OC Press Club joins journalists standing with Alene Tchekmedyian
The following statement is from more than a dozen organizations representing thousands of working journalists and First Amendment advocates. Orange County Press Club’s Board of Directors agreed to join our colleagues in standing up for a free press.
Journalism is not a crime. Our community of journalism associations, media unions and First Amendment advocates stands in solidarity with Los Angeles Times reporter Alene Tchekmedyian and all journalists who are threatened or harassed by law enforcement.
Today, the Los Angeles County Sheriff suggested that Alene is a subject in a criminal investigation into a leaked video showing a deputy kneeling on an inmate’s head. In recent weeks, Alene has reported on claims alleging that the Sheriff obstructed justice and retaliated against whistleblowers who raised concerns about the incident. This escalation comes after a years-long history of the Sheriff harshly criticizing many local journalists just for doing their jobs, including Cerise Castle, Josie Huang, Maya Lau and others.
For over 50 years, the Supreme Court has upheld the First Amendment right to publish information of public concern received by members of the press or public. For the Sheriff to suggest otherwise is an unconscionable attempt to deter the press from exercising its long-established right to report on abuses of power.
We condemn these outrageous attacks on newsgathering, and we remain committed to supporting journalism that reports on the facts without fear or favor.
Media Guild of the West, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 39213
Los Angeles Times Guild
Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
First Amendment Coalition
Radio Television Digital News Association
Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles
Online News Association Los Angeles
CCNMA Latino Journalists of California
Los Angeles Press Club
National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
National Press Photographers Association
Open Vallejo / Informed California Foundation
We Make KPBS (SAG-AFTRA)
SPJ San Diego
SPJ Northern California
ACLU of Southern California
Susan E. Seager, Adjunct Clinical Professor of Law, Press Freedom clinic at the University of California, Irvine School of Law
Orange County Press Club
Californians Aware
Media Alliance
OC Press Club mourns veteran copy editor
The Orange County Press Club is saddened to learn that our colleague Dennis Brosterhous has died.
Since 2015, Brosterhous had served as a copy editor for Los Angeles Times Community News in Fountain Valley, helping publish The Daily Pilot and Times OC. Working the night shift, Brosterhous answered calls from feverish reporters needing an eleventh-hour edit on a story.
“I can’t tell you how lucky the younger people at the Daily Pilot were to have their work edited by a journeyman like Dennis. He was never judgmental; he took pride in pointing out our errors but did so in the manner of a teacher, not a critic,” Los Angles Times assistant managing editor John Canalis said.
Brosterhous worked hard all his life and never retired.
“I wish he had, but this is a hard line of work to give up once it’s in your blood,” Canalis added.
A Sun City resident, Brosterhous worked as a copy editor and designer for The Press-Enterprise in Riverside from 1998 to 2009.
Before that, he served as managing editor of The Sun City News and its sister community newspapers (Menifee News and Perris Valley News), according to his resume.
Brosterhous earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Southern California and an associate’s degree in English/Journalism from Long Beach City College.
Colleagues also described him as decent, funny, and smart. Brosterhous was an avid Dodgers fan and looked forward to attending games with his children for his birthday or on Fathers’ Day.
“He was so kind to us cub reporters and always willing to help out on a tight deadline,” Los Angeles Times reporter Faith E. Pinho said.
OC Press Club Opens 2022 Award Submissions
The OC Press Club is opening this year’s award submissions and looks forward to recognizing the county’s best journalism produced in 2021.
In addition to a continuing pandemic, 2021 was the year local journalists covered the siege of our nation’s capital, the effects of massive shipping delays, the tensions surrounding the gubernatorial recall election and more. Orange County journalists faced all these reporting challenges despite COVID protocols and an ever-shifting media landscape.
The OC Press Club is dedicated to shining a light on Orange County’s strong journalism community, and with the help of journalist judges across the country, it will recognize the great writing, photography, designing, illustrations, broadcasts and more from its members. New this year is the Journalist of the Year award, a nominated category which recognizes a journalist whose work stood out last year in the eyes of their peers.
View the full list of award categories and how to enter submissions HERE. Be sure to review the rules and categories carefully, as some have been updated.
