The Hollywood Reporter Breaks Records With 96 National Arts and Entertainment Journalism Award Nominations
The Hollywood Reporter has achieved a historic milestone in entertainment journalism, securing a record-breaking 96 nominations for the 19th annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism (NAEJ) Awards. Announced by the Los Angeles Press Club, this impressive tally puts the publication ahead of all competing media outlets in the running. The nominations span a diverse array of categories, cementing the publication’s reach across print, digital, broadcasting, photography, and multimedia formats.
Among the extensive list of recognitions are top-tier bids for best publication, best website, and two prestigious Journalist of the Year honors. Steven Zeitchik has been nominated for Print Journalist of the Year, while Carly Thomas has earned a nod for Online Journalist of the Year—Tied to an Organization. The breadth of these nominations illustrates the newsroom’s comprehensive coverage of the entertainment industry, ranging from hard-hitting business analysis and investigative pieces to deeply personal profiles, high-end photography, and cultural criticism.
The announcement sets the stage for the upcoming NAEJ Awards gala, which serves as a major annual gathering for entertainment journalists, critics, and media professionals from across Southern California and beyond.
Background and Event Details
The 19th annual NAEJ Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place on December 6 at the historic Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. As one of the most prominent events on the journalism calendar, the gala celebrates excellence in reporting, reviewing, and capturing the arts, entertainment, and related cultural phenomena.
The Los Angeles Press Club has announced that this year’s ceremony will carry special significance. The event is dedicated to the late Dolly Parton, whose enduring legacy and cultural impact continue to resonate across the entertainment landscape. Parton previously received the organization’s Public Service Award for Contributions to Civic Life at the 60th Southern California Journalism Awards in 2018, making this dedication a fitting tribute to her philanthropic and artistic contributions.
In addition to recognizing the finalists and winners of the competitive NAEJ categories, the Los Angeles Press Club will bestow several special honors during the December gala. KCRW’s Madeleine Brand has been selected as the 2026 Luminary Awardee for Career Achievement, honoring her extensive and impactful broadcast journalism career. Meanwhile, renowned singer, songwriter, author, and human rights activist Brandi Carlile will receive the Visionary Award in recognition of her dedicated humanitarian work.
A Dominant Showing Across Criticism and Investigations
The sheer volume of The Hollywood Reporter’s nominations highlights its dominance in specialized reporting and critical analysis. In the critic categories, spanning print, broadcast, and online media, the publication’s roster received wide acclaim. David Rooney secured a nomination for Film Critic (Over 1,000 Words) as well as Theater/Performing Arts Critic. Meanwhile, Daniel Fienberg and Angie Han were both recognized in the highly competitive TV Critic category.
In the audio and podcasting space, Scott Feinberg emerged as a standout nominee, vying for best anchor/host in the radio/podcast section. Feinberg’s recognized work includes deep-dive interviews on the Awards Chatter podcast, such as his conversations with Harrison Ford—who discussed the future of moviegoing and his television work in Shrinking—and Gwyneth Paltrow, who opened up about her role in Marty Supreme, her lifestyle brand Goop, and navigating public polarization.
Investigative reporting and long-form features also represent a significant portion of The Hollywood Reporter’s 96 nods. Gary Baum earned a nomination for Celebrity Investigative Reporting for his feature titled “Why UFC Boss Dana White Is the Most ‘Untouchable’ Whale in Vegas.” Baum was additionally recognized for his print celebrity reporting on Spencer Pratt and his business reporting on an international Ponzi scheme involving William Santor.
Furthermore, the publication made a strong showing in the newly established David Robb Investigative $5,000 cash prize category. Rebecca Keegan secured a nomination for her deep-dive into a billion-dollar celebrity impersonation bitcoin scam (“This Is Not Keanu”), while Julian Sancton was recognized for detailing an emerging artificial intelligence scam targeting authors (“A New AI Scam Is Targeting Thousands of Authors. I Was One of Them.”), a piece that also earned Sancton a nomination for commentary and analysis in other arts.
Visual Excellence and Multimedia Innovation
Beyond written journalism, The Hollywood Reporter’s art, photography, and design departments received broad validation from the NAEJ panel. Alison Edmond and Ash Barhamand spearheaded a massive slate of photography nominations alongside a roster of acclaimed photographers.
Notable photo nominations include news photography featuring Amanda Knox and Monica Lewinsky, portrait portfolios of prominent filmmakers and actors like Ryan Coogler, Amy Madigan, Stephen Colbert, Jason Bateman, and FKA Twigs, as well as feature portraits of Conan O’Brien, Marc Maron, and Sean Penn. The publication’s exclusive Golden Globes portfolio also earned a nomination in the coveted Photo Essay category.
On the design and digital front, the publication’s ambitious multimedia packages were heavily acknowledged. The editorial and art teams received nods for standout projects like “The AI Issue,” which explored the rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the entertainment ecosystem, as well as striking cover art, illustrations, page layouts, and animated graphics. These visual elements underscore how modern entertainment journalism requires a seamless blend of striking imagery, data visualization, and rigorous reporting.
Broader Industry Implications
The record-breaking number of NAEJ nominations underscores a pivotal moment for entertainment journalism. As the industry faces rapid technological disruption—ranging from the widespread adoption of generative AI to the ongoing evolution of streaming business models and digital video platforms—outlets like The Hollywood Reporter are tasked with documenting complex structural shifts while maintaining traditional standards of deep reporting and cultural critique.
The nominated works reflect the major themes defining the entertainment sector. Coverage of artificial intelligence—including its impact on Hollywood workers training AI models, the rise of AI scams targeting authors and creators, and the broader technological civil war within the studios—demonstrates how journalists are forced to grapple with unprecedented legal and ethical frontiers. Similarly, business reporting examining the decline of traditional TV news, the financial mechanics of modern podcasting, and international investments in Hollywood point to an industry in a perpetual state of reinvention.
As the industry prepares to gather at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel on December 6, the sheer breadth of The Hollywood Reporter’s 96 nominations serves as an indicator of robust, multi-platform journalism. Whether through traditional print profiles, rigorous investigative exposés, incisive television criticism, or groundbreaking digital design, the recognition highlights the critical role that specialized entertainment journalism plays in holding powerful institutions and figures accountable.
