WOW! What an unforgettable evening at the beautiful Biltmore in downtown Los Angeles celebrating journalism, storytelling, and the incredible community of journalists at the 68th Southern California Journalism Awards.
I arrived honored to be a five-time finalist and left absolutely thrilled—and still pinching myself—with three award wins!
These latest honors bring my Los Angeles Press Club recognition to 16 wins and 47 finalist honors across the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. I am incredibly grateful to be recognized alongside so many talented journalists whose work I admire.
My Three 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards Honors:
🏆 Second Place – Lifestyle Feature (Print)Pasadena Magazine“Frozen Fun on The World’s Final Frontier in Antarctica”
🏆 Third Place – Lifestyle Feature (Audio Journalism)Make Your Own Map Podcast“Explore Wild Ireland with Founder Killian McLaughlin!”
🏆 Second Place – Non-Entertainment Personality Profile (Audio Journalism)Make Your Own Map Podcast“Tara Schuster Isn’t Afraid to Go There—And You’ll Be Glad She Did”
https://youtube.com/shorts/_2RbpM9Xy0I
Stories Behind the Awards
Every story begins with curiosity.
Antarctica has been one of the most extraordinary chapters of my travel storytelling journey. During my expedition with Quark Expeditions, I traveled to the world’s final frontier, crossed into the Antarctic Circle, and returned home with unforgettable memories and stories to share. The experience became my Pasadena Magazine feature, “Frozen Fun on The World’s Final Frontier in Antarctica,” and I’m honored that this story continues to connect with readers. It has also opened doors for additional storytelling opportunities, including my recent work with Travel + Leisure.
Pasadena Magazine, “Frozen Fun on The World’s Final Frontier in Antarctica”
The Wild Ireland story began as part of my Ireland television project, a journey celebrating the landscapes, history, adventure, and people of this incredible destination. The episode featuring Killian McLaughlin became a podcast conversation for Make Your Own Map and earned recognition at both the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. This Ireland project has also been recognized across platforms, including a Telly Award and a Platinum dotCOMM Award, making it a particularly meaningful example of how one story can evolve through television, podcasting, and digital storytelling.
Make Your Own Map, “Explore Wild Ireland with Founder Killian McLaughlin!”
My conversation with Tara Schuster represents everything I love about podcasting. The best interviews come from curiosity, trust, and creating space for someone to share their story. This episode of Make Your Own Map, “Tara Schuster Isn’t Afraid to Go There—And You’ll Be Glad She Did,” was recognized at both the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, making it a special milestone for the podcast.
Make Your Own Map, “Tara Schuster Isn’t Afraid to Go There—And You’ll Be Glad She Did”
Grateful for the Los Angeles Press Club Community
The Los Angeles Press Club has been an extraordinary part of my journalism journey.
Through its two major award programs—the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards—the Press Club celebrates excellence across journalism, including print, digital, audio, video, and entertainment reporting. I am honored to have my work recognized alongside so many talented journalists.
But beyond the awards themselves, the Los Angeles Press Club has given me something even more valuable: community. Through mentorship, networking, conversations with inspiring journalists, and opportunities to connect with incredible people, this organization has helped shape my career. I’m also grateful to contribute by supporting the organization’s social media efforts.
A Journey Across Platforms
Over the years, my storytelling has taken many forms—from travel journalism and podcast interviews to television, digital media, and publishing. My memoir BRAVE-ish has received multiple book awards, my television and video storytelling have earned recognition, and my work continues to reach audiences around the world.
Each article, episode, interview, and adventure starts with the same thing: curiosity.
Thank you to my editors, podcast guests, readers, listeners, viewers, friends, and everyone who has supported my journey as a journalist, author, podcast host, and storyteller.
Thank you to the Los Angeles Press Club, the judges, and everyone who celebrated with us at the 68th Southern California Journalism Awards.
I am honored, inspired, and excited for the next story.
✨
Here were thousands of proud Jews with Israeli flags dancing, reveling, rejoicing, as if the news never reached them about the global hate movement toward Israel.
There is a benefit of roasting food on skewers, à la shish kebab. By cutting meat and vegetables into smaller uniform pieces, the marinade coats more and the food cooks evenly.
The tight relationship between Trump and Netanyahu masks the real debate over Israel churning in the Republican Party, and Israel’s standing among Democrats has never been lower.
Some emphasized the importance of combating antisemitism and protecting Jewish safety, while others called for political engagement and cooperation across party lines.
