Arianna Huffington and Two Accomplished Reporters to Receive Top Honors at 51st Annual Southern California Journalism Awards

LOS ANGELES, May 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — 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.

They will be among hundreds of media professionals taking part in the Southland’s oldest and most distinguished journalism gala at the Sheraton Universal hotel in Universal City. As usual, the presentation will be full of surprises, including an appearance by comedienne Paula Poundstone.

Huffington will receive the President’s Award, for blazing a new online path for journalism. Comedian Bill Maher will give the brilliant and outspoken Huffington a tailor-made 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 as winner of 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 available at www.lapressclub.org.

SOURCE Los Angeles Press Club