Local News Pasadena Nominated for Seven National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards

The finalists for the 18th National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards were announced Monday by the Los Angeles Press Club, and Local News Pasadena was well represented. Five reporters for the Pasadena-based publication were nominated in seven categories.

For work published in 2023 and 2024, Local News Pasadena correspondents previously won a total of 11 Southern California Journalism Awards for news, commentary and feature writing. But this is the first time the publication has been singled-out specifically for arts and entertainment reporting.

“This is our first year to submit entries in the National A&E Journalism Awards competition,” said Publisher Sheryl Turner. “To receive seven nominations across so many categories is unreal. To be competing against major entertainment media outlets is really phenomenal for our local non-profit news entity.”

Here are the categories and finalist entries from Local News Pasadena:

• Music Feature, Group/Industry Artists
  • Victoria Thomas, Local News Pasadena, “Gypsybilly Rockin’ The Barkley”
  • Other Finalists: Julius Miller, Los Angeles Times; Lyndsey Parker, Gold Derby; Leena Tailor, Spin; Chris Willman, Variety
• Personality Profile, Performing and Other Arts
  • Victoria Thomas, Local News Pasadena, “Doyenne of the Diaspora”
  • Other Finalists: Jim Farmer, ArtsATL; Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Magazine; Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times; Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture
• Diversity in the Entertainment Industry
  • Casey Coss, Local News Pasadena, “Decoding Homoerotic and Queer Art”
  • Other Finalists: James Baker, Texas Public Radio; Caroline Feraday, KCLU Radio; Esther Kustanowitz and Erin Benmoche, The Bagel Report Podcast; Kelsey Ngante, KCRW
• Commentary Analysis/Trend, Other Arts
  • Sheryl Turner, Local News Pasadena, “The Rose Queen and Court Need a Raise”
  • Other Finalists: Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times; Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter; Thom Geier, Musicals Magazine; James Tarmy, Bloomberg Pursuits
• Obituary/In Appreciation, Theater and Other Arts Personalities
  • Victoria Thomas, Local News Pasadena, “Lourinda Bray: The Long Ride Home”
  • Other Finalists: Katya Kazakina, Artnet News; Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times; Gwen Muranaka, Zócalo Public Square; Tim Teeman, The Daily Beast
• Humor Writing
• Art/Design/Literature Critic
  • Robert Oventile, Local News Pasadena
  • Other Finalists: Andy Coughlan, The Beaumont Enterprise; Shana Nys Dambrot, Freelance; Ben Davis, Artnet News; Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times

The awards for the best arts and entertainment journalism nationwide will be presented at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards gala on December 7th at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles.