Thank you to all who joined us on Saturday, May 17, 2025 to celebrate this year's California Journalism Award winners!
View the gallery of the awards ceremony
View the gallery of the afternoon Knowledge Sessions
View this year’s California Journalism Awards winners!
Event Location & Time
Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel
May 17, 2025, at 6 p.m.
The evening will begin with a cocktail reception, followed by a lavish meal, and a lively awards program. Cocktail attire please.
Guests are also invited to spend the afternoon attending Knowledge and Network Sessions, created by Members of the CNPA Board of Directors and Events Committee.
Afternoon Knowledge and Networking Sessions
Afternoon Session 1A
2:00pm – 3:00pmThe AI Evolution in Newsrooms
With artificial intelligence reshaping every facet of journalism, this session will highlight how editorial teams are integrating AI tools responsibly to enhance reporting and speed of delivery without compromising ethics.
Silas Lyons
Director, Center for Community JournalismSilas Lyons serves as senior director for the Center for Community Journalism at Gannett, where he guides the strategy of small and mid-sized newsrooms across the country and champions the responsible, human-driven use of AI.
Derrick Ho
Editor, Hearst Dev HubDerrick Ho leads a team of engineers and editors at Hearst Newspapers’ DevHub, developing AI-powered reader experiences and newsroom tools that accelerate workflows and investigative reporting. Previously, at The New York Times, he led a team that collaborated with Product and Data Science to expand algorithmic recommendations on the home screen.
Daniel Hunt
Editor, Sacramento BeeDaniel Hunt is a news editor for The Sacramento Bee. Previously, he held editing, design and management roles for McClatchy’s 10 Western newspapers, as well as jobs at The Orange County Register, The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa, the Daily Pilot in Costa Mesa and The News Journal in Wilmington, Del. He got his start on the sports desk of his hometown paper, The Bakersfield Californian.
Laura E. Davis
Founder, professor; Stylebot.app, USC AnnenbergLaura E. Davis is an associate professor of professional practice at the USC Annenberg School of Journalism and the founder of Stylebot, an AI-enabled style guide that helps journalists save time without sacrificing quality. Davis launched Stylebot to help her students in her previous role as digital news director of USC Annenberg’s Media Center, where she built the digital arm of the student newsroom, led students in the creation of an award-winning Instagram show and newsletter, launched the newsroom’s first app, and spearheaded participation in nationwide research on trust in news. She has been published in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, BuzzFeed News, Nieman Lab, and MediaShift, among others.
Afternoon Session 1B
2:00pm - 3:00pmTurning Newspapers into Successful Nonprofits
This session explores the growing trend of transforming newspapers into nonprofit organizations as a sustainable model for local journalism. Attendees will gain insights into the benefits and challenges of this approach, including securing funding, maintaining editorial independence, and fostering community support. Experts will share case studies of successful transitions and provide practical guidance for newspapers considering this path, helping ensure the future of trusted, quality reporting.
Vandana Kumar
Publisher, India CurrentsVandana Kumar is the Publisher and CEO of India Currents, the leading digital platform for Indian Americans in the United States. Vandana currently serves on the Board of the California News Publishers Association. She is also a Knight Fellow and an AAJA Simon and June Li Leadership Transformation Fellow for the Media Transformation Challenge, reflecting her dedication to innovation and sustainability in journalism.
Christina Leonard
Director of Operations and Transformation, NewswellChristina Leonard is the director of operations and transformation at Newswell, a nonprofit based at Arizona State University that provides comprehensive wraparound services to local newsrooms to help them build sustainable business models that serve their communities. Leonard spent a decade as a professor of practice at ASU’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She previously worked for 17 years as a reporter and editor for The Arizona Republic.