People who submit by April 24 will get the “early bird” rate of $5 per entry (rather than the full price of $10 per entry).
OC Press Club to Host Virtual Panel on Upgrading PRA Requests
An Orange County Press Club panel will discuss local government transparency in the Covid-19 era from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. on March 17. The Zoom panel participants are:
David Burke – Cypress resident and president and founder of Citizens Take Action
Nick Gerda – investigative reporter, Voice of OC
Teri Sforza – investigative reporter, Southern California News Group
The event will be broadcasted live from the Press Club’s Facebook page and moderated by Daniel Langhorne, president of the Orange County Press Club. We’ll focus on common mistakes reporters make when filing public records requests and how they can craft more successful requests via the California Public Records Act or Freedom of Information Act. Expect success stories in overcoming stubborn agencies in Orange County and elsewhere.
Attendees are invited to come with their own questions for panelists. Send questions or comments to [email protected].
CLICK HERE to watch the live video on Facebook.
Orange County Press Club Welcomes 2021-22 Board of Directors
The new year’s Orange County Press Club Board of Directors welcomes two new members and a new president.
Daniel Langhorne will serve as the press club’s new president, new board member Brandon Pho will serve as vice president, and Shawn Raymundo joins the board for the first time.
“I’m humbled by my fellow board members’ confidence in me to lead the Press Club as its next president,” Langhorne said by email shortly after his election by the board Thursday.
“We’re committed to defending the First Amendment, mentoring the next generation of journalists, and diversifying our ranks to reflect the communities we cover.”
Langhorne has served on the Board of Directors since 2018. He is currently executive editor for the Laguna Beach Independent and engagement editor for a nonprofit newsroom, The War Horse. As an Orange County Press Club scholarship winner, he believes the Press Club plays an important role in fostering the skill and talent of young journalists, who are needed more than ever.
Incoming vice president Pho is a reporter for Voice of OC covering North Central Orange County. Pho was the senior editor for his college newspaper, The Daily Titan at Cal State Fullerton, where his work garnered first place honors at the Los Angeles Press Club and the College Media Association.
“It’s an honor to join the OC Press Club Board of Directors — and as Vice President, at that,” Pho said.
“I’m encouraged by the support I’ve gotten from the rest of the board and am chomping at the bit to outreach and expand our local press corps to include younger, Gen-Z journalists such as myself, as well as newsmakers with something new to say about our fast-changing region.
Patty Marsters continues as the board’s treasurer and administrator of the annual awards contest. She has served on the board of the Orange County Press Club since 1998, acting in many roles. For the past several years, she has focused her organizational skills on putting together the annual Excellence In Journalism contest. After 24 years at OC Weekly, she moved on to the similarly LW Weekly, the newspaper for Leisure World Seal Beach. She also mentors aspiring writers at Newport Harbor High School and co-leads a multilevel Girl Scout troop.
Bradley Zint will continue as board secretary. He is the assistant director of communications for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. Prior to joining the Diocese, he worked in newspapers, marketing and for B2B publications. Much of his newspapering career was spent at the Daily Pilot, part of the Los Angeles Times Community News division based in Orange County. In his role at the press club, he focuses on the annual awards dinner and organizing events for working journalists.
The other 2021-22 board members include:
SHAWN RAYMUNDO
Shawn Raymundo is a city editor for the San Clemente Times and is running for a seat on the Press Club Board for the first time. Here is his candidate statement:
I’m an Arizona State University alumnus with a bachelor’s degree in Global Studies. During my time at ASU, I worked for the school’s newspaper The State Press, where I held various positions including reporter, photographer and news desk editor.
Prior to living in South Orange County, I spent three years in the U.S. territory of Guam, working as the government accountability reporter for the Pacific Daily News. There, I covered the island’s legislature and governor’s office.
Now, with Picket Fence Media, I’m reporting on the city of San Clemente while also managing the production of the newspaper. My time here has allowed me to cover a range of issues such as nuclear waste and utilities, transportation and mobility, coastal environment, and the never boring subject of local government.
I believe I can be a great fit for the Press Club, and would enjoy the opportunity of collaborating with a group of talented journalists from the area.
