Layla Zulfa
In a banner year for entertainment media, Variety has cemented its status as the industry’s premier source for cultural reporting, photography, and digital innovation. The Los Angeles Press Club announced its official list of finalists for the 2025 SoCal Journalism Awards this week, revealing that Variety has received an impressive 100 nominations. This widespread recognition spans the publication’s entire portfolio, highlighting its dominance in magazine and entertainment journalism, digital storytelling, audio, and visual design.
The nominations serve as a benchmark for excellence in a rapidly shifting media landscape, with Variety’s contributors recognized across nearly every facet of the awards program. From high-stakes investigative pieces to intimate, star-driven profiles, the breadth of the nominations underscores the publication’s ongoing commitment to delivering authoritative, nuanced content that resonates with both industry professionals and global audiences.
A Dominant Presence in Industry Leadership
The recognition of Variety’s individual contributors at the highest levels of the competition is particularly notable. Four of the publication’s top voices have been named finalists for the prestigious "Journalist of the Year" titles.
Daniel D’Addario leads the charge as a finalist for Print Journalist of the Year (over 50,000 circulation), reflecting his sharp analytical work and long-form contributions. In the digital space, Brian Steinberg has been recognized as a finalist for Online Journalist of the Year, a testament to his persistent and insightful coverage of the business of media. Meanwhile, Brent Lang and Chris Willman have both been nominated for Entertainment Journalist of the Year, highlighting their collective impact on how the industry reports on, interprets, and critiques the world of film, television, and music.
These nominations follow a successful showing at last year’s ceremony, where Variety secured 16 awards, including top honors for Chris Willman and the Best Website award for Variety.com. This year’s haul of 100 nominations suggests that the publication is poised to build on that momentum, further solidifying its reputation as the definitive voice in the entertainment capital of the world.
Chronology of Excellence: A Year of Impactful Reporting
The path to these 100 nominations was paved by a relentless schedule of reporting that spanned the globe. Throughout the 2025 calendar year, Variety’s editorial team navigated complex industry shifts—from the ongoing restructuring of major studios to the cultural discourse surrounding the most provocative films and television series of the season.
The publication’s investigative unit, led by journalists like K.J. Yossman, proved essential in holding power to account. Yossman’s reporting on the internal crises at the BBC and the tumultuous production of the independent film Midas Man provided readers with rare, transparent access to the challenges facing modern media entities. Similarly, the collaborative feature on the first 100 days of David Ellison’s tenure at Paramount, authored by Tatiana Siegel, Brent Lang, and Matt Donnelly, offered a masterclass in business reporting, tracking the high-stakes power dynamics that define the current era of "mega-mergers" and streaming consolidation.
Beyond the boardroom, Variety’s cultural critics—including Owen Gleiberman, Alison Herman, Aramide Tinubu, and Jem Aswad—maintained a consistent output of rigorous analysis. Whether dissecting the ethics of film criticism or providing real-time reactions to the evolution of the television landscape, these voices provided the context that allowed readers to make sense of a fragmented entertainment ecosystem.
Supporting Data: A Multi-Platform Achievement
The 100 nominations represent more than just traditional prose; they acknowledge a holistic editorial strategy that integrates photography, graphic design, and audio content.
Visual and Design Innovation
The visual presentation of Variety remains a standout element of its brand identity. The nominations for Portrait Photography, Entertainment Photography, and Cover Art demonstrate the publication’s commitment to premium visual storytelling. Notable nods include the striking portrait of Julia Roberts (by Alexi Lubomirski, Jennifer Dorn, and Haley Kluge) and the dynamic photo essay "Actors on Actors." The publication’s design team, led by Haley Kluge, also received significant recognition for page design and illustration, proving that the aesthetic experience of reading Variety is as curated as its editorial content.
Audio and Digital Reach
As audiences shift toward mobile and audio-first consumption, Variety has expanded its footprint significantly. Nominations in the audio category—including the work of Michael Schneider, Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, and Emily Longeretta—reflect the success of the publication’s podcast and digital audio initiatives. By pivoting to formats that prioritize long-form interviews with figures like Marsai Martin and Ronny Chieng, Variety has effectively transitioned its deep-dive journalism into the ears of its readers.
Official Responses and Editorial Philosophy
The leadership at Variety views these nominations not merely as a collection of accolades, but as a validation of their core mission: to provide independent, high-quality journalism that serves the entertainment community.
Ramin Setoodeh, co-editor-in-chief and co-president, was personally nominated for his insightful piece, "Julia Roberts, Andrew Garfield and Ayo Edebiri Aren’t Holding Back," which explored the making of the year’s most provocative cinema. His recognition serves as a microcosm of the publication’s philosophy—a belief that the best journalism comes from direct, unfiltered access to the talent who are actually defining the industry.
The publication’s strategy has remained consistent: hiring subject-matter experts who possess the range to pivot between hard-hitting investigative business reporting and the more delicate, artistic nuances of celebrity profiling. By fostering a newsroom where journalists are encouraged to pursue diverse topics—from the business of the NBA’s media rights to the intricacies of Broadway’s anti-fascist revivals—Variety ensures that it remains the "must-read" publication for anyone invested in the future of entertainment.
Implications for the Future of Media
The sheer volume of these nominations has profound implications for the state of entertainment journalism. In an era often dominated by clickbait and social media aggregation, Variety’s performance suggests that there is still a significant, hungry audience for deep-dive reporting, professional criticism, and investigative rigor.
As the industry faces continued disruption—from AI-driven content generation to the volatility of global streaming markets—the role of an established, award-winning publication like Variety becomes even more critical. The 2025 SoCal Journalism Awards nominations confirm that the publication is not just observing these trends; it is setting the standard for how they should be reported.
For the readers, these nominations serve as a roadmap to the most important stories of the year. For the industry, they serve as a reminder that transparency, access, and integrity are not just buzzwords, but the essential building blocks of a credible news organization. As the community awaits the final ceremony, Variety’s 100 nominations stand as a powerful testament to the enduring value of professional journalism in the digital age.
Summary of Key Nominations
- Journalists of the Year (Finalists): Daniel D’Addario, Brian Steinberg, Brent Lang, Chris Willman.
- Investigative Excellence: K.J. Yossman for BBC Crisis Explained and Midas Man production reporting.
- Cultural Criticism: Owen Gleiberman, Alison Herman, Aramide Tinubu, and Jem Aswad (Film, TV, Music, Theater).
- Visual Storytelling: Recognition for Actors on Actors photo essays, Julia Roberts portraiture, and cover art featuring Bad Bunny and Donald Trump.
- Business and Industry Reporting: Coverage of Paramount, Netflix, the NBA media scramble, and the "Creator Economy."
Evan Lee Salim
Dwi Wanna
