Saturday, November 07, 2015 5:06 PM
The Los Angeles Press Club is proud to announce that TAVIS SMILEY will accept the Luminary Award for Career Achievement at the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards Gala on December 6 at the Biltmore Hotel, downtown Los Angeles.
“Tavis Smiley’s unique and prolific journey makes him truly deserving of this career achievement award,” says Press Club President Robert Kovacik of NBC4 Southern California.
Mr. Smiley is a broadcaster, author, publisher, advocate, and philanthropist —and the host of his long running late-night television talk show Tavis Smiley on PBS, as well as The Tavis Smiley Show from Public Radio International (PRI).
Smiley has written 18 books. His most recent My Journey with Maya, has been called a remarkable story of friendship, love and courage. In this book, he shares personal memories of his twenty-eight year friendship with Maya Angelou. The book is being adapted as a stage play by Tony-winning director Kenny Leon. Smiley’s 2014 New York Times Bestseller, Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Final Year, is being produced as a television series special by Emmy-winner J.J. Abrams in partnership with Warner Brothers.
TIME magazine has cited Smiley as one of “The World’s 100 Most Influential People,” and Mr. Smiley has received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Being honored on the same evening is Joe Mantegna who will receive the Visionary Award for his humanitarian contributions.
Rising star and press club comic-in-residence Alonzo Bodden will entertain.
The Los Angeles Press Club established the NAEJ awards in 2008 to recognize the quality journalism being produced in the fastest growing segment in modern media. It remains the sole award of its kind in the nation.
The Luminary Award for Career Achievement was instituted to pay tribute to deserving members of the Entertainment Media. Past recipients include Janice Min, Joe Morgenstern, Nancy O’Dell and Kenneth Turan.