Scott Linesburgh
Editor, StocktoniaScott Linesburgh is the editor of Stocktonia, a news site he launched in 2022 to fill the void in professional, accurate, nonpartisan, local news coverage caused by the decline of legacy newspapers in the area. In its first year of publication, Stocktonia won several awards for its coverage of financial scandals at the local school district. Stocktonia was acquired by Newswell in 2024. Linesburgh previously worked as a reporter and editor for The Stockton Record. National publications, such as USA Today, have featured his work.
Ben Romo
CEO, Ben Romo & AssociatesBen Romo is CEO of Ben Romo & Associates Inc. He began his career in politics, including work for U.S. Reps. Walter Capps and Lois Capps and as a political consultant for numerous local campaigns. Romo left politics in 2005 and began more than a decade of leadership work in public education and social service agencies. He also helped coordinate recovery efforts in 2018 after the Thomas Fire and subsequent Montecito debris flow. He founded his consulting firm in 2019, focused on government relations and philanthropic and nonprofit services. Romo’s team bought the trademark and digital archive of the bankrupt Santa Barbara News-Press and in January 2025 announced they were donating those assets to Newswell.
Afternoon Session 1C
2:00pm - 3:00pmProtecting Press Freedom in Challenging Times
A timely examination of global and local challenges to press freedom. Legal experts and journalists will discuss what advocacy measures can safeguard the role of a free press in democratic societies.
Julie Makinen
Board Member, Coachella Valley Journalism FoundationJulie Makinen is the immediate past board chair of CNPA. She is a board member of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation. Previously, she served as editor-in-chief of The San Francisco Standard and the Desert Sun in Palm Springs. She has also been an editor and foreign correspondent with the L.A. Times, New York Times, and Washington Post.
Kelly Aviles
Attorney, Law Offices of Kelly AvilesKelly Aviles is an attorney based in Southern California who specializes in media law, the First Amendment, and government transparency. Throughout her career, Aviles has been a staunch advocate for press rights and access to public information. She represents news organizations, journalists, and public interest groups in cases involving the California Public Records Act and the Ralph M. Brown Act.
David Loy
Legal Director, First Amendment CoalitionDavid Loy is the First Amendment Coalition’s legal director. An experienced free speech and open government litigator, he has defended the First Amendment rights of reporters, photographers, bloggers, students, teachers, activists, protesters, musicians, Marines, and motorcycle club members. He has fought for public disclosure and governmental transparency for over 20 years. Before joining FAC, David served as legal director of the ACLU Foundation of San Diego & Imperial Counties for almost 16 years. He also worked as a staff attorney with the Office of the Appellate Defender in New York City, a public defender in Spokane, Washington, and a staff attorney with the Center for Justice in Spokane. He received his A.B. in History and Chinese Language from Brown University.
Jason Shepard
Interim Dean, College of Communications, Cal State FullertonJason M. Shepard, Ph.D., is a media law scholar, communications professor, and interim dean of the College of Communications at California State University, Fullerton. His research examines the role of the First Amendment in American democracy, journalism, and culture, and his teaching expertise is in journalism and media law, history, and ethics. Before academia, Shepard worked as an award-winning journalist in Madison, Wis., and a Teach For America corps member in New York City.
Eugene Volokh
Thomas M. Siebel Senior Fellow, Stanford UniversityEugene Volokh is the Thomas M. Siebel Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. For 30 years, he was a professor at the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, where he taught First Amendment law, copyright law, criminal law, tort law, and firearms regulation policy. He is also the co-founder of The Volokh Conspiracy, a blog hosted at Reason Magazine (and at the Washington Post from 2014 to 2017).
Afternoon Session 2A
3:30pm – 4:30pmCelebrating Investigative Reporting: Insights from CNPA Award Finalists
This session highlights the exceptional work of CNPA 2024 finalists in investigative reporting, showcasing the strategies and dedication behind their impactful stories. Attendees will hear firsthand accounts of how these journalists uncovered critical issues, navigated complex challenges, and produced award-winning investigations that drove meaningful change. Gain inspiration and practical tips to strengthen your own reporting practices while learning about the significant role investigative journalism plays in holding powerful entities accountable.