BEN BRAZIL
Ben Brazil is a features writer for TimesOC. He previously covered Huntington Beach for the Daily Pilot. Before joining the Daily Pilot in September 2016, he was a reporter for City News Service, a Southern California-based news service.
HANNAH FRY
Hannah has served as an OC Press Club board member for five years and most recently served as club President. She has advocated for press freedom both locally and statewide and has helped organize events such as the annual Journalism Awards Gala. Hannah is a Metro reporter covering Orange County for the Los Angeles Times. She joined the newspaper eight years ago as a reporter for the Daily Pilot, a Times Community News publication. Hannah covered breaking news for The Times for two years and was part of the team that was a 2020 Pulitzer finalist for its coverage of a boat fire that killed 34 people off the coast of Santa Barbara.
KATHY HOBSTETTER
Kathy is an international journalist and has been an OC Press Club board member for five years. Her publication, the iJump Sports Business Journal, has always been based in Orange County. The journal covers the international show jumping horse business, which has a financial impact of millions on the economy and the people and businesses who are in the sport. She has lived in Orange County since 1965. She enjoyed promoting and writing about a wide variety of subjects and she wrote extensively as a freelance journalist before opening her own magazine.
SONYA QUICK
Sonya Quick is a digital editor, reporter and educator with more than 15 years of experience in news. She is digital editor at Voice of OC where she manages online fundraising, marketing, engagement, digital storytelling and user experience. In addition to working at Voice of OC, she teaches digital journalism at Chapman University. Previously, she worked for eight years at the Orange County Register as a digital and engagement editor, reporter, infographics storyteller and as the Register’s first mobile editor. She has more than decade of experience in leading efforts to create more connected journalism across devices, social platforms and audience types. Her career of work includes editing, reporting, designing infographics, researching data, developing mobile apps, refining user experiences, managing fundraising efforts, engagement on social media, guiding newsroom groups towards transformation and designing complete marketing roll-outs.
DAVID N. YOUNG
David is a working journalist and internationally recognized public affairs strategist who has worked in a variety of public capacities throughout his career. Currently, he is an editor with Community Media Corporation and has formerly served as editor of the Catalina Islander, the Seal Beach Sun and other publications. Based for many years in Washington, D.C., he now lives and works in Southern California. As a strategist, has counseled local, state, and federal agencies, Fortune 500 companies, public officials and nonprofits. He was awarded the journalism award in high school, the telecasting innovation award in college and was first named to Who’s Who in America in 1994. He attended the LSU School of Journalism and studied broadcasting at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. His work has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. State Department, the U.S. Information Agency and others.
Orange County Press Club Seeking Journalists Across Mediums, Backgrounds to Step Up to Serve on Board
2021 Orange County Press Club Awards: Video Announcement, In Memoriam and Winners List
The Orange County Press Club welcomes members to view a virtual presentation of the 2021 Excellence in Journalism award recipients. An in-person awards gala is scheduled to return in 2022.
Announcement Video
In Memoriam Video
Full Winners List
TRADITIONAL
Best News Story
First place: Scott Schwebke
¨Even in the #MeToo age, this woman got nowhere trying to fight back against harassment,¨ Daily Breeze
Second place: Meghann Cuniff
¨Amid an increasing homeless population, Santa Ana fights with Orange County over jail releases,¨ Daily Pilot
Third place: Erika Ritchie
¨Two investigations underway to find cause of Marine Corps’ deadliest AAV training accident,¨ OC Register
Best News Feature Story
First place: Brandon Pho
“In South OC’s Wealthy, Mostly White School District, Students of Color Tell Stories of Racism, Harassment and Inaction,” Voice of OC
Second place: Erika Ritchie
“A year after Marine disappears on High Sierra hike, family still unsure of what happened,” OC Register
Third place: Scott Schwebke
“After 36 years and a troubled life, transgender veteran finally wins honorable discharge,” LA Daily News
Honorable Mention: Roxana Kopetman
“Vietnamese refugee convicted of murder is free after 23 years, faces possible deportation,” OC Register
Best Breaking News Story
First place: Noah Beisiada, Nick Gerda
¨Silverado Canyon Burns Again As Bond Fire Erupts Under High Winds,¨ Voice of OC
Second place: Andrew Turner
¨Baseball community mourns the death of Orange Coast College coach John Altobelli,¨ Daily Pilot
Third place: Nick Gerda
¨OC to Ban all Public and Private Gatherings Under Emergency Health Order,¨ Voice of OC
Best Investigative Story
First place: Joe Nelson and Scott Schwebke
“Embattled Rialto Water District awards contracts to friends of new president,” San Bernardino Sun
Second place: Noah Biesiada
“The Great Park Tax: How Irvine Homeowners are Paying for the City’s Big Dream,” Voice of OC
Third place: Hannah Fry
“Kobe Bryant’s pilot had been disciplined by FAA,” LA Times
Best Series
First place: Keith Sharon
“Loud in the Silence” series, OC Register
Second place: Joe Nelson and Scott Schwebke
Series on the Rialto Water District, San Bernardino Sun
Third place: Norberto Santana Jr.
