Key Takeaways:
- Variety won 20 first-place trophies at the 18th annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards
- The publication won awards across various categories, including hard news, business reporting, commentary, criticism, photography, and cover art
- Chief music critic and senior writer Chris Willman was awarded Print Journalist of the Year for the second time
- Other notable winners include editor-at-large Kate Aurthur, international features editor Leo Barraclough, and chief film critic Owen Gleiberman
- Variety was honored with dozens of second- and third-place honors in the 2025 NAEJ competition
Introduction to Variety’s Success
Variety, a leading publication in the entertainment industry, has achieved a remarkable feat by winning 20 first-place trophies at the 18th annual National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Awards. This is a significant increase from the 14 awards the publication won in the previous year’s competition. The awards, sponsored by the Los Angeles Press Club, recognize excellence in journalism across various categories, including hard news, business reporting, commentary, criticism, photography, and cover art. Variety’s impressive haul of 20 first-place wins is a testament to the publication’s commitment to delivering high-quality content to its readers.
Awards and Accolades
The awards were given to various writers, editors, and contributors who have made significant contributions to the publication. Chief music critic and senior writer Chris Willman was awarded Print Journalist of the Year for the second time, a notable achievement that recognizes his exceptional work in the field. Other notable winners include editor-at-large Kate Aurthur, international features editor Leo Barraclough, chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario, chief awards editor Clayton Davis, senior entertainment & media writer Matt Donnelly, chief film critic Owen Gleiberman, executive editor Brent Lang, freelance contributor Kristen Lopez, international reporter Naman Ramachandran, executive editor for TV Michael Schneider, and associate web editor Michaela Zee. The publication’s photo editor Jennifer Dorn, creative director Haley Kluge, Jennifer Halper, Emilio Madrid, Richard Maltz, and Joe Toreno were also recognized for their outstanding work in art and photography.
Notable Wins
One of the notable wins for Variety was a cover package on Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, which proved popular with the judges. Chris Willman won the award for Best Music Feature for his cover story on Swift, which explored the impact of the tour overseas. The team of Dorn, Kluge, Maltz, and Toreno won the award for Best Cover Art for a specially crafted image that spelled out the theme of the tour in the form of friendship bracelets. Executive editor Brent Lang was a two-time winner, picking up awards for Business/Film/Print and Commentary Analysis/Trend, Film, Print. Chief correspondent Daniel D’Addario won the award for Best Theater/Performing Arts Critic, while chief film critic Owen Gleiberman won the prize for Obituary/In Appreciation, Film Personalities.
Additional Wins
Other notable wins for Variety include editor-at-large Kate Aurthur’s award for Obituary/In Appreciation, TV Personalities, and executive editor for TV Michael Schneider’s award for Hard News, TV/Streaming. Chief awards editor Clayton Davis won Commentary Analysis/Trend, Online, while Matt Donnelly picked up the trophy for Hard News, Film, Online. International reporter Naman Ramachandran won the award for Personality Profile, Film Industry, Online, and Michaela Zee won Film Feature, Production/History—Below-the-line Creatives. Leo Barraclough was the recipient of the award for Film Feature, Production/History—Above-the-line Creatives, and freelance contributor Kristen Lopez picked up the prize for Diversity in the Film Industry, Online.
Conclusion and Ceremony
In addition to the first-place wins, Variety was honored with dozens of second- and third-place honors in the 2025 NAEJ competition. The ceremony was held at the Millennium Biltmore, where the L.A. Press Club also hosts the SoCal Journalism Awards each July. Honorary awards were given out during the ceremony to notable figures in the entertainment industry, including Paul Anka, Larry Mantle, Marlee Matlin, Kasi Lemmons, and Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen. The ceremony concluded with a customized rendition of Paul Anka’s famous composition, "My Way," with lyrics altered to reflect both his own NAEJ honor and those of the attending journalists. Overall, Variety’s impressive haul of awards is a testament to the publication’s commitment to delivering high-quality content and its position as a leading voice in the entertainment industry.