63Southern California Journalism awards - Los Angeles Press Club
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
63
L O S A N G E L E S
P R E S S C L U B
s i x t y - t H IRD
a n n u a l
Southern California Journalism Awards
Nilaya Sabnis
2021 journalism awards
63rd annual southern california
A message From the PRESS CLUB President
H
ello, and welcome to the 63rd Annual Southern
California Journalism Awards!
Tonight’s gala is our first in-person event in nearly
two years. We are thrilled that we can gather together again
to celebrate the great work that was produced during the
biggest news event of recent times: the COVID-19 pandemic.
Journalists this year submitted close to 2,000 entries, a record!
While we celebrate that work, we also want to highlight
the important efforts the club has made to advocate for press
freedom. As journalists were being physically and verbally
attacked for doing their jobs, the Press Club documented
many cases and pushed for new protections for the media.
Adam Rose, our secretary and chair of the Press Rights
Lisa Richwine
Committee, has tirelessly led this initiative. Please take some
time to read Adam’s update on these activities in the program.
I’d like to thank Adam and the rest of the Press Club
board for the significant time and energy they have devoted
to support the club’s activities. And a special shout-out to
Executive Director Diana Ljungaeus for keeping the club
running during the past two challenging years.
Thanks everyone for joining us tonight to celebrate serious
journalism.
Lisa Richwine
L.A. Press Club President
Southern California 1 Journalism Awards
2021 63 annual southern california
rd
journalism awards
the Advisory
Board
RICK J. CARUSO
Founder & CEO
Caruso Affiliated
Awards for Editorial Excellence in 2020 and MADELINE DI NONNO
CEO
Honorary Awards for 2021 Geena Davis Institute on
Gender in Media
DAVID W. FLEMING
The GUARDIAN Award
For Contributions to Press Freedom
Counsel
Latham & Watkins LLP We are pleased to join with the
Josie Huang
Bill imada
Chairman & Chief Collaboration Officer Los Angeles Press Club
KPCC/LAist
in celebrating
IW Group, Inc.
sabrina kay
this year’s honorees.
Chancellor & CEO
The Daniel Pearl Award Fremont College and Fremont Private
For Courage and Integrity in Journalism Investments
Bari Weiss kat kramer
Actress, singer, producer
SHERRY LANSING
THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD CEO
The Sherry Lansing Foundation
For Impact on Media
GEORGE E. MOSS
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Chairman
CNN Moss Group
CONSTANCE L. RICE
Co-Director
The Joseph M. Quinn Award Advancement Project
For Lifetime Achievement HON. RICHARD J. RIORDAN
Former Mayor of Los Angeles
Marc Brown
ANGELICA SALAS
ABC7 Director
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of
Los Angeles
THE BILL ROSENDAHL PUBLIC SERVICE CAROL E. SCHATZ
AWARD President & CEO
Downtown Center Business Improvement
For Contributions to Civic Life District
Sean Penn and Ann Lee GARY L. TOEBBEN
President & CEO
CORE Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
MATT TOLEDO
President & Publisher
Los Angeles Business Journal
Saturday, October 16, 2021 STUART WALDMAN
President
The Crystal Ballroom, Millennium Biltmore Hotel Valley Industry & Commerce Association
506 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Press Club A non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status—Tax ID 01-0761875
6464 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 870, Los Angeles, CA 90028 • Phone: (323) 669-8081 Fax: (310) 464-3577
E-mail: info@lapressclub.org • Website: www.lapressclub.org
2021 63rd annual southern california
journalism awards
SCHEDULE 4:30 p.m. red carpet
5:00 p.m. COCKTAILS AND SILENT AUCTION
OF EVENTS 6:00 p.m. DINNER and program—SILENT AUCTION CLOSES AT 8:00 p.m.
Proud to support the
Welcome
For all finalists see
pages 42-58 Presenters Cher Calvin and Robert Kovacik
STUDENT
LOS
Lisa Richwine with LA Press Club affairs and
$1,000 Scholarship Raffle
Presenters Cher Calvin and Robert Kovacik
FEATURES
PUBLIC AFFAIRS/PUBLIC SERVICE
THE GUARDIAN AWARD: Josie Huang, introduced by Adam Rose
Presenters Cher Calvin and Danny Bakewell, Jr.
ANGELES
FEATURES
PUBLIC SERVICE
DANIEL PEARL AWARD: Bari Weiss, introduced by Judea Pearl
Presenters Dr. Wendy Walsh and Melvin Robert
COMMENTARY
SOCIAL MEDIA/BLOGS
SporTS
PRESS
NEWS
ENTERTAINMENT: Comic Aida Rodriguez
Presenters George Pennacchio and Danielle Nottingham
DESIGN/LAYOUT
ENTERTAINMENT
THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD: Dr. Sanjay Gupta
CLUB
Presenters George Pennacchio and Jovana Lara
INVESTIGATIVE/BUSINESS
THE JOSEPH M. QUINN AWARD: Marc Brown, introduced by George Pennacchio
Presenters Dr. Wendy Walsh and Robert Kovacik
website
Journalists of the Year
BILL ROSENDAHL PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD: Sean Penn and Ann Lee, introduced
by Fire Chief Ralph M. Terrazas
Don’t forget to pick up your certificates and silent auction goods on your way out.
The Inimitable Buster Sussman
Tonight’s Awards Are Co-Dedicated to the Press Club’s Passionate Presence
By jon regardie
I INFORMING THE PUBLIC
f you attended any Los Angeles Press Club
events in the past few decades, then you undoubtedly
crossed paths with a garrulous, debonair man with
a trim white goatee and dancing brown eyes. And once
this man—Buster Sussman—had you in his orbit, he’d
captivate you with jokes and stories from his decades in
MATTERS.
journalism, maybe even mentioning how, while still in In a year defined by public service journalism, the Los Angeles Times is honored to stand among distinguished
elementary school, he interviewed a Civil War veteran. colleagues, all of whom are dedicated to a free press, informed citizenry and serving their community. We are proud
Buster was involved with the Los Angeles Press Club of all the SoCal Journalism Award honorees and grateful to the L.A. Press Club for recognizing this vital work.
for more than 70 years. A member since 1948 and going
back to the 1970s, with roles including serving on the
Board of Directors, running the Club’s Educational
Foundation and finding funding for events. He was a
tireless volunteer, regularly showing up at the Club’s for-
mer offices in the Steve Allen Theater, just to help out or
share his many ideas.