Series on the unemployed during the pandemic, Voice of OC
Best Beat Reporting
First place: Jeff Collins
Housing and real estate, OC Register
Second place: Spencer Custodio
Angel Stadium sale, Voice of OC
Third place: Scott Schwebke
Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, LA Daily News
Honorable Mention: Deepa Bharath
Religion, OC Register
Best Public Affairs Story
First place: Beau Yarbrough
“Is a minimum 664 training hours enough to become a California police officer?” OC Register
Second place: Daniel Langhorne
“After swimmer deaths, OC Parks studies new gate for Table Rock Beach Access,” Laguna Beach Independent
Third place: Tony Saavedra
“Spate of deputy misconduct cases casts harsh spotlight on OC Sheriff’s Department,” OC Register
Judges’ Comments: “A very good explanation of an important concern.”
Best Feature Story
First place: Jonah Valdez and Ruby Gonzales
“First robbed of freedom by enslavement, then robbed of life by coronavirus,” OC Register
Second place: Sara Cardine
“Goat herd helps clear up a hillside headache at OC fairgrounds amphitheater,” Daily Pilot
Third place: Shawn Price
“Dialogue on Diversity and Racism with Multiracial Families,” Parenting OC
Honorable Mention: Gabriel San Román
“He was one of the first black cops in O.C. His memoir reveals struggles with racism and why he was forced out,” Daily Pilot
Best COVID-19 Feature Story
TIE: First place: Peter Lefevre
“What Do Local Performing Artists Do While They Wait to Get Back Onstage?” Voice of OC
TIE: First place: Norberto Santana Jr.
“Santana: Latinos in Santa Ana and Anaheim Confront a Day of The Dead Unlike Any Other,” Voice of OC
Second place: Deepa Bharath
“Hospital chaplains fill role of surrogate family members during times of isolation, depression, death,” OC Register
Best COVID-19 Fallout Story
First place: Jessica Peralta
“Can Pets Get COVID-19?” Parenting OC
Second place: Christopher Trela
Executive Dining, OC Business Journal
Third place: Shawn Price
“Mom Power— Giving Birth to Premature Twins During the Pandemic,” Parenting OC
Honorable Mention: Susan Christian Goulding
“Voiceless victims of coronavirus: Quarantined nursing homes plagued by stress and loneliness,” OC Register
Best COVID-19 Investigative Story or Series
First place: Spencer Custodio, Nick Gerda and Noah Biesiada
“The Downplaying of Orange County’s Coronavirus Numbers”
Second place: Spencer Custodio and Brandon Pho
“Hospital Workers Ring Alarm Bells, Say Fountain Valley Hospital Could be Coronavirus Hotspot”
Third place: Ian Wheeler
“Lapses in state coronavirus data cause false plunge in Orange County case rates”
Best Election Coverage
First place: Collin Breaux and Lillian Boyd
The Capistrano Dispatch/Dana Point Times
Best Public Demonstration Story
First place: Brandon Pho and Julie Leopo
“Orange County Coastal Enclave Becomes Ground Zero of Police Violence Controversy and Protests,” Voice of OC
Best Round-Up or Best Of
First place: Brad A. Johnson
“Where to eat in Orange County in 2020: A map of the best places,” OC Register
Second place: Edwin Goei
“How an O.C. food critic navigates takeout and drive-throughs during the pandemic,” Daily Pilot
Third place: Anne Valdespino
“Perfect gift for the pandemic holidays? California’s fanciest chocolates,” OC Register
Best Business Story
First place: Jeff Collins
“Untethered from the office, urban tenants are flocking to the Inland Empire,” OC Register
Best Sports Story
First place: Kyle Goon
“For Lakers support staff, the bubble has been a frantic, collaborative effort,” OC Register
