L.A. Weekly took home five awards — three being 1st place — at the 63rd annual Southern California Journalism Awards ceremony, Saturday.

Within the Crystal Ballroom of the  Millennium Biltmore Hotel, the Los Angeles Press Club handed out the awards for work submitted in a tumultuous 2020 year.

Culture and entertainment editor Lina Lecaro earned a 1st place finish in the “Feature Profile” category, for a piece on legendary Spike Lee’s life, films and current social issues. Lecaro also finished 2nd in the journalist of the year category for print publications under 50,000 in circulation.

“A well-executed look at Spike Lee’s latest film and shorts in the context of the death of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement, and a flush film career,” one judge said of the Spike Lee piece.

Also earning a 1st place finish was L.A. Weekly arts editor Shana Nys Dambrot in the “Art/Architecture/Design Criticism” category, for her piece on artist Lorna Simpson. In a tie for 1st place in the category, Dambrot’s critique of photographer Gregory Crewdson’s Beverly Hills exhibit, written for Art and Cake L.A. also earned top honors.

“In a field of world class competition, this reviewer exhibited a perceptive inner eye capable of connecting to the artist’s perceptive inner eye and deepening our appreciation of their work,” a judge in the category said.

Music editor Brett Callwood received not just top honors in the “Entertainment News or Feature” category with a deep dive into Fortnite’s interactive ventures with live concerts — but Callwood snagged the 2nd place spot in the same category, as he detailed a uniquely modified concert experience amid the pandemic.

“A cool glimpse into the world of concerts on gaming platforms with interesting insights from performers,” a judge said of Callwood’s Fortnite concert piece.

A complete list of winners on the night can be found at the L.A. Press Club.

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