WATCH: SPJ/LA’s Distinguished Journalists Awards Ceremony

You might have missed the premiere of this year's Distinguished Journalists Awards, hosted by the Society of Professional Journalists' Greater Los Angeles chapter.

But it's not too late to watch the inspiring, and at times moving, virtual ceremony! 

Video of the 45th annual SPJ/LA awards, which honored champions of local journalism and free speech advocacy, is now available on the chapter's website.

SPJ/LA's 40-minute ceremony highlighted the work of some of the region's most talented and conscientious journalists and free speech champions: David Allen, columnist for the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin; Irfan Khan, staff photographer for the Los Angeles Times; Toni Guinyard, reporter with NBC4; Josie Huang, reporter with 89.3 KPCC and LAist; and Tami Abdollah, former senior tech reporter for dot.LA and now a national correspondent for USA TODAY.

The Freedom of Information award went to Nora Benavidez of the nonprofit advocacy group Free Press. Benavidez was previously PEN America's director of U.S. Free Expression Programs.

The Distinguished Journalist Award, created in 1976, honors journalists who have achieved a record of accomplishment over a number of years. The Freedom of Information Award goes to people – typically not journalists — who have championed the freedom of the press and helped further the free flow of information. 

CONTACT: Sarah Favot at sarah.favot@gmail.com