Second place: Andrew Turner
“Tony Ciarelli left his mark on high school track and field,” Daily Pilot
Third place: Richard Dunn
“Neither COVID-19 nor brain cancer can stop Jay Hewitt from completing an Ironman Triathlon,” OC Register
Best Arts/Culture Story
First place: Joel Beers
“Stages Theatre, a Mainstay for 28 Years on the Local Theater Scene, Closes Its Doors,” Voice of OC
Second place: Roxana Kopetman
“When a Christmas tip leads to a story about family, work and music,” OC Register
Third place: Kristina Garcia
“Black Student Union Members from Garden Grove High Find Their Voice and Purpose,” Voice of OC
Best Arts/Culture Review
First place: Paul Hodgins
“Hodgins: ‘She Loves Me’ Serves as a Fine Directorial Debut,” Voice of OC
Second place: Liz Goldner
“New Exhibit Dirty Elements Subverts Classic Art Tropes,” Irvine Weekly
Third place: Laura Bleiberg
“American Ballet Theatre Takes Us to Ancient Greece in ‘Of Love and Rage’,” Voice of OC
Best Music/Entertainment Story
First place: Peter Larsen
“Jimmy Angel’s an 85-year-old teen idol with tales to tell of Pat Boone, a lucky teddy bear and the mob,” OC Register
Second place: Kelli Skye Fadroski
“No Doubt talks ‘Tragic Kingdom’ at 25: The tears, tours and triumphs behind the classic album,” OC Register
Third place: Kelli Skye Fadroski
“Tom Morello talks Chris Cornell, Rage Against the Machine’s first gig ahead of new release,” OC Register
Best Music/Entertainment Review
First place: Peter Larsen
“Patti Smith brings passion and poetry to the LA Phil’s Power To The People! festival,” OC Register
Second place: Kelli Skye Fadroski
“What it was like to see Andrew McMahon perform a concert to socially distanced fans at Drive-In OC,” OC Register
Third place: Simone Goldstone
“Soundcheck: Queen Tribute Band Reigns Supreme at OC Fairgrounds,” Newport Beach Independent
Best Health/Wellness Story
First place: Susan Christian Goulding
“COVID survivors already fight stigma and worry Trump’s diagnosis will make it worse,” OC Register
Second place: Deepa Bharath
“Have coronavirus shutdowns, restrictions spawned a mental health crisis?” OC Register
Best Environmental News Story
First place: Brandon Pho
“Annual High Tide Spurs Concerns About Future Safety of San Onofre Nuclear Waste Stock Near South OC,” Voice of OC
Second place: Sara Cardine
“Costa Mesa’s Fairview Park Wetlands, once seen as a boon, bogged down by deficiencies,” Daily Pilot
Third place: Brandon Pho
“Conservationists Split Over Poseidon Desal Project’s Potential to Help Bolsa Chica Wetlands,” Voice of OC
Best Education Story
First place: Sara Cardine
“Push for reopening Orange County schools without masks has pro-charter school links,” Daily Pilot
Second place: Andrew Turner
“‘You can’t see through the masks the smiles’: Students return to class in Laguna Beach,” Daily Pilot
Best Food/Restaurant Story
First place: Bradley Zint
“Any way you slice it, a cheesemonger’s profession is serious business,” Daily Pilot
Second place: Roy Rivenburg
“Will the pandemic hurt the candy-industrial complex?” LA Times
Third place: Anne Valdespino
“Local chefs are turning to Instagram to sell directly to consumers,” OC Register
Best Food/Restaurant Review
First place: Brad A. Johnson
“OC’s Best Places to Eat 2020: And the Restaurant of the Year is…” OC Register
Second place: Edwin Goei
“Review: As restaurants pivot to delivery, this food reviewer tests out local delivery-only ‘ghost kitchens,’” Daily Pilot
Third place: Edwin Goei
