Joseph M. Quinn Award
Stephen A. Smith, the exuberant ESPN sports analyst, commentator, show host and producer, has been named the recipient of the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2024 Joseph M. Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement.
“Stephen A. Smith is one of the most accomplished sports journalists in the country and brings unparalleled passion to his job,’’ Los Angeles Press Club President Lisa Richwine said in a statement.
Smith is best known for his work on ESPN’s “First Take’’ morning show and as a longtime analyst on “NBA Countdown.’’ He also offers his unique insights on ESPN and ABC programs covering a variety of other sports, most notably the NFL.
He hosts his podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show,’’ and last year released a memoir titled “Straight Shooter: A Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes.’’
“Smith stands tall as a trailblazer, entertaining audiences with his unparalleled charisma, expertise, and unwavering dedication,’’ according to the Press Club.
“With each endeavor he embarks upon, Smith continues to redefine the boundaries of what it means to be a true maverick in the industry.’’
Smith will receive the award during the 66th SoCal Journalism Awards Gala on June 23 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The gala will be dedicated to Ruth Ashton Taylor, the first female newscaster in Los Angeles and the only woman in Edward R. Murrow’s post-war radio documentary unit. Taylor died earlier this year at age 101.
The Quinn Award is the Press Club’s highest honor, named in honor of the late Joseph Quinn, a veteran reporter, war correspondent and editor who took ownership of City News Service in the mid-1950s. He was president of the Los Angeles Press Club when its journalism awards were introduced to recognize local journalistic excellence.
Past winners of the Quinn Award include Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Otis Chandler, Stan Chambers, Dan Rather, Pat Harvey, Rick Orlov, John Schwada, Willow Bay, Nick Ut, Lester Holt, Jim Hill, Andrea Mitchell and David Ono.
