The Distinguished Journalist Awards
The Distinguished Journalist Awards, created in 1976, honors journalists “who have achieved a record of accomplishments over the course of a number of years.”
This includes those working in journalism in all its forms and from news sources of all shapes and sizes across the greater Los Angeles region. In 1997, the chapter began honoring journalists in four categories: television, radio, newspapers with a circulation of 90,000 or more, and newspapers with a circulation of less than 90,000. The Distinguished Work in New Media award was created in 2008 and now digital journalists are recognized alongside their peers in print and broadcast as Distinguished Journalists. In 2021, the chapter added a Visual Storytelling category and in 2022 the chapter added two student categories to honor students attending community college and a 4-year university. In 2025, the chapter replaced the individual categories for professional journalists with up to six awards across all professional platforms in order to ensure that the group of honorees represents exemplary journalism in all its forms.
The Freedom of Information award, also created in 1976, is given to people who have helped further the free flow of information and championed freedom of the press. The FoI award is not given every year, and the recipients usually are not journalists.
SPJ/LA Distinguished Journalist Awards: Changes & FAQ
Nominations for the 50th Annual SPJ/LA Distinguished Journalism Awards (Deadline June 15, 2026)
Past Honorees
2024 honorees from left to right: Salvador Duran, Louis Sahagun, H. Susan Henderson, Adriana Chavira, Toni Sciacqua, Ashley Alvarado, Margaret Carrero, and Cebelihle Hlatshwayo.
2025
Mark Acosta, The Press-Enterprise
Joanne Griffith, Marketplace
Lolita Lopez, NBC4
Larry Maestas, Southern California News Group
Diana Martinez, San Fernando Valley Sun/El Sol
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times
Freedom of Information award: John F. Szabo, Los Angeles Public Library
Students honored:
Delilah Brumer, Pierce College
Lex Wang, University of California, Los Angeles.
2023
Michaela Pereira, freelance journalist and TV host
Paul Glickman, KPCC/LAist
Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times
Gwen Muranaka, The Rafu Shimpo
Ben Camacho, Knock LA
Dean Musgrove, Southern California News Group
Students honored:
Alexandra Najera, California State University, Northridge
Jackson Tammariello, Santa Monica College
2024
Louis Sahagun, Los Angeles Times
Toni Sciacqua, Southern California News Group
H. Susan Henderson, Mountain Views News
Salvador Duran, Univision
Margaret Carrero, KNX
Ashley Alvarado, LAist
Francine Orr, Los Angeles Times
Adriana Chavira, Daniel Pearl Magnet High School
Students honored:
Cebelihle Hlatshwayo, Santa Monica College
Anne To, California State University, Los Angeles
2022
Lexis Olivier-Ray, L.A. Taco
Ian Masters, Radio Host
Rick Adams, Spectrum News 1
Kelvin Washington, Spectrum News 1
Alessandra Bergamin, Freelance Journalist
Doug Smith, Los Angeles Times
Duffy Carolan, Jassy Vick Carolan, FoI
Students honored:
Guadalupe Perez, Santa Monica College
Veronica Backer-Peral, Loyola Marymount University
2020
| David Allen, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin |
| Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times |
| Josie Huang, KPPC and LAist |
| Toni Guinyard, NBC 4 |
| Tami Abdollah, dot.LA |
| Nora Benavidez, PEN America |
2019
| Tom Bray, Southern California News Group |
| Maria L. La Ganga, Los Angeles Times |
| Diane Thompson, KNX 1070 |
| Vance Scott, KTLA |
| Lynell George, journalist and essayist |
| David Snyder, First Amendment Coalition |
The 2018 winners of SPJ/LA's Distinguished Journalist Awards, from left: David Dayen, Steve Padilla, Scott Sanders, Rich Archbold, Nicole M. Campbell and Gabriela Teissier, with banquet emcee Frank Mottek.
