The 57th annual Southern California Journalism Awards were held last night at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles, and L.A.Weekly took home five first-place honors. 

Two of them went to former staff writer Gendy Alimurung, who won the award for Best News Feature for her long-form cover story, “Gimme Shelter: Living Homeless In a Shelter Gave the WeHo News Publisher the Story of His Life.” The judges wrote, “Alimurung's article was able to show the reader the struggles of being homeless, and what homeless men go through in a place that is supposed to 'help' those in their situation.”

Alimurung also took top honors for Best Personality Profile for her feature, “He Wears a Dress. She's Fine With That.” The judges called it “a beautiful and exemplary love story.”

The Weekly's James Beard Award–winning restaurant critic, Besha Rodell, won top Press Club honors in the Best Criticism category for “Barton G Review: A Fiasco From Miami, Now in Beverly Hills.” The judges described her work as “vividly entertaining and honest.”

Best Entertainment Feature went to Weekly Arts and Culture Editor Zachary Pincus-Roth for his cover story, “Can TV Save India?”
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“This story,” wrote the judges, “presents a profound view of how Indian TV filmmakers feel an obligation to tell the media about the treatment of women, the corruption, the disparity between rich and poor in India — with all its troubling political implications.”

And Best Entertainment Commentary went to L.A. Weekly freelancer Eve Weston for her post, “Does Into The Woods Punish a Wife for Adultery and Not a Husband?” 

You can read the full list of winners from media outlets throughout Southern California at the Los Angeles Press Club website.

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