PDI columnist wins LA journ award anew

Inquirer Entertainment columnist Ruben V. Nepales

Inquirer Entertainment’s man in Hollywood, Ruben V. Nepales, won at the 59th Annual Southern California Journalism Awards last June 25 in downtown Los Angeles.

The California-based writer won third prize for his column on Mel Gibson in the best columnist or critic (foreign correspondents) category, titled “Mel Gibson turns his life around,” which was published by the Inquirer on Oct. 28, 2016.

He was also a finalist in the same category for his story on another actor, Andrew Garfield, “Andrew Garfield: From Spider-Man to Jesuit priest,” published last Dec. 18.

According to the Los Angeles Press Club’s website, the organization “is proud to honor the hard work of journalists in every facet of the industry. The work of our award recipients exemplifies smart, ethical and impactful journalism.”

The Southern California Journalism Awards, the annual competition that culminated with a gala dinner at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, is now on its 59th year, continuing “to call attention to the … area’s fine journalists while promoting excellence in new and emerging media.”

In the best columnist or critic (foreign correspondents) category, which covers print, radio, TV and online media, this year’s other winners were first placer Mary O’Hara (The Guardian, “The hidden victims of police brutality”) and second placer Tom Walters (CTV–Canadian Television, “Politics
of identity”).

One of the evening’s awardees was Australian lensman Daniel Berehulak, whose photo essay on the drug war in the Philippines was featured by the Inquirer in December 2016 and earned him a Pulitzer for breaking news photography in April. He was presented the 2017 Press Club Daniel Pearl award for his “gut-wrenching and courageous reports for the New York Times from
the Philippines.”

In his acceptance speech, Berehulak dedicated his award to the families of the victims of the drug war and thanked the journalists, his driver and other Filipinos for helping him in his photo essay. He received two standing ovations, according to Nepales.
This year, the Los Angeles Press Club received more than 1,200 entries, up 20 percent from last year. The contest was judged by fellow journalists at press clubs across the United States.

Nepales’ column, Only IN Hollywood, appears in PDI’s Entertainment section thrice a week.