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LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Award-winning journalist Bill Whitaker, who is in his eighth year as a correspondent on CBS' ``60 Minutes,'' was announced today as the Los Angeles Press Club's 2022 Joseph M. Quinn Awardee for Lifetime Achievement.
``Bill Whitaker has delivered compelling stories from all over the world as well as important reports from the home front,'' L.A. Press Club President Lisa Richwine said in a statement. ``We are thrilled to honor such an inspiring, versatile journalist. He represents the highest example of our profession.''
Whitaker will be recognized at the 64th SoCal Journalism Awards Gala on June 25 at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.
``It's been an honor and great responsibility to have spent the last 40 years as a journalist at CBS News, where we've shone a light on voices and stories that otherwise might have gone unheard,'' Whitaker said in a statement released through the Press Club. ``I'm grateful to the L.A. Press Club for including me in this distinguished award that has me joining CBS newsmen Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather. High-quality journalism has never been more important and I'm thankful to have the opportunity to continue sharing these stories with the team on `60 Minutes.'''
Whitaker was recently dispatched to London to report on efforts to track down Russian oligarchs said to be hiding President Vladimir Putin's money and supporting his regime.
He also recently filed reports on the 2022 midterm election from Madison, Wisconsin, where political battle continue to rage over the 2020 presidential election. Previously, he led an investigation into so-called ``ghost guns,'' reported on the race to develop a COVID-19 vaccine and other therapeutics, and on the use of artificial intelligence to track the path of the pandemic. He also teamed up with The Washington Post on an award-winning investigation into the opioid crisis.
Also during the Press Club ceremony, a special First Amendment Award will be presented to law professor Susan Seager. The organization will also bestow its President's Award for Impact on Media, the Bill Rosendahl Public Service Award and the Daniel Pearl Award for Courage and Integrity in Journalism.
According to the club, the evening will be dedicated to journalists in Ukraine and independent journalists in Russia who have been left unable to do their jobs.