Buster passed away in April of 2020, the day after his
93rd birthday. Tonight’s Southern California Journalism
Awards are co-dedicated to him.
Buster was born on April 16, 1927, in San Francisco.
His family moved to Los Angeles and he attended South
Pasadena High School and then the University of South-
ern California, where his journalism studies were
interrupted by a stint in the Army. He
never saw combat, and in LA PRESS CLUB OFFICERS board membERS
a Press Club pro-
file, in his inimita-
ble way, he dead-
panned, “I enjoyed
the army. I had a fine
time.”
He began his news-
paper career with the PRESIDENT DANNY J. BAKEWELL, JR., Exec. Editor, Los Angeles Sentinel
Lisa Richwine, Media & Entertainment
small Oakdale Enter- Buster Sussman was a member of the Los Angeles Press Club for BRITTANY LEVINE BECKMAN, Managing Editor, Mashable
over 70 years. In 2008, his 50 years of involvement in jourrnalism was Correspondent, Reuters
prise. “It was almost JOSH CAMPBELL, Correspondent, CNN
celebrated in the 50th SCJA booklet. Photos: Charlotte Osterdahl VICE PRESIDENT
gone when I got there,”
Cher Calvin, Anchor/Reporter, KTLA, Los Angeles ANH DO, Metro Reporter, Los Angeles Times
he joked in the profile.
“I’m sure I didn’t help it.” Vietnamese, Latino and Filipino journalists. He spent TREASURER EMILY ELENA DUGDALE, KPCC/LAist
John Gittelsohn, Bloomberg News
His career would take time mentoring journalism students who were attend-
him to newsrooms includ- ing Los Angeles Community College. He was affiliated
ing the San Francisco Exam- with myriad groups, and Press Club members can fondly
iner, the Los Angeles Exam- recall how Buster would call them up and describe plans to
iner, the Daily Breeze and bring different communities together.
the L.A. Times. Even after He was a widower with two children, four grandchildren,
his reporting days ended, and two great-grandchildren and also a passionate artist
he stayed enmeshed in the (some of his works are available at the auction this eve- SECRETARY scott feinberg, Awards Columnist, The Hollywood Reporter
world of journalism, and ning). Adam J. Rose, Senior Editorial Producer,
nic cha kim, PBS SoCal, KCET
in pure Buster fashion, he Buster had a unique approach to life, and could simulta ViacomCBS
george pennacchio, Entertainment Reporter, ABC7 Eyewitness News
never limited himself; over neously dispense wisdom, humor and perspective. At the EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
the decades he worked end of the Press Club profile, he left a writer with these Diana Ljungaeus, International Journalist malina Saval, Features Editor, Variety
with organizations repre- words: “Life is like being at a party, where you go around CATALINA VILLEGAS, Spectrum News1
senting African-American, and sample the food. Then you realize the party’s over.”
Los Angeles 6 Press CLub Southern California 7 Journalism Awards
The Years in Review 2019 – 2020
Two Busy Highly discussion with Jay Roach, director of Bombshell,
a movie about the women who exposed sex-
ual harassment at Fox News. Bombshell won the
Unusual Years
club’s annual Veritas Award, which honors a film
inspired by true events.
COVID-19 made its impact felt the next month, George Pennacchio
and like every other organization, the Press Club interviewed Ann-Margret,
The Legendary Awardee.
had to adjust. Since March 2020, there has been
The Press Club Stayed Active, Even if the Pandemic a series of virtual events, and the club has men-
Moved Activities Online tored early-career fellows, provided emergency
funds to journalists in need, and advocated for
press freedom.
Throughout the pandemic, the Los Angeles who received the Impact Award, and director The pandemic resulted in many journal-
Press Club has been busy supporting serious Quentin Tarantino, recipient of the Distin- ists being laid off or having their hours and pay
journalism in ways old and new. guished Storyteller Award. reduced. Opportunities for freelancers shrunk
In December 2019, the club hosted one of The Visionary Award was given to actor Danny dramatically. The Press Club was able to provide
its last pre-coronavirus in-person events, the Trejo. Actress Ann-Margret received the Legend emergency funds to some 200 journalists in South-
12th annual National Arts and Entertain- Award and journalist Ben Mankiewicz was hon- ern California thanks to generous grants from the
ment Journalism Awards. Honorees included ored with the Luminary Award. Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The funding
Tarana Burke, the Me Too movement founder In February 2020, the Press Club hosted a helped reporters, photographers, TV producers and
Above from left: Executive Above from left: Jamie Foxx made
producers Jesse Daniels and the introduction for Distinguished
Brie Miranda Bryant accepted Storyteller Awardee Quentin
the President’s Award for Tarantino; Judea Pearl presented
Surviving R. Kelly; Magic Nima Elbagir with the Daniel Pearl
Johnson introduced and Pat Award; Bill Hader introduced
Harvey presented the Joseph Henry Winkler, recipient of the Bill
M. Quinn Award to Jim Hill. Rosendahl Public Service Award.
Right: Rosanna Arquette Far left: Ben Mankiewicz, who
introduced Impact Awardee received The Luminary Award, was
Tarana Burke, who launched introduced by his brother, Josh
the “Me Too” movement. Mankiewicz.
Far right: Calif. Rep. Tony Left: The Spectrum News1 team
Cárdenas introduced Danny makes an appearance: Jada
Trejo, recipient of The Montemarano, Rick Adams, Melvin
Visionary Award. Robert, Giselle Fernandez.
Los Angeles 8 Press CLub Southern California 9 Journalism Awards
The Years in Review 2019 – 2020
Patt Morrison hosted a 2019 discussion with New York Times LAPC’s screening of This Changes Everything in 2019 was followed by a discussion
reporters Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly, authors of The with panelists, director Tom Donahue, Kimberly Peirce, executive producer Geena
Education of Brett Kavanaugh: An Investigation. Davis, Catherine Hardwicke and moderator screenwriter/journalist Devra Maza.
Bombshell director, Jay
Roach, discussed the
movie at a Press Club
event hosted by
Dr. Wendy Walsh.
Bombshell was the 2020
Veritas Award winner.
Far right: One example
which intensified the LA
Press Club’s efforts to
support press freedom.
Lexis-Olivier Ray of L.A.
