4th Annual Journalism Awards Finalists
Congratulations to the finalists for the 4th Annual Journalism Awards Contest for politics and policy reporting in California. The best work from 2023 will be honored at our Journalism Awards Dinner on April 11, 2024.
This award honors the California journalist whose work has had a substantial impact on the state. The Sacramento Press Club board will accept and vote on nominations from independent news organizations or a colleague of the journalist. A nomination letter must detail, with links to published work, why the journalist should be recognized. To qualify, a journalist should have published work that reflects the best of our profession: stories that reveal egregious wrongs committed against powerless populations, that force change in public policy decisions at the state level, or that provide a powerful public service to Californians, including comprehensive coverage during emergencies. This is not a team award, nor will it be given to an institution. It is intended to recognize a singular achievement by a journalist that benefits Californians.
This category recognizes exceptional journalism that holds powerful institutions and/or people accountable for their actions and, by doing so, leads to demonstrable change that benefits Californians. The submission should include a short cover letter explaining the impact or outcome of the work. Judges will consider overall impact, depth of reporting, and the use of today’s technology to reach the audience. Entries may be in any format including text, audio or video. Entries are limited to three stories.
FINALISTS
Byrhonda Lyons – CalMatters
He lied to win a California rehab contract. Now he’s convicted of exploiting parolees in his care
California spent $600 million to house and rehab former prisoners — but can’t say whether it helped
Melody Guitierrez – Los Angeles Times
California created the nation’s only pension for aging boxers. But it’s failing many of them
Former boxer Alex Ramos faces hardship, but a lifeline is out of reach
After Times investigation, retired boxers finally getting what they’re owed from California
Robin Urevich and Gabriel Sandoval – Capital & Main/Pro Publica
Checked Out: How L.A. Failed to Stop Landlords From Turning Low-Cost Housing Into Tourist Hotels
This award will recognize a journalist or team of journalists who displayed exceptional courage to bring necessary coverage to the public, whether by standing up to powerful people, covering events such as wildfires that are inherently dangerous, or exposing themselves to personal harm during the coverage of extremists or others who threaten with intent to injure. A nomination letter must detail, with links to published work, why the journalist(s) should be recognized. The Sacramento Press Club board will accept and vote on nominations from independent news organizations or a colleague of the journalist.
California’s elected officials have enormous influence over the lives of the people they represent. This category is for one specific story that either uncovers news that would not become public or explains to readers the context and import of Capitol decisions. This category recognizes journalism that takes a deeper look at the decisions made in the Capitol, the influences behind them and their effect on the broader public. Judges will be looking for exclusive reporting, a strong writing voice and how the story changed the public conversation or government decisions. A brief explanation of that impact should accompany the entry.
FINALISTS
Alexei Koseff
“State Government Transparency Failures,” CalMatters
Lindsey Holden and Matthew Miranda – The Sacramento Bee
Migrant farmworkers want to live in California. There’s just no affordable housing for them
California forces migrant farmworker students to move every year. ‘We need to survive’
California has a housing crisis. Why are thousands of farmworker apartments closed each year?
Decisions large and small are made each day in the California Capitol that affect the lives of the state’s 40 million citizens. This category showcases a body of work that shows consistent daily excellence in beat reporting about the Capitol and/or state government. Entries must include five examples of work that demonstrate sharp and clear writing, an important scoop, coverage of breaking Capitol news or continuing coverage of a particular topic, and an ability to explain to readers why the daily workings of the Capitol matters in their lives. Entries can cover a single topic or different issues. Political newsletters are eligible and encouraged.
