US Rocker Among Honorees at 67th SoCal Journalism Awards – Photos and Coverage

Robert Kovacik, Blair Underwood, Kim Fields, Dianna Ljungaeus and Danny Bakewell, Jr. at SoCal Journalism Awards - Photos by Alyson Camus US Rocker
Robert Kovacik, Blair Underwood, Kim Fields, Dianna Ljungaeus and Danny Bakewell, Jr. at SoCal Journalism Awards - Photos by Alyson Camus

Kim Fields, Bill Plaschke, Clarissa Ward Receive Awards

-Photos and event coverage by ALYSON CAMUS

LOS ANGELES – US Rocker® was honored by the Los Angeles Press Club with two awards – a second-place award for “Photo Essay in the category Culture/Entertainment, Art/Photography,” and a third-place award in the category “Blog, Group, Online” – during the 67th Southern California Journalism Awards, which were announced at a gala last Sunday in the Crystal Ballroom at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

Among the numerous nominations, several special awards were presented to truly exceptional recipients.

First, special recognition for “stellar coverage” of the 2025 L.A. wildfires was awarded to ABC 7, Fox 11, KCAL News/CBS Los Angeles, KTLA, NBC 4, Spectrum News 1, Telemundo 52, and Univision 34. A powerful video montage showcased their reporting on the dramatic fires that devastated Altadena and Pacific Palisades just a few months ago. LAFD Fire Captain and Public Information Officer Erik Scott was also honored for his contributions.

Bill Plaschke receives Joseph M. Quinn Award – Photos by Alyson Camus

Los Angeles Times sports columnist Bill Plaschke received the 2025 Joseph M. Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement.

“I am humbled and honored to receive an award named after the great Joe Quinn, a legendary reporter and editor who truly embraced journalism’s enduring connection to the community,” said Plaschke. “I have never written a word in the past 38 years that has not been shaped and supported by the wonderful staff at the L.A. Times, past and present, and I will be forever grateful for their strength.”

A sports columnist since 1996, Plaschke was also the 2024 recipient of the prestigious Red Smith Award, one of the highest honors in sports journalism. He is the author of six books and was a longtime panelist on the popular ESPN daily talk show Around the Horn, which ended in May after a 23-year run.

CNN’s Clarissa Ward received the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism, presented by Judea Pearl. Due to ongoing events in the Middle East, Ward was unable to attend the ceremony in person, but she addressed the audience via a recorded video message from Tel Aviv. Ward, who began her career in the wake of 9/11, said she was deeply honored to receive this recognition for courage and integrity in journalism in Daniel Pearl’s name.

Kim Fields Blair Underwood – Photos by Alyson Camus

Introduced by actor Blair Underwood, actress Kim Fields was honored with the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2025 Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award for Contributions to Civic Life.

With a decades-spanning career—beginning as a child actor and continuing through her recent lead role alongside Mike Epps and Wanda Sykes in the Netflix series The Upshaws—a significant part of the TV-viewing audience can say it grew up with her. But Kim Fields is more than an actress, writer, director, and producer; she is also an activist and a champion of social issues.

Fields addressed the crowd, explaining that while she is not a journalist, she graduated from Pepperdine University with a bachelor’s degree in communications and film. She once considered a career in news but ultimately chose a different path. She expressed deep respect and empathy for those in the journalism field, saying:

“From field reporters to the camera crews, it is such a stress-inducing world, and, at the same time, there is such a level of service at the foundation, in wanting to serve the people with truth.”

The actress, who noted that “social awareness has always been a part of who I am,” was recognized for her extensive contributions to civic life and social causes.