“Review: La Farola Empanadas moves from the back of a Tustin liquor store to its own restaurant in Costa Mesa,” Daily Pilot
Best Travel Story
First place: Jessica Kwong
“Travel: Downtown Miami comes alive for Super Bowl LIV,” OC Register
Second place: Erika Ritchie
“Travel: Mammoth Mountain opens up after coronavirus shutdown,” OC Register
Best Profile
First place: Deepa Bharath
“Pastor builds huge TikTok following by sharing passion for chai and spiritual conversation,” OC Register
Second place: Peter Larsen
“Nearly 98, this man shook President Truman’s hand, befriended Dr. Seuss and Stan Lee and hasn’t stopped dancing,” OC Register
Third place: Susan Christian Goulding
“Los Alamitos councilman slammed for racist email in 2009 faces Black colleague in reelection bid,” OC Register
David McQuay Award for Best Columnist
First place: Patrice Apodaca
Daily Pilot
Second place: Norberto Santana Jr.
Voice of OC
Third place: Brad A. Johnson
OC Register
Marjorie Freeman Award for Best Humorous Story
First place: Susan Christian Goulding
“Chad and JT’s excellent adventure: Comics make viral video about Surf City’s ‘mask shortage,’” OC Register
Second place: Gabriel San Román
“‘You can’t laugh and be afraid at the same time:’ ‘Combating Coronavirus’ comedy provides much-needed levity,” Daily Pilot
Third place: Mark Crantz
“Applesauced,” Laguna Beach Independent
NON-TRADITIONAL or SPECIALTY PUBLICATION
Best News Story
First place: Greg Mellen
“Tustin’s police recruits remain dedicated to agency’s community policing, public safety mission,” Behind the Badge
Best Feature Story
First place: Greg Mellen
“CUSD student was finalist for Boys and Girls Clubs national award,” CUSD Insider
Second place: Elysse James
“Capo Valley High counselor recognized as High School Counselor of the Year,” CUSD Insider
Third place: Greg Mellen
“Aviation student set to soar at Tesoro High,” CUSD Insider
Best COVID-19 Coverage
First place: Elysse James
CUSD Insider
Second place: Cindy Arora
Behind the Badge
Best Music/Entertainment Story or Review
First place: Jessica Peralta
“Candle House Collective Creates Connections, One Creepy Call at a Time,” Halloween Every Night
Second place: Richard Chang
“UCI Music Professor Uses Technology to Build Bridges,” UC Irvine
Third place: Daniella Litvak
“Fireflies @ South Coast Repertory – Review,” the Orange Curtain Review
Best Arts/Culture Story or Review
First place: Brad A. Johnson
“Hotel Review: Cara, Los Angeles,” Brad A. Johnson, Food & Travel
Second place: Gabriel San Román
“Santa Ana Artist Reflects on Día de los Muertos with ‘And Still I Rise’ Installation,” Libromobile
Third place: Patty Marsters
“ICT streams performance of ‘Daisy,’ starting Oct. 24,” LW Weekly
Best Food/Restaurant Story or Review
First place: Brad A. Johnson
“The Disappearing Art & Rhythm of Chinese Tea in Hong Kong,” Brad A. Johnson, Food & Travel
MULTIMEDIA
Best Video
First place: Jose Hernandez
“May 30, 2020, Orange County Protests,” Voice of OC
Second place: Jose Hernandez
“Annual High Tide Spurs Concerns About Future Safety of San Onofre Nuclear Waste Stock Near South OC,” Voice of OC
Third place: Shawn Price
“Summoning the Ghost of Jacob Marley,” Halloween Every Night
Best Use of Multimedia
First place: Jessica Peralta
“Maverick Theater’s ‘Night of the Living Dead’: These Zombies Really Can’t Be Killed,” Halloween Every Night
Best Use of Data
First place: Brooke Staggs, Ian Wheeler and Alicia Robinson
“How Did Your Neighbor Vote?” OC Register
at illustrated the data were clear, colorful and useful. The graphics told the story of the data.”
