ABC7’s sports anchor Rob Fukuzaki to receive LA Press Club’s Lifetime Achievement Award

Rob Fukuzaki, longtime ABC7 sports anchor and host, has been named the Los Angeles Press Club’s 2026 Joseph M Quinn Awardee for Lifetime Achievement. Fukuzaki, the first male Japanese-American TV anchor in Los Angeles local news since 1994, is recognized for his distinguished career and community contributions. He founded the Heads Up Youth Foundation in 1996, which supports disadvantaged Southern California youth through supplies, scholarships, and facility improvements.

Born in Torrance, California, and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Rob graduated from Mid-Pacific Institute High School and earned a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism at the University of La Verne, where he was named Broadcaster of the Year three times. His career began in Hawaii radio and KITV TV sports reporting, including an award-winning special on Sumo wrestling. At ABC7, Rob has covered major sports events like Super Bowls, NBA Finals, and World Series for nearly 30 years. Rob was inducted into the Southern California Sports Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2016 and received the Golden Mike Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

The award will be presented at the 68th SoCal Journalism Awards Gala on June 28 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. Other honorees include Craig Melvin (President’s Award), Maria Ressa (Daniel Pearl Award), and Carol Sobel (Guardian Award). The gala honors late radio personality Will Lewis and gathers around 550 journalists and media executives. Proceeds fund the Los Angeles Press Club’s programs, including educational initiatives, mentorships, investigative journalism grants, and scholarships. The Press Club is a nonprofit organization supporting journalists across all media platforms.