2018
| Rich Archbold, Long Beach Press-Telegram |
| Steve Padilla, Los Angeles Times |
| Nicole M. Campbell, KFI-AM |
| Gabriela Teissier, KMEX-TV Univision 34 |
| David Dayen, freelance journalist and author |
| Scott Sanders, Orange County Public Defender’s Office |
2017
| Kim Masters, The Hollywood Reporter |
| Robin Abcarian, Los Angeles Times |
| Sharon McNary, 89.3 KPCC |
| Miriam Hernandez, ABC 7 |
| Norberto Santana, Voice of OC |
| Kelly Aviles, Californians Aware |
2016
| Hector Becerra, Los Angeles Times |
| R. Scott Moxley, OC Weekly |
| Greg Habell, KNX 1070 |
| Adrienne Alpert, ABC 7 |
| Ken Bensinger, Jeremy Singer-Vine and Jessica Garrison, BuzzFeed News |
2015
| Steve Loeper, Associated Press |
| Frank Suraci, Daily Breeze |
| Frank Mottek, KNX 1070 |
| David Ono, ABC 7 |
| Adrian Glick Kudler, Curbed LA |
| Theodore Boutrous, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP |
| Don Barrett, LARadio.com |
2014
| Jacques Clafin, City News Service |
| Gustavo Arellano, OC Weekly |
| Keith Goldstein, KCSN |
| Cheryl Kunin Fair, ABC 7 |
| Michelle Levander, ReportingonHealth.org |
| Mona Shafer Edwards |
2013
| Sandy Banks, Los Angeles Times |
| Jon Regardie, Los Angeles Downtown News |
| Damien Newton, Southern California Streets Initiative |
| Oswaldo Borraez, KMEX-TV Univision 34 |
| John Brooks, KNX 1070 |
| Brian Humphrey, Los Angeles Fire Department |
The 2014 winners of SPJ/LA's Distinguished Journalist Awards, from left: Mona Shafer Edwards, Keith Goldstein, Jacques Clafin, Michelle Levander, Gustavo Arellano and Cheryl Kunin Fair.
2012
| Marty Sauerzopf, City News Service |
| Dan Evans, Times Community News |
| Beverly White, NBC 4 |
| Andy Ludlum, CBS 2 |
| Sharon Waxman, TheWrap.com |
| Jean-Paul Jassy |
2010
| Ralph Vartabedian, Los Angeles Times |
| Dennis Anderson, Antelope Valley Press |
| Conan Nolan, NBC 4 |
| Larry Mantle, 89.3 KPCC |
| Robert Scheer, Truthdig |
2008
| John Schwada, KTTV Fox 11 |
| Frank Stoltze, 89.3 KPCC |
| Paul Pringle, Los Angeles Times |
| Terri Vermeulen Keith, City News Service |
| Kevin Roderick, LA Observed |
| Nick Ut, The Associated Press |
| Thomas W. Newton and James W. Ewert |
2011
| Bob Pool, Los Angeles Times |
| Howard Fine, Los Angeles Business Journal |
| Lisa Bartley, ABC 7 |
| Bob Moon, American Public Media |
| Jesus Sanchez, The Eastsider LA |
| Donald Zachary |
2009
| Andrew Blankstein, Los Angeles Times |
| Denise Nix, The Daily Breeze |
| Dave Lopez, CBS 2/KCAL 9 |
| Claudia Peschiutta, KNX 1070 |
| David Dayen, freelance journalist and author |
| Celeste Fremon, creator and editor of WitnessLA.com |
2007
| Bob Banfield, ABC 7 |
| Beth Barrett, Los Angeles Daily News |
| John Rabe, 89.3 KPCC |
| Tom Tugend, Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles |
| Scott Glover and Matt Lait, Los Angeles Times |
The 2012 SPJ/LA's Distinguished Journalist Awards. From left, award winners Beverly White, Jean-Paul Jassy and Sharon Waxman; keynote speaker Jeff Fager; and award winners Marty Sauerzopf, Dan Evans and Andy Ludlum.
