Variety Crushes Competition with Record-Breaking 16 Wins at SoCal Awards

Max Sterling, 6/24/2025Variety shatters records at the 67th SoCal Journalism Awards, claiming 16 first-place trophies. The evening celebrates excellence in entertainment journalism, with standout pieces from The Hollywood Reporter and IndieWire, while honoring lifetime achievements and impactful coverage from major news networks.

Variety absolutely crushed it this year. They walked away with 16 first-place trophies (double their previous year's haul), leaving industry veterans wondering if they'd need to rent a U-Haul for the ride home. The Hollywood Reporter snagged 10 wins, while digital powerhouse IndieWire proved that pixels pack just as much punch as print, scoring four top honors — including Best Website for their online-only operation.

More than 550 journalists packed the crystal ballroom, trading war stories and shop talk while celebrating the craft that keeps Hollywood's machine humming. Sure, TikTok might be stealing eyeballs, but quality entertainment journalism clearly isn't going anywhere.

Variety's dominance wasn't just about racking up numbers. Their wins showcased real range — from Chris Willman's Entertainment Journalist of the Year nod to their art department's knockout Anna Taylor-Joy cover that had everyone talking. Not too shabby for a publication that's been around since the silent film era.

The Hollywood Reporter brought their A-game too. Lovia Gyarkye's deep dive into climate change's impact on film struck a chord, while James Hibberd's "Cats Are Finally Having a Big Hollywood Meow-Ment" proved that even serious journalism can have a sense of humor. That headline win? Their first ever in the category — proof that sometimes the perfect pun pays off.

Over in the digital realm, IndieWire's TV critic Ben Travers knocked it out of the park with his "Somebody Somewhere" Season 3 review. The judges' praise that it "inspires the reader to immediately seek out the piece" pretty much nails what every critic dreams of hearing.

The evening wasn't all about competition, though. The Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke took home the Joseph M. Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement — well-deserved recognition for a scribe who's been capturing LA's pulse for decades. CNN's Clarissa Ward earned the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism, though she couldn't make it. She was too busy doing exactly what earned her the award: covering breaking news in the Middle East.

Perhaps the night's most powerful moment came when news directors from every major LA television station shared the stage. ABC7, Fox11, KCAL News/CBS Los Angeles, KTLA, NBC4, Spectrum News 1, Telemundo 52, and Univision 34 — all recognized for their coverage of those devastating 2025 wildfires. Turns out some stories are bigger than ratings wars.

With Variety entering the night holding 93 nominations across 56 categories, the sheer scope of modern entertainment journalism was on full display. From traditional film criticism to cutting-edge podcasting, the industry's evolving faster than streaming services can greenlight shows.

As the last glasses clinked at the Biltmore (and let's be honest, some after-parties were just getting started), one thing was crystal clear: entertainment journalism isn't just adapting to the digital age — it's thriving in it. Whether it's a 280-character hot take or a 5,000-word deep dive, there's still nothing quite like a well-told story about the business of telling stories.

Hollywood's finest scribes turned the historic Millennium Biltmore into their own version of the Oscars last night — minus the designer gowns and acceptance speech music cutoffs. The 67th SoCal Journalism Awards proved that entertainment journalism isn't just alive and kicking; it's practically doing backflips.Variety absolutely crushed it this year. They walked away with 16 first-place trophies (double their previous year's haul), leaving industry veterans wondering if they'd need to rent a U-Haul for the ride home. The Hollywood Reporter snagged 10 wins, while digital powerhouse IndieWire proved that pixels pack just as much punch as print, scoring four top honors — including Best Website for their online-only operation.More than 550 journalists packed the crystal ballroom, trading war stories and shop talk while celebrating the craft that keeps Hollywood's machine humming. Sure, TikTok might be stealing eyeballs, but quality entertainment journalism clearly isn't going anywhere.Variety's dominance wasn't just about racking up numbers. Their wins showcased real range — from Chris Willman's Entertainment Journalist of the Year nod to their art department's knockout Anna Taylor-Joy cover that had everyone talking. Not too shabby for a publication that's been around since the silent film era.The Hollywood Reporter brought their A-game too. Lovia Gyarkye's deep dive into climate change's impact on film struck a chord, while James Hibberd's "Cats Are Finally Having a Big Hollywood Meow-Ment" proved that even serious journalism can have a sense of humor. That headline win? Their first ever in the category — proof that sometimes the perfect pun pays off.Over in the digital realm, IndieWire's TV critic Ben Travers knocked it out of the park with his "Somebody Somewhere" Season 3 review. The judges' praise that it "inspires the reader to immediately seek out the piece" pretty much nails what every critic dreams of hearing.The evening wasn't all about competition, though. The Los Angeles Times' Bill Plaschke took home the Joseph M. Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement — well-deserved recognition for a scribe who's been capturing LA's pulse for decades. CNN's Clarissa Ward earned the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism, though she couldn't make it. She was too busy doing exactly what earned her the award: covering breaking news in the Middle East.Perhaps the night's most powerful moment came when news directors from every major LA television station shared the stage. ABC7, Fox11, KCAL News/CBS Los Angeles, KTLA, NBC4, Spectrum News 1, Telemundo 52, and Univision 34 — all recognized for their coverage of those devastating 2025 wildfires. Turns out some stories are bigger than ratings wars.With Variety entering the night holding 93 nominations across 56 categories, the sheer scope of modern entertainment journalism was on full display. From traditional film criticism to cutting-edge podcasting, the industry's evolving faster than streaming services can greenlight shows.As the last glasses clinked at the Biltmore (and let's be honest, some after-parties were just getting started), one thing was crystal clear: entertainment journalism isn't just adapting to the digital age — it's thriving in it. Whether it's a 280-character hot take or a 5,000-word deep dive, there's still nothing quite like a well-told story about the business of telling stories.