Variety Wins 16 First-Place Awards at 68th Southern California Journalism Awards

Variety led the Los Angeles Press Club’s 68th annual Southern California Journalism Awards on Sunday night, sweeping 16 first-place honors across music, film, and television criticism. The wins—including top awards for music criticism (Jem Aswad), film criticism under 1,000 words (Owen Gleiberman), and TV criticism (Aramide Tinubu)—solidify the outlet’s dominance in specialized entertainment reporting, according to the Los Angeles Press Club’s official results.

The awards mark Variety’s largest haul in the competition’s history.

Why Variety’s sweep matters
The wins underscore a broader trend: the rise of trade publications as gatekeepers in entertainment journalism. While legacy outlets like The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter still command broad influence, Variety’s dominance in awards reflects its laser focus on breaking news, exclusives, and critical analysis tailored to industry professionals.

The winners and their categories
Variety’s 16 first-place finishes included:

• Music criticism: Jem Aswad took top honors in a category increasingly dominated by trade outlets.
• Film criticism (under 1,000 words): Owen Gleiberman’s work stood out in a field where brevity and precision are prized.
• TV criticism: Aramide Tinubu’s coverage of streaming and network shows secured the award, highlighting Variety’s growing focus on television.

The awards were presented at the Los Angeles Press Club’s annual gala, where industry leaders and journalists gathered to celebrate excellence in Southern California journalism.

How the wins compare to past years
The Press Club’s judging panel—comprising editors, reporters, and industry veterans—voted based on work published between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Variety’s submissions included a mix of breaking news analysis, long-form features, and critical essays, reflecting its multipronged approach to coverage.

What comes next for Variety
With its awards momentum, Variety is poised to double down on its strengths: exclusive interviews, data-driven reporting, and critical takes that resonate with both insiders and general audiences.

For now, the 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards cement Variety’s place as the most decorated entertainment journalism outlet in the region—at least for one more year.