Julie Makinen
Board Member, Coachella Valley Journalism FoundationJulie Makinen is the immediate past board chair of CNPA. She is a board member of the Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation. Previously, she served as editor-in-chief of The San Francisco Standard and the Desert Sun in Palm Springs. She has also been an editor and foreign correspondent with the L.A. Times, New York Times, and Washington Post.
Melody Gutierrez
Reporter, Los Angeles TimesMelody Gutierrez is an investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Previously, she covered state government and politics for The Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and The Sacramento Bee. Gutierrez has written award-winning government accountability stories on wasteful spending, pension spiking, rape kit backlogs and failures in the foster care system.
Chloe Jones
Reporter, San Luis Obispo TribuneChloe Jones joined the San Luis Obispo Tribune in 2022 as a court and crime reporter. In her time there, she has covered the Kristin Smart murder trial, reported on how the mental health and justice systems interact, and, most recently, investigated an alleged conspiracy in Paso Robles led by a city councilman. Previously, she worked at PBS NewsHour, the Arizona Republic, and KJZZ. She earned a master’s degree in investigative journalism from Arizona State University.
John D’Anna
Managing Editor, Press DemocratJohn D’Anna is managing editor of The Press Democrat, where his portfolio includes enterprise and investigations. Before moving to Northern California four years ago, he spent most of his career as an editor and reporter at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix. As an editor, he was responsible for the print presentation of the Republic’s 2018 Pulitzer Prize-winning series on the border wall and oversaw the investigation of an Arizona governor who was convicted on federal fraud charges. D’Anna was at the center of a major Arizona press freedom case after refusing to hand over his notes in response to a subpoena. His successful court battle resulted in significant protections for Arizona journalists.
Gennady Sheyner
Reporter/Editor, Palo Alto WeeklyGennady Sheyner covers local and regional politics, housing, transportation, and other topics for the Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Online, and their sister publications in Embarcadero Media. He has won awards for his coverage of elections, land use, business, technology, and breaking news. Prior to joining Embarcadero Media, he covered breaking news and local politics for The Waterbury Republican-American, a daily newspaper in Connecticut.
Afternoon Session 2B
3:30pm – 4:30pmLessons Learned in Reporting the LA Fires
Covering the Los Angeles Fires presented unique challenges and opportunities for local news media in the region. We hear from local news media about their experience.
Daniel Tedford
Editor, Southern California NewsgroupDaniel Tedford has been a journalist in the L.A. area for 18 years and a Pasadena resident for the last 15 years. A graduate of Cal Poly Pomona, Tedford has worked in all manner of roles in the newsroom and beyond. He is now the senior editor for crime and public safety at the Southern California News Group.
Clara Harter
Reporter, Los Angeles TimesClara Harter is a breaking news reporter at the Los Angeles Times, where she has helped cover numerous wildfires, including the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires. Previously, she covered politics and education for the L.A. Daily News and the Beverly Hills Courier.
While at the Daily News, she published a series on fentanyl addiction that won a first-place investigative journalism award from the L.A. Press Club.
Camila Castellanos
Executive Director, Outlook Newspaper GroupCamila Castellanos is executive editor of Outlook News Group, which publishes the Outlook Pasadena, Outlook Valley Sun, San Marino Tribune, South Pasadena Review, Glendale News-Press, and Burbank Leader newspapers.
Hayley Mattson
Owner, Publisher, Editor-in-Chief Malibu TimesHayley Mattson is the Owner, Publisher, and Editor-in-Chief of The Malibu Times, Malibu’s only official adjudicated newspaper since 1947, and Co-Owner of 13 Stars Media, a publishing company founded in 2017 that produces magazines and local newspapers across California’s Central Coast. With a deep passion for community-centered journalism, Hayley is committed to providing accurate and balanced news to residents and businesses, both online and in print.