TACO was covering the
L.A. Dodgers World other members of the media pay for rent, health the Foot in the Door Fellowship, a program
Series celebrations in insurance and other immediate needs. designed to help people from groups that have
Oct. 2020. He said, “A
group of LAPD officers The club also intensified its work to support historically been underrepresented in media.
just broke my camera the ability of journalists to do their jobs. The two biggest events scheduled for 2020—
mic, tackled me to the Adam Rose, chair of the club’s Press Rights the Southern California Journalism Awards and
ground and beat me
with their batons, after
Committee, led this effort on several fronts. the National Arts and Entertainment Awards—
I identified myself as Joined by other journalism organizations, the still took place, though they were scaled down
a journalist multiple Press Club successfully lobbied the California and moved online. Director Aaron Sorkin
times.” legislature to pass a bill that would protect jour- accepted the 2021 Veritas Award for his movie
nalists from arrest during protests. As of press The Trial of the Chicago 7.
time, the legislation was awaiting Gov. Gavin The club also held several online events as
Newsom’s signature into law. members stayed close to home. The makers
Other initiatives included creating a tip sheet of the documentary The Social Dilemma dis-
for journalists on how to stay safe when cover- cussed the impact of social media on society,
ing demonstrations. The club also referred some and author Lisa Napoli talked about her book
journalists who had been mistreated by police Up All Night: Ted Turner, CNN, and the Birth of
to lawyers, trauma support and other assistance. 24-Hour News.
As people around the globe rallied for racial One online workshop offered information
justice, the Press Club created a grant for Report- about how journalists can take care of their
ing on Systemic Racism. Another grant, the mental health. Then there was the virtual series
Charles M. Rappleye Investigative Journalism Art Classes for Journalists, allowing members
Award, was given to two journalists who are to spend time on a creative pursuit and connect
reporting on vaccine hesitancy and other issues with others.
related to the pandemic. The Press Club now has the support of more
Additionally, the club provided mentoring than 1,000 members from throughout Southern
to two classes of young journalists through California. To join, check out lapressclub.org.
Los Angeles 10 Press CLub
Meet the Foot in the Door Fellows
Priyanka: Priyanka is a documentarian and a social South Asia during the pandemic.
justice reporter. After a decade-long career as a video Nancy Guan: Nancy is currently the general assignment
producer in India, she was recruited into the USC reporter for the Savannah Morning News, the newspaper
Annenberg Specialized Journalism master’s program for coastal Georgia. She is originally from Los Angeles and
Press Club Continues Its Effort to Help Early-Career Journalists as a graduate fellow. Since graduation, she has been graduated from the USC Journalism program in 2020.
Historically Excluded From the Media freelancing and reporting on communities of color in the
Bay Area. Currently, she is producing a micro-documentary
She previously worked at a local digital publication in
Alhambra.
commissioned by the Asian American Documentary Nancy has covered local government, public safety,
A
s the Los Angeles Press Club began planning the multimedia journalist passionate about covering culture, Network, and also working toward funding a short COVID-19, real estate trends, labor and more. In the future
third annual Foot in the Door Fellowship, there gentrification, identity and gender issues. She interned documentary about the plight of the trans community in she hopes to highlight underrepresented voices.
was a clear need to adapt to the pandemic. The six- at the Long Beach Post as a reporter, photographer and
month fellowship pairs five early-career journalists from videographer covering arts and culture. Sarahi has also
communities historically excluded from the media with reported for and mentored young journalists at VoiceWaves,
veteran reporters. In addition to mentoring, this year’s
program offered monthly trainings over video chat. The
virtual meet-ups covered subjects including how to produce
a youth media program in Long Beach.
Sarahi is a graduate of Humboldt State University
where she reported on disenfranchised communities for
Press Club Funds Investigative, Systemic
videojournalism when you
don’t have a fancy camera,
Racism Reporting Grants
how to start an investigative
project, and how to break
First Round of Recipients Has Been Announced
into freelancing. The Foot in
the Door committee also set
By B ob L a d end or f
up one-on-one calls between
I
fellows and journalists at n the effort to ensure there is of the late Los Angeles editor and were Anita
publications such as the sufficient coverage of critical journalist Charles Rappleye, aims Harris, a
Los Angeles Times, the New subjects, the Los Angeles Press to support next-level investigative Long Beach
York Times, the Los Angeles Club is funding two important research for ongoing projects. writer,
Charles Rappleye
Business Journal, Variety, programs: The Charles M. Rappleye Rappleye was widely known for his educator
KPCC and Mashable. Investigative Journalism Grant, and work at L.A. Weekly and L.A. and editor
The fellowship’s the Reporting on Systemic Racism CityBeat, as well as his series of who covers local news and theater
networking opportunities Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert Sarahi Apaez Diego Pineda Davila Grant. non-fiction books, including Sons for the Signal Tribune newspaper;
and encouraging atmosphere The Rappleye award, which of Providence: The Brown Brothers, Dena Montague, a research
became guiding lights for the 2021 class during a time of ranges from $1,000 to $5,000, is the Slave Trade, and the American associate at UC Santa Barbara with
uncertainty and momentous change. awarded twice yearly to a working Revolution, which received the the Global Environmental Justice
Early-career journalists can apply for the 2022 program journalist or team in need of George Washington Book Prize. Project; and Taylor Walker, a Los
at lapressclub.org. The application deadline is Nov. 15 resources, either financial or He also co-founded, with his wife, Angeles-based journalist writing for
and the fellowship begins in February. Fellows receive a in-kind. The inaugural recipients, Tulsa Kinney, L.A.’s respected art the nonprofit news site WitnessLA
$2,000 stipend. Professionals willing to serve as a mentor, announced in August, were magazine Artillery. and other publications.
be available for informational calls, or help out monetarily Caitlin Antonios, a staff member The Press Club also funds The Press Club is teaming up
can email info@lapressclub.org. of Columbia University’s Brown reporting that focuses on effective with the Solutions Journalism
This year’s spectacular mentors were: Ashley Alvarado Institute for Media Innovation’s responses to institutional racism, Network to offer a specialized
of Southern California Public Radio; Catalina Villegas of Documenting COVID-19 project; including supporting works that workshop for those selected to
Spectrum News 1; Shana Nys Dambrot of L.A. Weekly; B.J. and Eric Pape, an investigative critically assess alternatives to racist receive funding.
Terhune of the Los Angeles Times; and Emily Elena Dugdale reporter, editor and adjunct faculty structures and practices. Four grants Check lapressclub.org for more
of KPCC/LAist. Special thanks goes to Deepa Fernandes, member at the Annenberg School of $2,500 each are being awarded information about applying for
who was instrumental in developing this fellowship and is Priyanka Nancy Guan for Journalism at USC. during the first round. The first either grant, or to donate to the
now at the San Francisco Chronicle. The grant, established in honor three winners, announced last year, funds.
