LA Press Club's 18th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards

Broadcast journalist Robert Kovacik, actor/comedian Seth Rogen, actress Laura Miller Rogen, actress Marlee Matlin, singer/songwriter Paul Anka, radio host/journalist Larry Mantle, actor Henry Winkler, singer/songwriter Richard Marx, and Diana Ljungaeus, executive director for Los Angeles Press Club

Los Angeles, California, USA. 7th December, 2025. The Los Angeles Press Club (LAPC) held the 18th Annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, California. The National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards were founded in 2008, and recognize the finest in journalistic work across all mediums — print, radio, TV and online. The arts and entertainment awards include honoring journalistic excellence in film, theater, television, music, literature, and the fine arts. Los Angeles Beverly Arts (LABA) founder TV host Joey Zhou attended the red carpet reception with his guests, Professor Lingyun Xiang, singer/actress Grace Field, producer Tina Liu, and Dr. Deborah Castine.

Professor Lingyun Xiang, singer/actress Grace Field, producer Tina Liu, Dr. Deborah Castine, and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA (Photo credit: JR Photo)

The highlight of the evening was the LA Press Club Honorary Awards, the special awards that are given to those who have made significant achievements in entertainment and the arts. The Legend Award for lifetime achievement and contributions to society went to singer/songwriter Paul Anka who performed at the event, the Luminary Award to radio host/journalist Larry Mantle, the Distinguished Storyteller Award to writer Kasi Lemmons, the Visionary Award to actor/comedian Seth Rogen and wife Laura Miller Rogen, and the David Robb Civil Justice Award to Kory Grow, Jon Blistein, and Tomás Mier for their cover story in Rolling Stone magazine.

Legend Award

The Legend Award honors an individual within the entertainment industry for their venerable contributions to the industry and to society, and this year's recipient is Paul Anka. Paul Anka is a renowned Canadian-American singer and songwriter known for his ability to craft memorable melodies and romantic lyrics. He has written numerous hits, including "Diana," "My Way," and "(You're) Having My Baby," and is recognized for his longevity in the music industry, having penned over 900 songs throughout his career.

Singer/songwriter Paul Anka with the LAPC Legend Award

Luminary Award for Career Achievement

The Career Achievement Award was instituted to honor a distinguished member of the entertainment journalism community, and this year's recipient is Larry Mantle. Larry Mantle is a prominent American radio talk show host and journalist, best known for hosting "AirTalk" on LAist (formerly KPCC) since 1985, making it the longest-running daily talk show in Los Angeles radio history. He has interviewed numerous notable figures, including presidents and celebrities, and also hosts the movie review program "FilmWeek," contributing significantly to public discourse in Southern California.

Radio host/journalist Larry Mantle with LAPC Luminary Award

Distinguished Storyteller Award

The Distinguished Storyteller Award was instituted to pay tribute to those committed to important storytelling in ways other than journalism, and this year's recipient is Kasi Lemmons. Kasi Lemmons is an accomplished American actress and director, known for her directorial debut with the critically acclaimed film "Eve's Bayou" (1997). She has directed several notable films, including "The Caveman's Valentine" (2001), "Talk to Me" (2007), "Harriet" (2019), and "Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody" (2022), and has also acted in significant roles in films like "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) and "Candyman" (1992).

Actress/director Kasi Lemmons with her Distinguished Storyteller Award

Visionary Award

The Visionary Award for humanitarian work was given to Seth Rogen and his wife Laura Miller Rogen. Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen co-founded Hilarity for Charity (HFC) in 2012 to support families affected by Alzheimer's disease, inspired by Lauren's personal experiences with her mother's early-onset Alzheimer's. Through HFC, they raise awareness and funds for caregiver support, providing resources like in-home care and organizing comedy events that have raised over $20 million.

Screenwriter Evan Goldberg with actor/comedian Seth Rogen and wife Laura Miller Rogen with their Visionary Award

David Robb Civil Justice Award

David Robb was a renowned labor and investigative reporter for Deadline who passed away in December of 2023. In honor of his contributions, the LA Press Club created a new award, the $5,000 David Robb Civil Justice Award to be given annually to the best investigative reporter focused on the entertainment industry. The award is funded by Anita Busch, a prominent journalist and former editor of The Hollywood Reporter. It was given to Kory Grow, Jon Blistein, and Tomás Mier, for the article “‘Brilliant, Lost, Damaged’: Inside the Tragedy of Liam Payne” in Rolling Stone magazine. This article was a comprehensive investigation of the death and struggles of Liam Payne, an English singer/songwriter and member of the boy band One Direction.

Professor Lingyun Xiang, singer/actress Grace Field, actor/comedian Seth Rogen, and TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA (Photo credit: JR Photo)

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, with singer/songwriter Paul Anka (Photo credit: JR Photo)

Actor Henry Winkler and singer/actress Grace Field (Photo credit: JR Photo)

TV host Joey Zhou, founder of LABA, with broadcast journalist Robert Kovacik (Photo credit: JR Photo)

About the Los Angeles Press Club

The Los Angeles Press Club exists to support, promote, and defend quality journalism in Southern California. Our task is to encourage journalists by involving the public in recognizing such journalism together in belief that a free press is crucial to a free society. In addition, the Los Angeles Press Club provides a place for journalists to gather, network and learn from one another, especially through the sponsorship of events. The LA Press Club is the only organization in Southern California that speaks for all journalists in newspapers, magazines, radio, television and the Internet.

The Beverly Arts News is sponsored by Universal Artifacts Token, Token Works, USSCA Chinese Economic & Culture Association, World Peace One, MDSUN, XAVVI, Shennel Trading, InLight Foundation, Cynthia Clarté, Jiannan Huang Art Institute, Galaxy Community, Xiuwen Wang Art Studio, and The Beverly Arts Foundation