Shelby Grad
Managing Editor, Los Angeles TimesShelby Grad is deputy managing editor for news at the Los Angeles Times, supervising the Los Angeles Times’ daily report on all platforms. He manages a team that includes the Fast Break Desk, the Multiplatform Editing Desk, and editors overseeing A1 and the weekend edition. Grad came to The Times as a community stringer after graduating from San Jose State University in 1993. He served as a county government and urban affairs reporter in the Orange County edition before becoming an editor.
Anissa Rivera
Reporter, Southern California News GroupAnissa Rivera has worked for various iterations of the Southern California News Group since 1995, starting out writing for its San Gabriel Valley weeklies. Today, she is a general assignment reporter for the news group covering Whittier, Pasadena and surrounding communities. Her weekly column, “Mom’s the Word” marks its 20th anniversary this year.
Afternoon Session 2C
3:30pm – 4:30pmNewsletter Growth - How We Did It
Discover the strategic approach behind driving newsletter growth from industry leaders. This session will provide insights into content personalization, audience engagement techniques, and metrics that matter to build loyal subscriber bases and expand reach effectively.
Prachi Singh
Audience Engagement Editor, India CurrentsPrachi Singh is the Audience Engagement Editor at India Currents, where she works to make journalism more community-driven and accessible. She was part of the inaugural Dow Jones News Fund audience engagement residency and previously worked at Bay City News as Newsletter Editor and Impact Manager. A graduate of USC Annenberg with a focus on social justice and climate reporting, Prachi combines digital strategy with storytelling to better connect newsrooms with the people they serve.
Ryan Fonseca
Reporter, Essential California Newsletter, Los Angeles TimesRyan Fonseca writes the Los Angeles Times’ Essential California newsletter. A lifelong SoCal native, he has worked in a diverse mix of newsrooms across L.A. County, including radio, documentary, print, and television outlets. Most recently, he was an associate editor for LAist.com and KPCC-FM (89.3) public radio, covering transportation and mobility. He returns to The Times after previously working as an assistant web editor for Times Community News, where he helped manage the websites and social media presence of the Burbank Leader, Glendale News-Press, and La Cañada Valley Sun. Fonseca studied journalism at Cal State Northridge, where he now teaches the next generation of journalists to develop their voice and digital skills.
Savanna Smith
Audience Engagement Editor, PBS KVIESavanna Smith recently joined the news team at PBS KVIE in Sacramento. She previously led digital strategy and audience engagement for McClatchy’s California news outlets, including The Sacramento Bee, The Modesto Bee, The Fresno Bee, The Merced Sun-Star, and the San Luis Obispo Tribune. A graduate of the University of Kansas, she has worked as a breaking news editor and previously led The Bee’s service journalism team. She has degrees in journalism and humanities.
Isabel Santos-Gonzalez
Operations Manager, FresnolandIsabel Santos-Gonzalez is Fresnoland’s Operations Manager. She joined the 501(c)(3) nonprofit news organization in 2022 as it was preparing to launch as an independent publisher. She has worked closely with Fresnoland’s Executive Director and Senior Editor to shape Fresnoland’s audience strategy as the editorial team has grown. She currently leads the membership program, social media, and newsletter strategy. She is a Fresno native and has been a Fresnoland reader since it was founded in 2018..
Afternoon Session 2D
3:30pm – 4:30pmGet Started with AI Tools for News
Google News Initiative’s Iain Christie will host a session tailored to California newspapers, sharing practical insights into how even smaller newsrooms can adopt and benefit from AI technology.
Ian Christie
Google News Initiative TrainerIain Christie, a Trainer for the Google News Initiative, brings nearly 20 years of digital marketing, publishing, and technology expertise. Since 2022, Christie has trained publishers across North America on leveraging Google’s tools for business sustainability, audience growth, and revenue generation.