2006
| George Skelton, Los Angeles Times |
| Larry Altman, Daily Breeze |
| Dave Bryan, CBS 2/KCAL 9 |
| Eric Leonard, KFI 640 AM |
2005
| John Antczak, Associated Press |
| David Zahniser, Copley News Service |
| Steve Kindred, KFWB-AM |
| Julia Seifer ABC 7 |
| Karlene W. Goller, Esq., Los Angeles Times |
| Frank Wilkinson (in memoriam), First Amendment Foundation |
2003
George Nicholaw, former KNX Newsradio general manager
Jeff Wald, KTLA-TV
Lori Streifler, City News Service
Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times
Prof. Eugene Volokh, UCLA, FoI
2004
Carolyn Cole, Los Angeles Times
Jim Hattendorf, KCBS-TV and KCAL-TV
Mark Lacter, Los Angeles Business Journal
Ed Pyle, KNX-AM
Susan Seager, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP, FoI
2001
Ronnie Bradford, KNX Newsradio
Warren Wilson, KTLA-TV
Wendy Thomas Russell, Long Beach Press-Telegram
Howard Blume, L.A. Weekly
Former Assemblyman William T. Bagley, FoI
2002
Kitty Felde, KPCC-FM
Judy Muller, ABC News
Jean Adelsman, retired, Daily Breeze
Sue Manning, The Associated Press
Prof. Erwin Chemerinsky, University of Southern California, FoI
2000
Bob Sims, KNX-radio
Bob Tarlau, KTTV-TV
Pat Teague, City News Service
Tracy Wood, Orange County Register
Hon. Terry Friedman, Los Angeles Superior Court, Juvenile Division, FoI
1999
Mark Coogan, KABC-TV
Pete Demetriou, KFWB-radio
Greg Krikorian and Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times
Cheryl Romo, Los Angeles Daily Journal
State Sen. Byron Scher, FoI
1997
John Bogert, Daily Breeze
Dennis McCarthy, Los Angeles Daily News
John North, KABC-TV
Jack Popejoy, KFWB-radio
Douglas Mirell, esquire, Loeb & Loeb, FoI
1998
Martin Berg, Los Angeles Daily Journal
Joel Grover, KCBS-TV
Warren Olney, KCRW-radio
Leo Wolinsky, Los Angeles Times
Rex Heinke, esquire, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, FoI
1995
Jim Giggans, KNBC-TV
Jim Newton, Los Angeles Times
State Sen. Quentin L. Kopp, FoI
1996
Al Martinez, Los Angeles Times
Jose Rios, KTTV-TV
Kelli Sager, esquire, Davis Wright Tremaine, FoI
1993
Dan Fisher, Los Angeles Times
Hal Fishman, KTLA-TV
Hon. Irwin Nebron, Los Angeles County Superior Court, FoI
1994
David Dow, CBS-radio
Howard Rosenberg, Los Angeles Times
William Rosendahl, Century Cable, FoI
1991
Paul Conrad, Los Angeles Times
Jon Goodman, KNX-radio
Prof. Ben Cunningham, Cal State Long Beach, FoI
1992
Chris Harris, KTTV-TV
Richard Serrano, Los Angeles Times
Terry Francke, Calif. First Amendment Coalition, FoI
1989
Linda Douglass, KNBC-TV
John Schwada, Herald-Examiner
Mel Opotowsky, Riverside Press-Enterprise, FoI
1990
Rick Orlov, Los Angeles Daily News
Charles Sergis, KFWB-radio
Prof. Charles Jenson, Sonoma State University, FoI
1987
Alex Sullivan, KNX-radio
William Thomas, Los Angeles Times
1988
Stephanie Rank Brady, KHJ-TV
Jack Jones, Los Angeles Times
Bill Stout, KCBS-TV FoI
1986
Gladwin HIll, New York Times
Pete Noyes, KNBC-TV
Howard Williams, FoI
1985
Bill Boyarsky, Los Angeles Times
Warren Olney, KABC-TV
Bill Farr, Los Angeles Times, FoI
1983
John Marshall, KNBC-TV
Jim Murray, Jim Los Angeles Times
Zev Yaroslavsky, LA City Council member, FoI
1984
Richard Bergholz, Los Angeles Times
Jack Foisie, Los Angeles Times
George Martin, KNX-radio
Clete Roberts, in memoriam, KCET-TV
1981
Jack Smith, Los Angeles Times
Ruth Ashton-Taylor, KNXT-TV
Hon. Bernard Jefferson, Calif. Court of Appeals
1982
Miriam Bjerre-Persoff, KNX-radio
Frank del Olmo, Los Angeles Times
Jonathan Kotler, esquire, FoI
1979
Stan Chambers, KTLA-TV
Joyce Peterson, Los Angeles Daily News
1980
Mary Neiswender, Long Beach Press-Telegram
Beverly Reynolds, KNX-radio
Rep. Jerry Lewis, FoI
1977
Linda Deutsch, Associated Press
Jess Marlow, KNBC-TV
Ben Bagkikian, media critic, FoI
1978
Saul Halpert, KNBC-TV
Charles Hillinger, Los Angeles Times
Hon. William O. Douglas, U.S. Supreme Court Justice
1976
Gene Blake, Los Angeles Times
Bill Stout, KNXT-TV
U.S. Sen. Alan Cranston, FoI
