Host, producer, analyst and author Stephen A. Smith has been named the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2024 Joseph M Quinn Awardee for Lifetime Achievement.
“Stephen A. Smith is one of the most accomplished sports journalists in the country and brings unparalleled passion to his job,” said Los Angeles Press Club President Lisa Richwine.
Serving as featured commentator and executive producer, Smith is the driving force behind ESPN’s immensely popular debate show, First Take, the #1 sports morning show since 2012. As the charismatic host of his own podcast, The Stephen A. Smith Show, he effortlessly captivates audiences across digital and audio platforms worldwide. Smith has had an impressive tenure as an analyst on NBA Countdown, ESPN and ABC’s long-standing NBA pregame show, and has spearheaded various SportsCenter specials, lending his expertise and charisma to the network’s coverage of marquee sporting events since 2018. Furthermore, he is the host of NBA in Stephen A’s World, an innovative presentation that accompanies select NBA games throughout the season since 2022.
In 2023, Smith released his first memoir, Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes. Published by Simon and Schuster and Gallery 13, this New York Times Best Seller offers a profound glimpse into his previously untold and inspiring story.
Smith stands tall as a trailblazer, entertaining audiences with his unparalleled charisma, expertise, and unwavering dedication. With each endeavor he embarks upon, Smith continues to redefine the boundaries of what it means to be a true maverick in the industry.
Full Bio here.
The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented at the 66th SoCal Journalism Awards Gala on Sunday, June 23 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel.
In addition to honoring Smith, a special First Amendment Award will be presented to NPPA’s lawyer Mickey H. Osterreicher. Also part of this evening are the President’s Award for Impact on Media, the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award and The Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism.
The evening will be dedicated to Ruth Ashton Taylor, the first female newscaster in Los Angeles and the only woman on Edward R Murrow’s postwar radio documentary unit. She died in California earlier this year at age 101.
More than 500 journalists and media executives are expected to attend this prestigious event.
Proceeds from the Gala are the largest source of income for the Los Angeles Press Club, a 501(c) 3 that speaks for journalists across all media platforms. All contributions are tax-deductible.
For more information about this event or to sponsor, advertise or buy tickets visit www.LApressclub.org or contact Executive Director Diana Ljungaeus at 310.210.1860 or email Diana-AT-LApressclub.org.
The LAPC is one of the oldest and most respected journalist organizations in the nation with a storied history of honoring the most celebrated reporters of the past century. In recent years, the Los Angeles Press Club has continued to uphold its tradition of acknowledging excellence in spite of the fact that journalism itself has struggled in the face of ever-declining budgets.