The Foot in the Door Fellowship Committee is Nic Cha the English and Spanish monthly student newspaper El
Kim of KCET; Brittany Levine Beckman of Mashable; and Leñador, and the student-run radio station.
Emily Elena Dugdale of KPCC/LAist. Diego Pineda Davila: Diego is a Guatemalan
The 2021 Foot in the Door Fellows are: multimedia journalist originally from North Carolina and
Katherine Tangalakis-Lippert: Katherine is a currently living in Los Angeles. He graduated from Elon
multimedia journalist who recently received her master’s University in 2019. He began his career at the New York Post
degree in specialized journalism from USC, where and recently finished an Audience Engagement Fellowship
she focused on mental and physical health reporting, at Newsweek.
investigative techniques and criminal justice topics. Currently, Diego is a YouTube Optimization
Katherine is currently a reporter for the San Fernando Coordinator at Little Monster Media. He also freelances
Valley Business Journal covering retail, nonprofits and for Reviewed, part of the USA Today Network, and Mitú.
hospitality. He hopes to amplify the voices and stories of the Latinx/ Caitlin Antonios Eric Pape Anita Harris Dena Montague Taylor Walker
Sarahi Apaez: Sarahi is a bilingual, freelance Hispanic community.
Los Angeles 12 Press CLub Southern California 13 Journalism Awards
2021 GUARDIAN award
for Contributions to Press Freedom
ON THE FRONT LINES
OF PRESS FREEDOM
Josie Huang, Recipient of the L.A. Press Club’s Inaugural Guardian
Award, Holds Power to Account Every Day
J
osie Huang has been a reporter for On the night of Saturday, Sept. 12,
By A DA M ROSE more than 20 years, starting as a 2020, Huang was reporting on the story
writer for her college newspaper. of two Los Angeles Sheriff’s Depart-
She has racked up awards in a ment deputies who had been shot in
career divided between old-fashioned an ambush. She covered a press con-
print outlets and public radio. These ference outside the St. Francis Medical
days she’s the Asian American Com- Center in Lynwood, and after it ended
munities Correspondent for KPCC she heard shouting. As she recounted Samuel Braslow
and its companion site LAist. If you’ve on Twitter, she went to investigate. She
spent time in a parked car, listening was filming an arrest when, suddenly, better understand their community and what happened with my arrest, I’m still Above: Huang interviews
to the station until one of her stories deputies advanced on her. Although she how it connects to the larger society. grateful that I was able to report on a a MAGA supporter.
finishes, you’re not alone. But nothing was wearing a lanyard with press cre- Attacks on press freedom are too often historic time in our country.” Far left: Huang covers an
could have prepared Huang for what dentials, she was thrown to the ground. attacks on holding power to account.” The historical impacts of the time- event in downtown Los
Angeles’s Little Tokyo.
unfolded one night last fall. It was an She loudly and repeatedly proclaimed Journalists the world over saw their frame were felt in other ways, too, and
event that reminded the entire Los her affiliation with KPCC but to no lives complicated by the pandemic, and Huang reported extensively on the rise
Angeles journalism community that avail; deputies stepped on her phone, Huang was no exception. As COVID- in anti-Asian violence. Yet her coverage
heavy-handed tactics and attempts to which was still recording video, and she 19 roared she began working weekend was also layered, and she delved into
muzzle a free press do not just happen was put into the back of a squad car and shifts, allowing her to dedicate her time varying responses to the attacks to reveal
in far-flung corners of the world, but arrested, accused of interfering with an at home to her young children. Then political and generational differences
can occur, unprecedented and out of the arrest. She spent five hours in custody. came the murder of George Floyd, and among members of the Asian American
blue, in our own backyard. The uproar from KPCC, other report- Huang says she covered “dozens” of pro- Pacific Islander community.
That Huang emerged from such an ers, journalist organizations, and even tests for Black Lives Matter and against Huang, who is married to a reporter,
encounter with grace and dignity will some politicians, was loud and instan- police brutality and racism. She took has seen the job grow more difficult over
not surprise anyone who over the years taneous. An investigation into the depu- care to ensure that the immediacy of the the years. That involves both shrinking
has listened to her stories—reports ties’ conduct was demanded. The Dis- moment was presented to her audience newsroom budgets, as well as pressure
that reveal, for example, the pervasive trict Attorney declined to press charges across multiple platforms. on the press.
impacts of hate crime, or the rise of a against Huang. “I felt a real commitment to show- “Journalists are more than before,
restaurant empire. Obscure concepts It was a moment that no reporter ing what was happening across southern the target of online threats and harass-
come to life as Huang amplifies voices expects will ever happen to them. But it California—I reported from Palmdale ment. Those covering protests, increas-
that might have gone unheard. is also one that reminds every journalist to Beverly Hills to Downtown L.A.—as ingly, face actual danger to their physical
Tonight, the Los Angeles Press Club about the importance of press freedom. many other people were confined to safety,” she said.
is proud to present Huang with the “Reporters are the eyes and ears for their homes. I tried to do this through That she is not deterred by what
inaugural Guardian Award for Contri- the public,” Huang said. “We try to radio, audio and video that I shared on occurred last fall, and continues to deliver
butions to Press Freedom. unearth the truth and help the public social media,” said Huang. “Despite powerful, impactful reporting, won’t sur-
Los Angeles 14 Press CLub Southern California 15 Journalism Awards
guardian award JOSIE HUANG
prise those who know Huang either per-
sonally or through her coverage.
momentarily put down the microphone
that comes with covering Los Angeles
Journalists and Media Workers Killed
“She’s a masterful storyteller in a very
understated way,” says Deepa Fernandes,
area government, and instead spoke into
one as she addressed local lawmakers.
