2020 California Journalism Awards - Print Division
Public Service Journalism ( Weeklies: 25,001 & over,Weeklies: 11,001 - 25,000,Weeklies: 4,301 - 11,000,Weeklies: 4,300 & under)Back
Place Name: First Place Contestant Name: Metro Silicon Valley Entry Title: SJPD Officers Mock Muslims, BLM Protesters on Social Media Entry Credit: Jennifer Wadsworth Judge Comment: Deep reporting by Metro Silicon Valley staff who tracked racist comments by police on social media. In the end, 14 misdemeanor cases were dropped that involved testimony from five of those officers.
Place Name: Second Place Contestant Name: Sierra Sun Entry Title: Deep cleaning Entry Credit: Justin Scacco, Michelle Gartner, Rebecca O'Neil Judge Comment: The Sierra Sun shed light on trash, plastics and other material that end up in Lake Tahoe, most unusually from polyethylene sand bags. Now residents are regularly cleaning up piers, and openly protesting against tourism and urging all to stop littering.
Place Name: Third Place Contestant Name: The Ark Entry Title: Race incidents lead to resignations, investigations, reform, citizen panel Entry Credit: Hannah Weikel, Deirdre McCrohan, Kevin Hessel, Matthew Hose Judge Comment: The Ark's continual reporting on race incidents led to investigations, resignations,
reform and a citizen panel all in
six months.
Place Name: Fourth Place Contestant Name: The Salinas Californian Entry Title: COVID-19 rips through California motel rooms of guest workers who pick nation’s produce Entry Credit: Kate Cimini , Jackie Botts Judge Comment: Deep records reporting by The Salinas Californian found that ag companies didn't always notify local public health departments of health outbreaks. The Californian tied it all together.
Place Name: Fifth Place Contestant Name: The Desert Review Entry Title: Locals gather to address issues at Memory Gardens Entry Credit: Kayla Kirby, Betty Miller, Laura Aguero, Joselito Villero Judge Comment: The Desert Review brought the community together to create a foundation to bring water to a neglected cemetery. Incredibly persuasive video.
