THR Named Entertainment Publication of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club; Wins 4 Awards

Just over a year after The Hollywood Reporter was re-invented both in print and online, it was honored as the Entertainment Publication of the Year by the Los Angeles Press Club Thursday evening during the fourth annual National Entertainment Journalism Awards, and received three other first place awards in news, features and for photography.

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In winning for Entertainment Publication, the judges cited the Legends Issue of the weekly magazine, stating that it had "Eye-catching layout and photography combined with experienced and savvy reporting. The Hollywood Reporter, print edition has it all."

THR senior writer Leslie Bruce was a double winner at the awards ceremony held in downtown Los Angeles. She won first place in the category of Feature/Series, print over 1,000 words, for her article written with Judith Newman called "Inside Kardashian Inc."

The judges said of the article: "A thorough, original, well-thought-out and well-written response to the question people didn't even know they wanted to ask (but recently did): Who are the Kardashians, anyway – where did they come from and just how big have they strangely become?"

Bruce also took first place in the Personality Profile, print category for her article, "The Split Personality of Chelsea Handler."

The judges said: "Leslie Bruce deftly guides the reader through two sides of this talented and sharp-tongued comic -- Handler as a writer, a sitcom performer and late night TV host; and Handler as a business woman looking to the future. And she engages the reader equally as she interweaves both stories. Clearly the winner in a heavily contested category."

The Hollywood Reporter also took first place in the category of Entertainment Photo, in which they had four of the five nominations. Those honored were photographer Peggy Sirota along with THR creative director Shanti Marlar and photo director Jennifer Laski, deputy photo editor Jenny Sargent and senior photo producer Carrie Smith.

The winning photo was the cover shot called "Barrier Breakers: Sidney Poitier and Halle Berry."

The judges said of the photo: "This image transcends its pose, its historical context and its symbolism of the evolution of film and entertainment. It arrives at a deeper place where the uniquely individualistic and the iconic blend seamlessly."

THR was also honored as the third place winner in the print photo category for a picture by Joe Pugliese called "Studio Legends: Paramount."

Playboy magazine founder and editor-in-chief Hugh Hefner was also honored at the ceremony with a lifetime achievement award. He was recognized for his efforts to support the First Amendment as well as his long career. Comedian and activist Dick Gregory paid a special tribute to Hefner as part of the presentation.

THR would like extend its thanks to the LA Press Club for its four honors:

Entertainment Publication of the Year
The Hollywood Reporter

Entertainment Photo of the Year
"Barrier Breakers: Sidney Poitier and Halle Berry" Legends Issue (pictured above)
Peggy Sirota (photographer) Shanti Marlar (THR creative director) Jennifer Laski (photo director), Jenny Sargent (deputy photo editor) and  Carrie Smith (senior photo producer)

Personality Profile of the Year
"The Split Personality of Chelsea Handler"
Leslie Bruce, THR senior writer

Feature/Series Print Over 1000 Words of the Year
"Inside Kardashian Inc."
Leslie Bruce, THR senior writer

For a complete list of National Entertainment Journalism Award winners, go to LAPressClub.org.