FINALISTS
Christopher Cadelago – Politico
Taryn Luna – Los Angeles Times
Corporations turn to ballot to combat California’s progressive agenda, raising alarms
Trauma has shaped Jennifer Siebel Newsom’s life. Now it helps fuel her work for California
California’s reparations proposal moves to Newsom, state lawmakers
Newsom’s signature move at the California Capitol: Jam the Legislature
Labor, business reach deal to raise fast-food wages and end California ballot fight
Newsletters have become the reliable heart monitor of the California Capitol – offering fresh takes on trends, setting up the dynamics of the day’s political action, going deep on the players and the policy, and often breaking news that sheds new light on agendas. The Capitol Newsletter award is judged on consistently high performance – on news value, sharp analysis and original reporting that at least occasionally breaks news about goings on at the Capitol. Eligible newsletters must be published at least twice a week during the legislative session. Entrants should submit three to five examples from 2023.
FINALISTS
Blance Begert, Wes Venteicher, Alexander Nieves, Camille von Kaenel, and Debra Kahn
“Politico’s California Climate,” Politico
Dustin Gardiner, Lara Korte, and Jeremy B. White
“California Playbook,” Politico
This category recognizes exceptional reporting on the politics and public policy surrounding business and labor issues including remote work, the very definition of an employee, Big Tech, real estate, and labor law and enforcement. Submissions can be a single story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the beat.
FINALISTS
Lauren Hepler
“California’s Unemployment Crash,” CalMatters
Michael McGough and Stephen Hobbs
The Final Fall: 28 people died from skydiving near Lodi. How does the Parachute Center stay in business? The Sacramento Bee
Ari Plachta and Joe Rubin
Woks vs. clean energy? SoCalGas wanted you to think electrification would crush California restaurants The Sacramento Bee
Retail crime, prisons, and the ongoing debate over regulating guns and drugs like fentanyl. Criminal justice was front and center for California policymakers in 2023. This award honors excellence in reporting on criminal justice issues and the politics that influence those debates. Submissions can be a single story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the subject.
FINALISTS
Joe Rubin – The Sacramento Bee
A pedophile priest fled the U.S. The FBI tracked him. How a California DA let him slip away
Following Bee investigation, AG Bonta will review DA dropping charges against priest
Brian Howey- Los Angeles Times
The path to safely reopen schools in California raised thorny questions about public health, equity and culture. This category recognizes exceptional coverage of those political and policy education issues, from pre-K to K12 and higher education. Submissions can be a single story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the subject.
FINALISTS
Kevin Rector, Howard Blume, Mackenzie Mays, Laurel Rosenhall, Hannah Wiley and Priscella Vega – Los Angeles Times
How conservatives are waging a coordinated, anti-LGBTQ+ culture war in California schools
Righteous mother or right-wing zealot? The soccer mom leading California’s parental rights movement
Lacking political power in California, conservatives turn focus to local school boards
Sophia Bollag – San Francisco Chronicle
This category recognizes exceptional reporting about policy, politics and activism related to water, wildfire, energy, climate change, pollution, endangered species and other environmental topics. Submissions can be a single outstanding story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the beat.
FINALISTS
Julie Cart
“Harnessing Offshore Wind,” CalMatters
Sammy Roth, Robert Gauthier, Maggie Beidelman, Jessica Q. Chen, Jackeline Luna, Sean Greene, Gabrielle LaMarr LeMee, Paul Duginski and Brian Van Der Brug
“Renewable Energy Trade-Offs,” Los Angeles Times
Want to solve climate change? This California farm kingdom holds a key
Solar sprawl is tearing up the Mojave Desert. Is there a better way?
One of America’s reddest states wants 100% green energy — if dams count as green
Robert Lewis and Wendy Fry
“Exporting Toxic Waste,” CalMatters
This category recognizes exceptional reporting that explains the causes and effects of the state’s housing crisis and spotlights those it has left behind. Submissions can be a single outstanding story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the beat.
FINALISTS
Marisa Kendall
“Texas Success Reducing Homelessness,” CalMatters
Robin Urevich and Gabriel Sandoval
“Low-Cost Housing Units Unlawfully Converted to Hotels in L.A.,” Capital & Main/Pro Publica
Paloma Esquivel
“L.A. Housing Crisis,” Los Angeles Times
This category recognizes exceptional reporting on a wide range of public health issues, the government response to those issues and politics surrounding them. Submissions can be a single story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the beat.