So here we are, stuck with just a few bad options to consider. And that’s just the political superposition of undetermined future – alongside it there’s also the possible – probable? – war with Iran.
At a time when Jewish education is competing for attention in a world dominated by screens, sports, short-form videos and endless streams of content, these easily collectable cards offer a different kind of engagement.
There is little chance that the combination of a weakened Trump and an emboldened Democratic Congress produces similar levels of support for aggressive action against Iran and its proxies, and other policies that a wide spectrum of Israelis see as crucial to their security.
In the diaspora and in Israel, we cannot turn back the clock and undo the harm that was done to us. But we can shape our own future. Israel is strong and resolute. So must we be.
Democrats who were long considered “moderates” or even pro-Israel have been signaling over the course of the last year that they can no longer be relied upon to back a Jewish state under assault by Iran and its terrorist proxies.
More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.
Three More Southern California Journalism Awards! Celebrating Stories from Antarctica, Ireland, and Inspiring Voices
Lisa Ellen Niver
My Three 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards Honors:
🏆 Second Place – Lifestyle Feature (Print) Pasadena Magazine “Frozen Fun on The World’s Final Frontier in Antarctica” 🏆 Third Place – Lifestyle Feature (Audio Journalism) Make Your Own Map Podcast “Explore Wild Ireland with Founder Killian McLaughlin!” 🏆 Second Place – Non-Entertainment Personality Profile (Audio Journalism) Make Your Own Map Podcast “Tara Schuster Isn’t Afraid to Go There—And You’ll Be Glad She Did”Stories Behind the Awards
Every story begins with curiosity. Antarctica has been one of the most extraordinary chapters of my travel storytelling journey. During my expedition with Quark Expeditions, I traveled to the world’s final frontier, crossed into the Antarctic Circle, and returned home with unforgettable memories and stories to share. The experience became my Pasadena Magazine feature, “Frozen Fun on The World’s Final Frontier in Antarctica,” and I’m honored that this story continues to connect with readers. It has also opened doors for additional storytelling opportunities, including my recent work with Travel + Leisure. Pasadena Magazine, “Frozen Fun on The World’s Final Frontier in Antarctica” The Wild Ireland story began as part of my Ireland television project, a journey celebrating the landscapes, history, adventure, and people of this incredible destination. The episode featuring Killian McLaughlin became a podcast conversation for Make Your Own Map and earned recognition at both the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards. This Ireland project has also been recognized across platforms, including a Telly Award and a Platinum dotCOMM Award, making it a particularly meaningful example of how one story can evolve through television, podcasting, and digital storytelling. Make Your Own Map, “Explore Wild Ireland with Founder Killian McLaughlin!” My conversation with Tara Schuster represents everything I love about podcasting. The best interviews come from curiosity, trust, and creating space for someone to share their story. This episode of Make Your Own Map, “Tara Schuster Isn’t Afraid to Go There—And You’ll Be Glad She Did,” was recognized at both the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, making it a special milestone for the podcast. Make Your Own Map, “Tara Schuster Isn’t Afraid to Go There—And You’ll Be Glad She Did”Grateful for the Los Angeles Press Club Community
The Los Angeles Press Club has been an extraordinary part of my journalism journey. Through its two major award programs—the Southern California Journalism Awards and the National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards—the Press Club celebrates excellence across journalism, including print, digital, audio, video, and entertainment reporting. I am honored to have my work recognized alongside so many talented journalists. But beyond the awards themselves, the Los Angeles Press Club has given me something even more valuable: community. Through mentorship, networking, conversations with inspiring journalists, and opportunities to connect with incredible people, this organization has helped shape my career. I’m also grateful to contribute by supporting the organization’s social media efforts.A Journey Across Platforms
Over the years, my storytelling has taken many forms—from travel journalism and podcast interviews to television, digital media, and publishing. My memoir BRAVE-ish has received multiple book awards, my television and video storytelling have earned recognition, and my work continues to reach audiences around the world. Each article, episode, interview, and adventure starts with the same thing: curiosity. Thank you to my editors, podcast guests, readers, listeners, viewers, friends, and everyone who has supported my journey as a journalist, author, podcast host, and storyteller. Thank you to the Los Angeles Press Club, the judges, and everyone who celebrated with us at the 68th Southern California Journalism Awards. I am honored, inspired, and excited for the next story.Five Time Finalist for the 2026 Southern California Journalism Awards
Explore all of Lisa Niver’s awards and recognitions
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