Best Audience Engagement/Use of Social Media
First place: Norberto Santana Jr., Spencer Custodio and Sonya Quick
Voice of OC
Second place: Brad A. Johnson
Third place: Jessica Peralta
Halloween Every Night
DESIGN/GRAPHICS
Best Graphic
First place: Sonya Quick
Hate Crimes, Voice of OC
Second place: Nicole Lavanier
Escape the Overlook, Halloween Every Night
Third place: Sonya Quick (with James Gordon and Jacob LaGesse)
Live Election Results, Voice of OC
Best COVID-19 Graphics
First place: Jeff Goertzen, Kurt Snibbe and Nikie Johnson
Evolution of a Pandemic, OC Register
Second place: Sonya Quick, Caitlin Bartusick and Nick Gerda
Orange County CA Coronavirus Tracker (among several submitted), Voice of OC
Third place: Kaz Fantone
“This Is a Public Service Announcement—With Ghouls,” Halloween Every Night
Best Illustration
First place: Justin Pakneshan
Thriller, Halloween Every Night
Second place: Justin Pakneshan
Millicent Patrick, Halloween Every Night
Third place: Jenna Red
Edward Scissorhands, Halloween Every Night
Honorable Mention: Ashley Oliman
The Brain That Wouldn’t Die, Halloween Every Night
PHOTOGRAPHY
Best News Photo
First place: Julie Leopo
Photo of Elsa Hernandez, Voice of OC
Second place: Lillian Boyd
Photo from BLM protest, Dana Point Times
Third place: Richard Koehler
Photo of pedestrian killed in hit and run, OC Register
Best Feature Photo
First place: John Fredricks
Photo of the Bond Fire, Epoch Times
Second place: Brad A. Johnson
Photo of tom yum with fresh water lobster, OC Register
Third place: John Fredricks
Photo of Kwami Adzitso, Epoch Times
Best COVID-19 Coverage
First place: Steven Georges
Behind the Badge
Best Portrait
First place: Omar Sanchez
Photo of Reyna and Nina Gonzalas, Voice of OC
Second place: Julie Leopo
Photo of Joyce Perry, Voice of OC
Third place: Brad A. Johnson
Photo of Chef Susumu li at Sushi li, OC Register
Best Photo Essay or Slideshow
First place: Steven Georges
First Responder Gratitude Tour, Behind the Badge
Second place: Julie Leopo
Photos of a grocery truck, Voice of OC
Third place: Brad A. Johnson
Photos of best donuts, OC Register
SPECIAL
The Real O.C. Award is given to the story, review, feature, column, photo or broadcast/video that best captures something special, surprising, telling or essential about Orange County.
First place: Gabriel San Román
“The Fantasies of Ole Hanson, San Clemente’s Founding Father,” Gustavo Arellano’s Weekly
Second place: Brad A. Johnson
“Critic’s Notebook: Why I’m rating restaurants for their COVID-19 response,” OC Register
Third place: Brandon Pho, Julie Leopo
“In Wake of Raucous Protests, Santa Ana Residents Rally Around Clean Up,” Voice of OC
OC Press Club joins California journalism coalition to oppose SB 98
The Orange County Press Club Board of Directors agreed to join the following open letter distributed June 1.
We, the undersigned organizations, which collectively represent thousands of California journalists, strongly oppose a recent amendment made to SB 98, a bill originally intended to protect journalists covering protests, demonstrations and civil unrest. This amendment may actually restrict existing press freedoms rather than expand them, turning this bill on its head and into something that hurts the very people it was written to help.
Many of our organizations — an unprecedented coalition of press associations, labor unions, and journalism advocacy groups — had endorsed SB 98 prior to this amendment, and others were actively considering doing so. But as now amended, we must withhold any endorsement and are prepared to actively oppose SB 98 until its intent to protect journalists is restored.
