5th Annual Golden State Journalism Awards Finalists
Congratulations to the finalists for the 5th Annual Golden State Journalism Awards Contest for politics and policy reporting in California. The best work from 2024 will be honored at our Journalism Awards Dinner on May 21, 2025.
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
Jasmine Aguilera, Cassandra Garibay, and Hiram Durán, El Timpano
Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times
Ryan Sabalow, Sameea Kamal (CalMatters); Julie Watts (CBS News)
Paige St. John, Alex Halperin, Sean Greene, and Lorena Iñiguez Elebee, Los Angeles Times
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
Molly Castle Work, KFF Health News
Melody Gutierrez and Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times
Daniela Sirtori, Eliyahu Kamisher and Josh Eidelson, Bloomberg News
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
Alexei Koseff, CalMatters
Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times
Samantha Young, KFF Health News
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
California Climate, Politico (Blanca Begert, Camille von Kaenel, Alex Nieves, Wes Venteicher, Debra Kahn, Politico)
California Playbook, Politico (Dustin Gardiner, Lara Korte and Tyler Katzenberger)
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
Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters
Joe Rubin, The Sacramento Bee
Daniela Sirtori, Eliyahu Kamisher and Josh Eidelson, Bloomberg
Robin Urevich, Capital and Main, Haru Coryne, ProPublica
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
Anita Chabria, Jessica Garrison Los Angeles Times
Nigel Duara, Jeremia Kimelman, CalMatters
Katey Rusch, Casey Smith, San Francisco Chronicle
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
Julia Barajas, Mariana Dale and Bonnie Ho, LAist
Adam Echelman, CalMatters
Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times
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
Rachel Becker, CalMatters
Aaron Cantú, Capital & Main
Teresa Cotsirilos, Sasha Khokha, Suzie Racho, Brendan Willard, KQED
Ezra David Romero, Kevin Stark, Katie Worth, Matthew Green, KQED
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
Theresa Clift and Cathie Anderson, The Sacramento Bee
Angela Hart, KFF Health News
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
Jackie Fortiér and Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, The LAist
Paige St. John, Alex Halperin, Sean Greene, and Lorena Iñiguez Elebee, Los Angeles Times
Michael Stoll, Chris Roberts, Rebecca Bowe, San Francisco Public Press
Jocelyn Wiener, CalMatters
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
Laurence Du Sault, Geoffrey King and Anna Bauman, Open Vallejo
Jenavieve Hatch, The Sacramento Bee
Cayla Mihalovich, Sasha Khokha, Otis R. Taylor, Jr., Shereen Marisol Meraji, Bernice Yeung, Suzie Racho, Brendan Willard, Victoria Mauleon, Adam Ashton and Vicki Haddock. This was a collaboration involving KQED, CalMatters and The Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley.
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
Yousef Baig, CalMatters
Robert Greene, Los Angeles Times
George B. Sánchez-Tello, Capital and 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
Laura Fitzgerald, Max Harrison-Caldwell / UC Berkeley Investigative Reporting Program
Lesley McClurg, KQED
David Wagner, LAist
Kate Wolffe, 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.
FINALISTS
Hiram Durán, El Tímpano
Robert Gauthier, LAT
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.
FINALISTS
Dustin Gardiner, Politico
Melanie Mason, Politico
Mackenzie Mays, Laurel Rosenhall, Los Angeles Times
Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times
FINALISTS
Tyche Hendricks, KQED
Marisa Lagos, Scott Shafer, Guy Marzorati, KQED
Elex Michaelson, Debbie Kim, Tony Buttitta, Fox 11
Julie Watts, Dennis Lopez, CBS California
FINALISTS
ABC10’s “To The Point” team: Rachel Jacobs, Alex Bell, Becca Habegger, Vanessa Bozzuto, Jeannie Nguyen, Weston Battagliese, Chris Costello, Samantha Spinaci
Julie Watts, Dennis Lopez (CBS California), Ryan Sabalow, Sameea Kamal, Foaad Khosmood (CalMatters)
Ashley Zavala, KCRA
Finalists and winner will be announced at the reception.