Since July 2019
who previously worked at KPCC and That came as the L.A. County Board
now covers immigration for the San of Supervisors was considering a motion Reporters Continue to Risk Their Lives in the Effort
“I wanted to support the Francisco Chronicle. “She’s not coming at
you with the story. She lets the story seep
to endorse Senate Bill 98, state legisla-
tion which preserves the right of jour- to Bring Truth to the World By B o b L ade n do rf
journalist community in into you so you’re gripped.” nalists to enter contested areas, such as
L.A. County because too
S
Adds Huang’s KPCC/LAist colleague, where protests are occurring. Attempts tatistics show that the world detained in Myanmar since May
Fenster family
and Press Club board of directors mem- to require reporters to first get permis- remains a dangerous place 24 on unproven charges that he
many were experiencing ber Emily Elena Dugdale, “I started at sion from law enforcement command- for journalists and media reported false information. Myan-
KPCC as an intern. I remember Josie ers to do their job was shot down. workers, with nearly 100 losing mar was taken over by the mili-
assault, detention and going out of her way to make me feel Huang urged the members of the power their lives since July 2019 as they tary in February. Fenster’s family
welcome, showing genuine interest in ful panel to support the bill. covered stories. The Los Angeles members, who are working with
arrests for simply doing me as a person and a journalist. Years The Board of Supervisors unani- Press Club traditionally honors the United States government to
later, she hasn’t changed. She continues mously endorsed SB 98 in June. Huang journalists and media workers who free him, have said that he had
their jobs.” to look out for her peers—especially the reflected on why she needed to speak. perish while braving dangerous contracted COVID-19 and was
young journalists—and while she isn’t “I wanted to support the journalist conditions in the effort to keep the denied medical care. In a Sept.
the loudest voice in the room, she com- community in L.A. County because too world informed. 7 Washington Post opinion piece,
mands a deep respect that leads to better many were experiencing assault, deten- From July-December 2019, Jason Rezaian, who received the
outcomes for everyone.” tion and arrests for simply doing their 15 journalists and media workers Danny Fenster Press Club’s Daniel Pearl Award
That effort to create better outcomes jobs,” she said. were killed. Another 49 fell in 2020. for Courage and Integrity in
was exemplified recently when Huang After that, it was back to work, and So far in 2021 (through August), 29 have died. Journalism in 2016, urged the Biden administration to
turned in a different direction. She time for another story. In addition, at least 274 journalists and media work- “restore the United States’ long-standing commitment
ers were imprisoned as of January 2021, with another to upholding free expression” by working to free Fen-
66 missing. ster and protect Afghan journalists.
A white paper by the International Federation of The Press Club remains thankful to all those jour-
Journalists found that a total of 2,658 journalists and nalists and media workers who risk their lives daily to
media workers were killed from 1990-2020. It lists bring truth to the world, and we will continue to work
the most dangerous countries for journalists as Iraq, to preserve a free press.
Mexico, Philippines, Pakistan and India. Thanks to the Committee to Protect Journalists, the
Recent Developments: With the Taliban takeover of International Federation of Journalists, and Report-
Afghanistan on Sept. 1, the Los Angeles Press Club and ers Without Borders for providing information about
other media organizations are concerned about the those killed. While there are discrepancies in the total
arrests and beating of journalists, as well as the future statistics among these sources, the L.A. Press Club has
of Afghan media. done its best to determine and provide the best avail-
American journalist Danny Fenster has been able information.
Press FOrward
Journalists in Los Angeles need a place where join and become a member of the Club that
they can be heard, meet and network with has represented journalists in Los Angeles since
other journalists, and prepare for the chal 1913.
lenges that lie ahead.
6464 Sunset Blvd., Suite 870, Hollywood, CA 90028
that place exists. Phone: (323) 669-8081
It is the Los Angeles Press Club. E-mail: info@lapressclub.org • www.lapressclub.org
Los Angeles 16 Press CLub Southern California 17 Journalism AwardsSB-98 gained attention in June, when police
Journalism is Not a Crime
lobbyists helped add a “hostile” amendment
(meaning not approved by the bill’s author)
requiring journalists get police commander
permission to cover certain protests. The push-
back from media and others produced a rare
Los Angeles Press Club Joins Other Organizations to Speak Out on achievement in Sacramento: deleting an amend-
ment that had already been made. Ultimately a
First Amendment Violations “clean” version of the bill passed both the state
Senate and Assembly. As of late September, it
By A dam Ro s e was unclear if Newsom will sign the bill into law.
Pr es s Rig ht s Committee Ch air Another flashpoint came in March, when the A federal court complaint states that
LAPD mistreated several journalists covering freelance reporter Sarah Belle Lin was
J
ournalists have always faced risks while covering protests protests at Echo Park. This included reporters crossing a street alone wearing a press Photographer Ringo Chiu was wearing
badge and her camera when fired upon. LAPD and LASD issued credentials and
and civil unrest, but recently an increasing threat has and photographers with the Los Angeles Times, Her leg injury, 12 hours after covering standing with other photographers when
come from local law enforcement. Spectrum News 1, nonprofit newsrooms, free- Black Lives Matter protests in Oakland shot by a rubber bullet in the abdomen in
From May 2020 to April 2021, the Los Angeles Press Club lancers and college students. The Press Club last May 2020. August 2020.
documented more than 50 incidents where journalists try- spoke out against the department’s “After Action
ing to do their jobs were injured, detained or arrested by law Report,” which glossed over serious abuses, and continues to release location-based outbreak data related to the spread
enforcement agencies in California. Victims came from all push the civilian Los Angeles Police Commission to properly of COVID-19. We joined a letter to the Supreme Court of
corners of the industry: TV, print, radio, digital, freelance and address those events. the United States asking for permanent live audio streams
student. Labels didn’t matter, and neither did police-issued The Press Club supported other efforts this year. We of oral arguments. We joined a letter encouraging Newsom
credentials. Some were Press Club members and awardees. joined an amicus brief asking the County of San Diego to to sign Assembly Bill 48, to limit police use of “less lethal
Three were Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers. munitions,” and explicitly require officers to consider risks
The problem emerged during Black Lives Matter pro- to journalists.
tests last spring, as journalists were placed in handcuffs or Most of this work has been done in concert with fellow
wounded by so-called “less lethal munitions” that were vio- journalism organizations. We partnered with colleagues
lent enough to knock the fillings out of one reporter’s teeth. from the Asian American Journalists Association, CCNMA:
These incidents largely flew under the radar as public dis- Latino Journalists of California, Media Guild of the West,
course focused on police brutality and societal issues. National Association of Black Journalists, National Associa-
Then, in September 2020, multiple deputies from the Los tion of Hispanic Journalists, National Press Photographers
Angeles Sheriff’s Department (LASD) were caught on video Association, National Writers Union, Society of Professional
violating press rights. Freelance journalist Nash Baker was Journalists, and many more. We also collaborated with and
filming as a deputy screamed at him to leave a public space, received critical insights from the American Civil Liberties
“or I’m gonna break your fucking camera.” Just 30 seconds Top: Photographer Brian Feinzimer was walking away after shooting Union, California News Publishers Association, Committee
the top photo when he was shot with a projectile and pepper ball while
later, another deputy tackled KPCC’s Josie Huang. covering a protest last September 2020; his pepper-sprayed camera and
to Protect Journalists, PEN America, Reporters Committee
Neither journalist appeared to violate any law and pros- leg injury. for Freedom of the Press, and UC Irvine School of Law’s
ecutors declined to pursue charges. However, Huang was Intellectual Property, Arts, and Technology Clinic.
