51st Annual Southern California Journalism Awards to be Held on Sunday, June 14th

Serving Southern California since 1913, the Los Angeles Press Club is the only Southern California journalism group that speaks for all journalists working for daily and weekly newspapers, radio & TV, magazines, documentary films and online.

RELEASE

Monday, May 18, 2009
For Immediate Release
Contact(s):
Diana Ljungaeus, Executive Director, 323.669.8081, diana@lapressclub.org
Edward Headington, Publicist, 818.720.7181, edward@lapressclub.org

Top Honors to go out to Robyn Dixon, Rick Orlov and Arianna Huffington

Hollywood, CA. Author and Huffington Post editor-in-chief Arianna Huffington; Daily News city hall reporter Rick Orlov and Los Angeles Times foreign correspondent Robyn Dixon will receive the Los Angeles Press Club's highest honors at the 51st Annual Southern California Journalism Awards on Sunday, June 14. Former Press Club Executive Director, Alex Ben Block, will again be serving as the “Voice of God.”

They will be among hundreds taking part in the Southland's oldest and most distinguished journalism gala at the Sheraton Universal hotel in Universal City. In longstanding tradition, the presentation will be full of surprises, including an appearance by comedienne Paula Poundstone.

Huffington will receive the President's Award, for having charted a new online path for journalism, and comedian Bill Maher will give the brilliant and outspoken Huffington a special introduction.

Orlov, still breaking stories after three decades on the City Hall beat for the Los Angeles Daily News, will receive the Joseph M. Quinn Award for lifetime achievement. He will be introduced by Linda Breakstone, herself a veteran television and newspaper political reporter.

Dixon, who is based in South Africa for the Los Angeles Times, will be named to the Daniel Pearl Award for courage in recognition of her selflessness in pursuing difficult, often dangerous stories over the years around the world. The award will be presented by Judea Pearl, father of the late Wall Street Journal reporter killed by Pakistani extremists.

"This is one of the most impressive lineups for the Southern California Journalism awards yet, and we're pulling it off in a year of unprecedented difficulties for the industry and the nation," says Press Club President Chris Woodyard, a reporter for USA TODAY. "The awards are proof that quality journalism still matters and deserves recognition."

Awards presenters will include NBC4 anchor Ana Garcia, Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Joe Morgenstern, ABC7 entertainment reporter George Pennacchio, and "Ask a Mexican" columnist Gustavo Arellano. Tickets are still available at http://www.lapressclub.org/.

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The Los Angeles Press Club stands as an organization devoted to improving the spirit of journalism and journalists, raising the industry’s standards, strengthening its integrity and improving its reputation all for the benefit of the community at large. Serving the Southland since 1913, it is the only Southern California journalism group that speaks for all journalists working for daily and weekly newspapers, radio & TV, magazines, documentary films and online. For more information, go to http://www.lapressclub.org/.

PR Newswire, co-sponsor for all Los Angeles Press Club events, is the global leader in news and information distribution services for professional communicators. For more information, go to http://www.prnewswire.com/.

Headington Media Group is a boutique communications firm dedicated to promoting public affairs in Southern California, specializing in image management, branding, messaging and public relations. For more information, go to http://www.headingtonmedia.com/ and/or visit http://www.headingtonmediacenter.org/.