored with the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award for her contributions to civic life.
The ceremony concluded with a Special Award for Stellar Coverage of the 2020 Wildfires, accepted by news directors from L.A.'s local TV stations. The overwhelming success of Variety at the SoCal Journalism Awards underscored the publication's commitment to excellence in entertainment journalism and its continued impact on the industry.