wrongfully arrested, and while being taken to jail a deputy Nobody in these groups could recall a time when we all
While Adolfo Guzman-Lopez of KPCC covered BLM protests in May
kicked her phone (which was still recording) into a gutter. 2020, he was shot in the neck with a 40mm foam round by a Long Beach
came together, as we did to fight for SB-98. We know we are
Her equipment was recovered by another reporter. PD officer. A CT scan later showed that fillings were knocked out of his stronger when united, especially when we became a chorus
Those events served as a catalyst. The Press Club estab- teeth. to proclaim that “Journalism is not a crime.”
lished a Press Rights Committee, with important contribu-
tions from Danny J. Bakewell, Jr., Josh Campbell, Deepa Fer-
nandes, Nic Cha Kim, Brittany Levine Beckman and Diana
Ljungaeus.
A Free Press is the
We renewed dialogues with LASD, the Los Angeles Police
Department (LAPD) and civic leaders. These continue as we
assess their policies and suggest improvements to training.
Protest safety tips can now be found on lapressclub.org,
Pillar of Democracy
and we refer colleagues to help from lawyers, trauma support
counselors and emergency grant providers. We’re also pro-
Bottom: Oakland KPIX-CBS reporter Katie Nielsen being handcuffed in
viding information on doxxing and online harassment, and June 2020 despite identifying herself and wearing media credentials.
maintain a support email at pressrights@lapressclub.org.
We have compiled research to identify and fix problems.
That includes an evidence slideshow of police abuses, track- ten by Sen. Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg). The goal was to #NotTheEnemy
ing of assaults by private citizens and a study of problematic take legal protections journalists have to access disaster areas
police-issued press credentials. (We also continue to issue and apply them to unlawful assemblies. Gov. Gavin Newsom
our own press IDs.) had vetoed a previous version; the Press Club stepped in as
Additionally, the Press Club endorsed Senate Bill 98, writ- one of the leaders to refine the re-introduced bill.
Los Angeles 18 Press CLub Southern California 19 Journalism Awards2021 daniel pearl award
for Courage and Integrity in Journalism
a Loud Unflinching
voice against
Antisemitism By
Mal i na
Saval
Bari Weiss, the Recipient of the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and
Integrity in Journalism, Lives by Her Beliefs, No Matter the Cost
I
n 2019, a spate of violent attacks besieged a white supremacist opened fire during a Shab-
the Jewish community in the United States, bat service in 2018, killing 11 congregants, sev-
including a mass shooting at Chabad of eral of whom were Holocaust survivors.
Poway, an ultra-Orthodox synagogue in The attack on Monsey was different. The Bari Weiss is a guest on
Poway, Calif., and an attack at the home of a perpetrator wasn’t a white supremacist, but a Bill Maher’s panel in
2019 with: Charlie Sykes
rabbi in Monsey, New York over the Chanu- mentally ill person of color. This did not mesh (Contributor, MSNBC),
kah holidays. During the latter incident a man with what Weiss calls “the neat worldview” of Eliot Spitzer (former
wielding a machete murdered one person and the New York Times, and her column on that NY-D governor), Maher,
(unseen Martin Short,
wounded four others. incident was squashed. George Will, Washington
According to the Anti-Defamation League, “That was an early moment of me thinking, Post columnist).
antisemitic hate crimes hit an all-time high in I can’t last here,” says Weiss, whose book How
Left: Weiss shares a
2019, with more than 2,100 assaults against To Fight Anti-Semitism won the 2019 National moment with her sisters.
the Jewish community. That same year, the FBI Jewish Book Award. “I can last here only if I’m
Far left: An early photo
recorded 953 hate crimes against Jews, a 14% willing to suppress things or willfully ignore of Weiss working on her
increase over 2018. According to the FBI, hate things. But if I’m going to fulfill the mission that computer.
crimes against Jews comprised 62% of all reli-
Opposite page: Weiss
gious hate crimes, making Jews the target of is surrounded by books
more such attacks than any other religious group during her book-signing
in the United States. event.
Journalist and author Bari Weiss, then a staff drove me here in the first place, I will not last.
writer and editor for the Opinion section of And that was kind of the choice, and I think it’s
the New York Times, penned a column about the a choice that is not unique to me. I think it’s a
antisemitic assaults—but that column never ran. choice that a lot of people in a lot of historically
It was, explains Weiss, the 2021 recipient of the liberal institutions that are undergoing a kind of the Times and launched her own newsletter on
Los Angeles Press Club’s Daniel Pearl Award for ideological transformation from within are hav- Substack, “Common Sense with Bari Weiss.”
Courage and Integrity in Journalism, one of sev- ing to make right now.” With the tagline “honest news for sane people,”
eral watershed moments that made her realize Weiss, who also worked as an Op-Ed and Weiss continues to doggedly raise awareness
she could no longer work for the Times. book review editor at the Wall Street Jour- about antisemitism—both in left wing and right
“I wrote a column that was called something nal and a senior editor at Tablet, and is a steady wing political circles.
like ‘America’s Bloody Pogrom,’ and it never fixture on such shows as “Real Time with Bill “I’m proud of working hard to ignore the
ran,” says Weiss, a Pittsburgh native who grew Maher” and “The View,” was undeterred in her noise and to tell the truth,” says Weiss, who also
up attending Tree of Life, the synagogue at which mission to fight antisemitism. She resigned from hosts “Honestly,” a weekly podcast. “I strive very
Los Angeles 20 Press CLub Southern California 21 Journalism Awardsdaniel pearl award bari weiss
hard to ignore what people tell me is the narra-
tive in favor of what I think all good journalists
are supposed to do, which is to pursue the truth,
and pursue the hard story, even when it’s politi-
cally inconvenient. The other thing I’m proud
of, frankly, is walking away from the New York
Times, which, by at least by all external measures,
is the pinnacle of American journalism. I walked
away because there are things that I feel are more
important than having a prestigious job or brag-
ging rights.”