FINALISTS
Kristen Hwang, Ana Ibarra and Erica Yee
“Vast Stretches of California Lose Maternity Care as Dozens of Hospitals Shut Labor Wards,” CalMatters
Angela Hart
Variety of Beat Work, KFF Health News
Elly Yu and Elisabeth Gawthrop
“California Nursing Homes Are Becoming ‘De Facto Mental Health Centers,'” Laist (APM Research Lab)
This category recognizes exceptional reporting about political and policy-driven efforts to combat social injustice and other discrimination across race, class, gender identity and more. Entries might vary from efforts by lawmakers to stop systemic discrimination and injustice to coverage of activists and community responses. Submissions can be a single story or up to three pieces that demonstrate a command of the subject
FINALISTS
Sarah Kwon and Ronnie Cohen – Kaiser Family Foundation
“Medical Board Bias Toward Black Mothers,”
Lindsey Holden and Matthew Miranda – The Sacramento Bee
Migrant farmworkers want to live in California. There’s just no affordable housing for them
California forces migrant farmworker students to move every year. ‘We need to survive’
California has a housing crisis. Why are thousands of farmworker apartments closed each year?
Ashley Smith, Betty Marquez, Coby McDonald and Jennifer Molina – EdSource
The opinion section provides a public forum to hash out the most (and sometimes the least) important issues facing California. This category recognizes exceptional commentary that changed minds, held the powerful to account or perhaps simply delighted its audience. Submissions can be up to three opinion pieces in any format, including editorials, columns, cartoons and videos.
FINALISTS
Robin Epley, The Sacramento Bee
‘A torment to be in my own brain’: Forced mental health care saved this survivor’s life
‘I just want to crawl in a hole and disappear.’ How a Sacramento mom became homeless
If a period can be flushed without legal consequence, then so can a miscarriage
Emily Hoeven, San Francisco Chronicle
California wants to make math more diverse. Its plans are going to backfire
Mark Kriedler, Capitol & Main
This award honors excellence in audio storytelling that focuses on statewide California politics and policy issues. Journalists should enter one radio piece that demonstrates command of the format, expert news delivery, compelling writing and innovative use of sound. Enter one radio story, 5 minutes in length maximum. Please submit link to audio and audio script (including anchor intro) .
FINALISTS
Elly Yu
“California Nursing Homes are Becoming ‘De Facto Mental Health Centers,'” Independent Podcast
Kate Wolffe
“Health Care Minimum Wage,” CapRadio
California’s elected officials have enormous influence over the lives of the people they represent. This contest recognizes superb still photography that documents such influence or the impact of decisions and politics throughout the state. Entries may include up to three images that are not breaking news but rather pre-planned journalism that provides emotion, insight, or context.
Renee C. Byer – Disabled Homeless – The Sacramento Bee
Hector Amezcua – Migrant Centers – The Sacramento Bee
Gina Ferazzi – Senator Dianne Feinstein – Los Angeles Times
This award honors exceptional photographic coverage of breaking news tied to state policy and politics. Acceptable entries would include coverage of events at the Capitol as well as those beyond Sacramento. Entries should include up to three photographs of images made during spot coverage that had no advance planning.
For excellence in reporting that either uncovers news that would not be public or explains the context and import behind government decisions. This category recognizes journalism that takes a deeper look at the decisions made in the Capitol, the influences behind them, and their effect on the public. Enter coverage of a political story or policy topic aired as a series or in-depth stand-alone story. Entries may include live and/or recorded elements. Submissions may not exceed more than 20 minutes total.
For excellence in reporting about the Capitol, state government or the broader impact of state government decisions. Entries may focus on a single subject or a range of topics, each aired as a stand-alone story. Submissions may include up to three short pieces to exceed no more than 10 minutes total.
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