Bob Woodruff Honored with the Daniel Pearl Award  

Bob Woodruff, the veteran correspondent and anchor for ABC  News who is back on the job after being seriously wounded in Iraq, will be honored with the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism by the Los Angeles Press Club.

      The award, named for the Wall Street Journal reporter slain in Pakistan, will be presented to Woodruff at the 50th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards banquet at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, June 21.

      "For us, as well as so many Americans, Bob has become an iconic role-model, not only of journalistic courage and integrity, but also of the capacity of the human spirit to turn injury into challenge, challenge into cause, and cause into a movement that benefits society," said Judea and Ruth Pearl, parents of Daniel Pearl.

      The Pearls, whose Daniel Pearl Foundation jointly presents the award with the club, say they are "deeply honored" by Woodruff’s acceptance.

       "We couldn't find a more deserving recipient of this award than Bob Woodruff," said Chris Woodyard, a USA Today reporter who is president of the Los Angeles Press Club. "Woodruff showed courage not only by going in harm's way to report in Iraq, but then bravely facing a long and difficult recovery after being wounded."

       Woodruff, who has worked at ABC News since 1996, reported back to the job in February, 2007, 13 months after  sustaining  severe injuries from a roadside bomb that struck his vehicle near Taji, Iraq.

       Also last year, Woodruff and his wife Lee co-wrote a book, "In an Instant," about how their family handled the trauma and uncertainty that came with his long recovery. The Woodruffs have four children. The family also created the Bob Woodruff Family Fund for Traumatic Brain Injury. The fund raises  awareness and money to assist members of the military with rehabilitation after traumatic brain injury.

        Woodruff said he is honored to receive the award. Vinnie Malhotra, Executive Producer Weekend News Contentwho was with Bob Woodruff in Iraq when he was wounded, knew Daniel Pearl.

      "I had the pleasure of meeting Daniel in the final month of his life," Malhotra said. "He was a smart and thoughtful individual and the true definition of a reporter.  I feel lucky to have had that opportunity." 

For more information, to sponsor this event, buy tickets or to advertise – please contact

Executive Director Diana Ljungaeus at 323.669.8081 or email her at Diana@lapressclub.org.

Publicist Edward Headington can be reached at 818.720.7181