DU Editorial Wins LA Press Club Award

[Bennet Kelley]

Last night, the LA Press Club held the 68th Southern California Journalism Awards for works in 2025, with the award for Online Editorial going to DU. “A Call to Action on a Somber VE Day” by Bennet Kelley took the top prize. The judges explained:

This is an eloquent and engaging call for citizens to consider the values and ideals that previous generations of Americans fought for; the institutions they created, --and their dedication to expanding and sustaining democracy. VE (Victory Europe) Day, May 1945, celebrates the defeat of fascism and Nazism, as 80 years later those dark ideals are gaining traction here. A thoughtful and relevant editorial for today.

[hlthe2b]

1. So impressive! We are proud of you, Bennet!

Thank you for sharing your success with us today!

[FalloutShelter]

2. Congrats!

Thanks for sharing the original post, and your success with us.

[EarlG]

3. Congratulations!

Last edited Mon Jun 29, 2026, 02:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Way to go. That's a great achievement.



Edited to add some links:

LA Press Club: https://lapressclub.org/
List of winners: https://lapressclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SoCal-2026-Winners-06262026-2311.pdf

[mountain grammy]

17. quite a list.. thanks for the links!

[niyad]

25. Thank you for the links, EarlG.

[SheltieLover]

4. Congrats!

[brer cat]

5. Congratulations, Bennet!! That is a major accomplishment.

[lamp_shade]

6. Awesome. Congratulations.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. Well done! ❤️

[SSJVegeta]

8. Woaaaaah!!!!

[FakeNoose]

9. Wonderful, and well-deserved!

Congratulations Bennet Kelley!

[CaptainTruth]

10. WOW!!! Congratulations!!!!

[ultralite001]

11. Woot-woot!!!

Awesome isn't a big enough word...

Congratulations!!!

[Orrex]

12. Well, I was hoping it was for one of my daily list-posts...

but this is awesome!

[chowder66]

13. Well deserved! Congratulations!

[sinkingfeeling]

14. Congratulations.

[PatSeg]

15. Wow, that is wonderful!

[mountain grammy]

16. Wonderful news! Congratulations!

Well done!


makes me prouder than ever to be part of this community!

[sheshe2]

18. Congratulations, Bennet Kelley.

Well done, very well done.

[Eko]

19. Awesome!!

[SergeStorms]

20. Excellent.

[ShazamIam]

21. Congratulations!

[ananda]

22. Thank you Bennett Kelley

My uncle married into a family Named Kelley.

I used to visit them in southern California.

[Bennet Kelley]

33. West Coast Kelley

interesting. my family is from Rhode Island but did have some west coast relatives.

[ananda]

38. Yes, interesting.

My aunt (whose mother was a Kelley) grew up
in LA with my mother.

And I was very good friends with my aunt's cousin
the last few years of her life.

They were all into the paranormal, which helped me
because I had a lof of weird stuff to share as well.

We Irish have a gift for life beyond everyday reality.

I bet you do too.

Anyway, I just think the Kelleys in general must be
great people, as were the Dores (my Irish ancestors).

Slainte

[Cha]

23. Thank You So much, Bennet Kelly! I just now read

Last edited Tue Jun 30, 2026, 07:11 PM - Edit history (1)

Your Editorial through tears, it is so emotional and beautifully written.

Congratulations on winning the LA Press Club award for A Call To Action on a Somber Day.

☮️💙🌻 🕯️🕊️

[niyad]

24. Congratulations. As we approach this particularJuly 4, seems most

appropriate to read your VE Day editorial again.

[HeartsCanHope]

26. Congratulations! Awesome article!

[Tactical Peek]

27. Oorah!

[Figarosmom]

28. Congrats, that's so cool.

[EuterpeThelo]

29. A well deserved honor!

Your piece made me cry as the daughter of a Navy man and granddaughter of an army soldier injured behind enemy lines in WW1. Thank you for writing it and congrats on the award!

[Bennet Kelley]

35. I'm touched

Thank you for your comments. I understand your feeling. My father had an uncle who was killed in the war's final offensive and is buried in France. The tragedy is that the family did not get notified until AFTER armistice - you can image the feeling of joy on armistice day and then getting a telegram days later.

[EuterpeThelo]

39. Oh, that's SO sad.

Heartbreaking, actually. My husband had an uncle who was KIA in WW1 and he was almost obsessed with him. Talked all the time about how Cyril died at just 19, wanted to write a song about him but then he himself ran out of time too soon...

[2naSalit]

30. Congratulations!

[Martin68]

31. Wow! Congratulations!

[zanana1]

32. Way to go!

[lucca18]

34. So wonderful! Congratulations!!

[kentuck]

36. Bravo!

Great job!

[Bennet Kelley]

37. Thank You So Much

Thank you for your kind words. I truly appreciate it.