The Los Angeles Press Club is proud to announce that Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the two New York Times reporters who broke the Harvey Weinstein Story, will accept the Club’s Inaugural Impact Award. The ceremony will take place at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards Gala on December 3 at the Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles.
“These two intrepid women faced down Harvey Weinstein by exposing the sordid truth of the mogul’s decades long sexual misconduct and abuse. They did so in spite of the onslaught of threats from Weinstein and his powerful allies. Hollywood will confront itself and become a little bit healthier thanks to their work,” said Press Club Executive Director Diana Ljungaeus.
The Impact Award was instituted to pay tribute to journalists whose reporting makes a difference.
“We’re so very honored — by the entire reaction to this story, and especially this award,” said Kantor and Twohey.
Kantor and Twohey are investigative journalists who have devoted their careers to shedding light on treatment of women and children. Their articles have prompted national and international discussions, new laws, and changes at some of the world’s toughest corporations. Along the way, they have worked closely with a wide array of sources on delicate issues, finding sensitive but powerful ways to bring the truth to light
After Kantor reported on bruising working conditions at Amazon (including women who were not given time to recover from miscarriages and a stillbirth), the company introduced its first-ever paternity leave policy and revised other practices. Her article about Starbucks’ punishing scheduling system– which left workers struggling to schedule childcare and doctor’s appointments– prompted the company to shift policies and helped kick off a fair scheduling movement that has resulted in new laws in several cities and states. Her investigation into Harvard Business School’s treatment of women resulted in the dean issuing a blanket apology to all alumnae.
During the 2016 presidential race, Twohey uncovered disturbing revelations about Donald Trump’s treatment of women. (When Trump threatened to sue, our lawyer wrote a firm response.) At Reuters, her five-part series exposing an underground network where parents gave away adopted children led to new laws, an FBI investigation, and felony convictions for two of the main subjects. That work was a finalist for a 2014 Pulitzer Prize. At the Chicago Tribune, Twohey’s articles about untested rape kits, mishandled DNA evidence and doctors who preyed on female patients led to criminal convictions, new state laws and other reforms.
Variety’s Co-Editors-in-Chief Claudia Eller and Andrew Wallenstein will also be honored at the National A&E Journalism Awards with the club’s Luminary Award for Career Achievement.
Joan Ganz Cooney and Lloyd Morrisett, the Co-Creators of Sesame Street, will receive the Distinguished Storyteller Award.