We do not enter this political debate lightly. During the past two years, working conditions for California journalists have steadily deteriorated as many of our newspaper, television, radio, digital, freelance and student media colleagues covering protests have been arrested, detained or assaulted by law enforcement while on the job, including while covering the March 25 protest at Echo Park Lake in Los Angeles. Throughout California in the past 12 months alone, we have documented at least 36 incidents where police have injured, detained, arrested and violated the constitutional rights of clearly identifiable journalists.
SB 98, as originally introduced by Sen. Mike McGuire, would have modestly extended existing state protections for journalists working in disaster areas to also apply to journalists covering civil disturbances. But an amendment added by the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 20, 2021, would require journalists to seek permission of a police commander to enter closed areas around protests — a hurdle that doesn’t currently exist under state law. This is a clear attempt to hobble this bill. Journalists should not need permission from a police commander to cover protests, just as law enforcement-issued press credentials should not be required in order for journalists to exercise their First Amendment rights in a public forum.
We are aware that law enforcement agencies, including the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, have been lobbying on SB 98 in recent months. We would point out that the Sheriff’s mishandling of press freedoms — the department’s deputies tackled and arrested KPCC’s Josie Huang last fall and have injured others — is one of the reasons our coalition formed in the first place.
We urge all First Amendment supporters in the California legislature to remove the amended language or strengthen SB 98 in a way that protects the vital activities of the press and the people’s right to receive information regarding matters of public concern. We encourage Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign a genuinely strengthened version into law.
Sincerely,
Asian American Journalists Association, Los Angeles chapter
Californians Aware
CCNMA: Latino Journalists of California
IBEW Local 45
Journalism and Women Symposium, Southern California (JAWS SoCal)
Los Angeles Press Club
Media Alliance
Media Guild of the West, NewsGuild-CWA Local 39213
National Association of Black Journalists of Los Angeles
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
National Press Photographers Association
National Writers Union
Online News Association Local Los Angeles
Orange County Press Club
Pacific Media Workers Guild, The NewsGuild-CWA Local 39521
Radio Television Digital News Association
Society of Professional Journalists, Greater Los Angeles chapter
Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter
We Make KCRW – SAG-AFTRA
OC Press Club Opens Award Submissions for 2020’s Record Year
The OC Press Club is opening this year’s award submissions and looks forward to recognizing the county’s best journalism produced in extremely uncertain times.
The year of 2020 was filled with huge obstacles for local media: a pandemic, economic strife, wildfires and a national election. Orange County journalists faced all these reporting challenges while staffing continues to decline in the media landscape and while trying to maintain safe distancing protocols.
This year’s awards will be a bright spot in the media world as we gather together (later in 2021 in person or virtually) to celebrate how strong journalism informs, empowers and enlightens the community.
This year’s awards include new categories devoted to recognizing important work on topics such as COVID-19, natural disasters, demonstrations and the election.
> View the full list of award categories and how to enter submissions HERE.
> Work must be received by end of day Sunday, April 18.
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
Live, Virtual Discussion: “The State of Transparency in Orange County: The Public, The Press and Local Government”
The Orange County Press Club is proud to present a live virtual discussion for the 2021 Sunshine Week.
This discussion will center around the current state of seeking public records and accessing local government open meetings amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel will be held from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursday, March 18 and will be streamed publicly on the Press Club Facebook page.
The virtual discussion is timed with Sunshine Week, the 16th annual nonpartisan and nationwide effort to bring to light the state of reporters and the public in accessing public documents and meetings. Accessing such information is vital to journalists and the public being informed and engaged with quality of life debates and decisions.
The debate will be moderated by OC Press Club Board Member Daniel Langhorne. He is managing editor for the Laguna Beach Independent and engagement editor for The War Horse, a nonprofit newsroom.
Panel guests include:
– Norberto Santana, Jr. who is publisher and editor-in-chief of nonprofit newsroom Voice of OC and president of CalAware.
– Shawn Raymundo who is city editor for the San Clemente Times.
– Ian Wheeler who is a reporter with the Orange County Register.
The Press Club encourages the public, professional journalists and students to submit questions ahead of time by emailing [email protected]. Questions may also be asked live on Facebook during the discussion.