Weiss, who graduated from Columbia Uni-
versity and was the winner of the Reason Foun-
dation’s 2018 Bastiat Prize for her writing, notes
that, “It is extremely easy to use antisemitism
Weiss has a conversation with Natan Sharansky, an Israeli politician, human rights as a political cudgel against the side you hate. In 1987, the Weiss family, with Bari in a stroller, took
activist, and author who, as a refusenik in the Soviet Union during the 1970s and For someone on the right to point to someone part in Free Soviet Jewry marches.
1980s, spent nine years in Soviet prisons. like Rashida Tlaib and say, look, the problem Above:: At a young age, Bari and a sister show their
is on your side. And for someone on the left support for Israel.
Remembering Ruth Pearl
the assassinated Russian journalist center among their Muslim neighbors. In 1970 they moved to Los Ange-
Anna Politkovskaya, the French satiri- Some of those same neighbors pro- les, where Ruth worked as a computer
cal journal Charlie Hebdo, and Richard tected the family during the June 1941 software analyst and Judea began
Engel. Farhud, a pogrom in downtown Bagh- a career as a UCLA professor and
nect people, to bridge cultures and to I regularly moderated discussions dad that left 180 Jews dead and hun- researcher.
Press Club Awards Dedicated to the ‘Warrior’ increase understanding. that the Pearl Foundation sponsored dreds injured. When the mob rushed In her later years, Ruth’s physical
Who Formed the Daniel Pearl Foundation Tonight’s Southern California Jour-
nalism Awards are dedicated to Ruth
along with the L.A. Press Club featur-
ing Daniel Pearl Journalism Fellows,
the Rejwan home, where 6-year-old
Ruth and her family were hiding,
strength ebbed, but not her convic-
tion. In May, she recorded YouTube
Pearl. Muslim journalists from Pakistan, neighbors told the crowd, “There are testimony calling on Pakistan to
R
By Rob Eshman uth Pearl, who died July 20 “I’m sure the killers of Danny didn’t the Middle East and Indonesia who no Jews here.” reverse its Supreme Court’s decision to
at the age of 85, fought a thou- have a sense of the humanity that con- worked for six months at U.S.-based “We thanked them, and they said, release from prison the man respon-
sand battles in her lifetime. nects us,” she said in an interview with news organizations. Ruth took charge ‘Well, we’re keeping you for last.’” sible for Daniel’s kidnapping and
She didn’t look like a warrior— the USC Shoah Foundation. “For them of all the details of those fellowships, The family remained unhurt. Ruth murder.
barely five feet tall, rail thin with Danny was an object, and that can from rental cars to where we would go joined a Zionist underground move- After greeting viewers in Arabic, she
cropped brown hair and a soft voice happen only if you don’t have your out to eat after the event. ment, eventually taking part in a said, “I am Ruth Pearl, mother of Dan-
that quavered, especially as she fought own self-respect and respect for other She had, in the words of Pakistani mass exodus of Jews to Israel in 1951. iel Pearl. Since 2002, when our son
respiratory problems in later life. human beings.” journalist and former Pearl Follow Shortly after she received word that was kidnapped and murdered in Paki-
But when I first met her, almost Ruth and Judea formed the Daniel Amal Khan, an “unnerving kindness.” her older brother had died fighting in stan, our lives have been upside-down.
two decades ago, I quickly learned she Pearl Foundation with the mission to One of my favorite moments in our the Israeli army, news that further dev- There’s not a single day we don’t miss
was, as her late son Danny’s friend bring these values—their son’s val- dinners with the Fellows came when astated her family. our son.”
Asra Nomani described her, “strength ues—into the world. They spent the Ruth would lapse into flawless Arabic. The family settled in Tel Aviv. Ruth The Ruth in that video is the one
incarnate.” next almost two decades organizing That was when I realized it was her would eventually join the Israeli Navy, I knew: brilliant, humane, tenacious,
Ruth achieved unwelcome fame music events, lectures and journalism own life story, as much as the tragedy then earn her electrical engineering driven.
as the mother of Wall Street Journal fellowships, authoring books, bridg- that befell her later, that drove her degree at The Technion—Israel Insti- “We have to educate the next gen-
reporter Daniel Pearl, who was kid- ing cultures and religions around the to bridge cultures and bring people tute of Technology in Haifa—one of eration differently,” she said in her
napped by Pakistani terrorists on Jan. world. together. four women in a class of 120. Shoah Foundation testimony.
23, 2002, and executed nine agonizing Ruth worked closely with the Los Ruth was born Eveline Rejwan on She met Judea at Technion. They She was far too modest a person
days later. It was a very public tragedy Angeles Press Club to establish the Nov. 10, 1935, in Baghdad, in a family married in 1960 and moved to Princ- to say it, so I will: we have to educate
that would have sent most people into Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and whose roots in Iraq went back before eton, New Jersey, for their graduate them to be more like Ruth Pearl.
a life of mourning and bitterness. But Integrity in Journalism in 2002, hon- the birth of Islam. Her father, Joseph, studies. Ruth would earn a Masters
Ruth, along with her husband Judea, oring journalists like her son. She took was a successful importer, her mother, as she and Judea had three children, Rob Eshman is the National Editor of The
led a long struggle to turn their son’s great care in thinking through the Victoria, an accomplished tailor. Ruth Tamara, Daniel and Michelle, in eight Forward, where a version of this article
death into an opportunity to con- possible recipients, who have included and her four siblings lived in the city years. originally appeared.
LA 22 PC LA 23 PCCongratulations
daniel pearl award bari weiss
Weiss appeared on to point to, say, Marjorie
Real Time with Bill Maher Taylor Greene. Or Steve
to all the
in 2019 to discuss her King. What’s hard is call-
new book, How to Fight
Anti-Semitism. ing it out when it comes
from inside your own
house. That, for me, is
la Press Club Honorees
one of the litmus tests.
If you are serious about
fighting antisemitism,
you’ll start by cleaning up
your side of the street.”
Being honored with
an award named for
Pearl, the American-Jew-
ish Wall Street Journal cor-
respondent who was kid-
napped and murdered by
Pakistani terrorists in 2002, “means more to me many are closeted about such commitments.
than I can possibly express,” says Weiss. It’s hard to think of a man that deserves to relax
“To be associated in any way with this family more than Judea Pearl. But he is the opposite of
and the virtues that they carry the torch for is a relaxed. And I mean that entirely as a compli-
profound honor,” she adds. ment. He is tireless in the fight against Jew-hate
“The Pearls are not just mensches,” says Weiss and especially in his support for young people.
of Daniel’s parents Judea and the late Ruth, who “If I can imitate him, if I can make a tiny
passed away in June. “They are also proud and percentage of the impact he has made, I will
public Jews and Zionists in an era where too consider myself successful.”
Congratulations to
Marc Brown Outstanding service since 1979
USC Annenberg alumnus
Co-anchor, ABC7 Eyewitness News
on receiving the Joseph M. Quinn Award
for Lifetime Achievement, and all of the
SoCal Journalism Awards winners and honorees.
310.823.5466
USC Annenberg is proud to support the Licensed, Insured & Bonded • TP# 23109B
Los Angeles Press Club.
Los Angeles 24 Press CLub
www.Executivela.com2021 presidenT’S award
for Impact on Media
Bravery & Truth
from the Front Lines
of the pandemic
CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta Receives
the Press Club’s President’s Award for Impact on Media
O
n March 9, 2020, the same day that people and politically charged for other people.”
By AL E X then-President Donald Trump was The phrasing immediately drew blasts from
B EN B LO C K tweeting that the coronavirus was Trumpworld. Don Jr. cited it as an example of
no worse than the flu, Dr. Sanjay the fake news media. On March 11, President
Gupta published an essay on CNN.com declar- Trump assured Republican senators, “We’re pre- of millions of people around the world protect Iraq and Kuwait. He covered a tsunami in Sri Above: Anderson Cooper
ing that henceforth the global news network pared, and we’re doing a great job with it. And themselves and their families, and he continues Lanka, Hurricane Katrina, and wars in Leba- and Gupta in Japan, 2011,
after the earthquake and
would refer to the virus cutting across the U.S., it will go away. Just stay calm. It will go away.” to work tirelessly to help all of us understand non and Afghanistan. He was on the ground tsunami.
and much the world, as a “pandemic.” Why did Gupta stick his neck out? this ever-changing virus.” for earthquakes in Haiti, flooding in Pakistan,
Below: Reporting on the
“It is not a decision we take lightly,” wrote “To call it a pandemic felt momentous and While continuing to serve as a physician, oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico and many other aftermath of the earthquake
Gupta, who by then had been CNN’s chief med- weighty,” he recalled later. “We didn’t want to medical school professor and neurosurgeon disasters. in 2010 from Bernard Mevs
ical correspondent for two decades. “While we panic people—but we felt we had to call it what based in Atlanta, where he lives with his lawyer COVID-19 is not his first pandemic. Gupta hospital in Port-au-Prince,
know it sounds alarming, it should not cause it was and so we did that.” wife and three daughters, Gupta has been on was in Guinea to report on Ebola, in Canada to Haiti.
panic.” What Gupta did took courage because many the front lines of world health issues since join- cover the SARS outbreak, and in the Middle East Opposite page: Gupta visits
Looking back 18 months later, Gupta said he in government, business and the media worried ing CNN in 2001. reporting on MERS. a refugee camp in Pakistan.
knew it was going to be “frightening to some that calling the coronavirus a pandemic would He has reported on anthrax attacks, and from In recent years, his focus has shifted to long-
cause panic. It is for this courage, his continu- form reporting, including hosting the CNN
ing efforts to cover the pandemic, and his work series “Chasing Life with Dr. Sanjay Gupta,”
to help people understand and deal with the where he travels the globe searching for the
health crisis, that the Los Angeles Press Club secret to long life, health and happiness. He has
is presenting Gupta with the President’s Award made documentaries for HBO, reported for “60
for Impact on Media at tonight’s 63rd annual Minutes” on CBS and written four books, most
Southern California Journalism Awards. recently Keep Sharp: Building a Better Brain.
“Dr. Gupta used his expertise to help Still, with COVID-19, Gupta faced one of his
audiences understand an unprecedented health greatest challenges.
crisis, providing vital information to guide “Getting the right information out there is so
decisions on how to protect themselves and important,” he said. “Combatting misinforma-
their families,” said Press Club President Lisa tion is equally important.
Richwine. “I spent so much time, especially in the first
Gupta’s CNN colleague Anderson Cooper is year of this pandemic, batting down misinfor-
among those who are impressed and inspired mation it felt like you could never really get your
by the doctor’s work. groove, because every time there was a press
“He is brilliant, brave, and even in the midst conference, you had to spend time explaining
of chaos, calm and reasoned,” said Cooper. what was said and how much of it doesn’t fit
“During this pandemic he has helped hundreds with everything we know so far.”
Los Angeles 26 Press CLub Southern California 27 Journalism AwardspresidenT’S award
dr. sanjay gupta CNN CONGRATULATES
DR. SANJAY
GUPTA
PRESIDENT’S AWARD
FOR IMPACT
ON MEDIA
Top: While hosting the After Trump left office, Gupta interviewed
“Chasing Life With Dr. medical experts who worked with the White
Sanjay Gupta” series, he
found himself at India’s
House. The conversations left him shaken.
S-VYASA University “You know 600,000 people died,” he said,
getting hooked up, and “and when you hear from these guys that 80%-
rowing in Norway. 90% of those deaths were preventable, it’s a
Above: Gupta talks to a reckoning of sorts. I’m really glad journalism
cannabis grower in his exists to be able to fact check and make sure
® & © 2021 CABLE NEWS NETWORK, INC. A WARNERMEDIA COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
investigation, “Weed 5:
The CBD Craze.”
good information is available to people.” reporter,” not an opinion pundit who can say
Another person happy about that informa- what he thinks without proof.
Right: Traveling with his tion is CNN President Jeff Zucker. “It’s often easy to say things that are popu-
wife, Rebecca, and their
daughters Soleil, Sage, “For 20 years, Sanjay Gupta has been the lar,” said Gupta, “because people want to hear
and Sky. primary reason that people all around the it. It’s the same in medicine. We’d love to tell a
world trust CNN for news and information patient everything is going to be okay. Patients
about their health and well-being,” Zucker said. would love to hear it. But it’s not true.”
“Clearly these past 18 months have put the Gupta said tonight’s Press Club honor means
work he does in an even more critical spotlight. “a lot” to him.
But the truth is, he has always been there for “You know, sitting here, you feel like you
our audiences.” are in a bubble and you forget people are even
Gupta describes himself as a “science watching,” he said. “So, thank you.”
Los Angeles 28 Press CLubYou can also read
