SCNG honored with 86 California Journalism Awards

Southern California News Group journalists were honored with 86 top-five finishes, including 19 for first place, at the California Journalism Awards Gala held Saturday at the Universal Hilton.

In the statewide competition that recognized work from 2024, SCNG had 59 first-, second- or third-place awards, nearly as many total awards (first through fifth place) as it had the previous year.

Reporter Kristy Hutchings led the way with four first-place finishes and recognition in 13 categories for her coverage of local government and coastal issues. Andre Mouchard (environment reporting, labor reporting) and Jeff Collins (coverage of business and the economy, in-depth reporting) each took first place in two categories. Coverage by two SCNG groups also took first place: for breaking news – student protests in Orange County; and for music writing/reporting – the 2024 Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival.

“This is a testament to the great journalism produced by the hard-working staff members of our Southern California newspapers,” said Executive Editor Frank Pine. “We have a passionate and dedicated team that is committed to serving our readers, and I could not be more proud of their work across categories, from breaking news to environmental reporting to housing and real estate, music and food. Thanks to CNPA for recognizing these efforts.”

The competition, which is run by the California News Publishers Association, honors finalists in multiple divisions per category, including for daily, weekly, online-only and campus news organizations.

While the awards were for work from last year, Daniel Tedford, SCNG’s senior editor for crime and public safety, delivered a speech about the SCNG newsroom’s efforts during the wildfires that devastated Los Angeles County earlier this year and the continued coverage of the recovery efforts.

Here are the SCNG honorees, listed by category:

Agrictultural Reporting

Second: Pat Maio

Third: Brock Keeling

Artistic Photo

Second: Mark Rightmire (see photo above)

Third: Will Lester

Team Roper Alfredo Huizar, from Ontario, warms up prior t his event during the 38th Norco Mounted Posse PRCA Rodeo at Ingalls Event Center in Norco on Friday night Aug. 23, 2024. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

Arts & Entertainment Coverage

Fourth: Emily St. Martin and Erik Pedersen

Audience/Community Engagement Award

Second: Samantha Dunn and Julie Corlette

Breaking News

First: Orange County Register staff

Fifth: Brian Rokos, Mona Darwish and Beau Yarbrough

Columns

First: Harry Saltzgaver

Fourth: Rich Archbold

Fifth: David Allen

Coverage of Business and the Economy

First: Jeff Collins

First: Kristy Hutchings

Third: Kristy Hutchings

Fourth: Tyler Evains

Coverage of Local Government

First: Kristy Hutchings

Second: Beau Yarbrough

Second: Donna Littlejohn

Coverage of Youth and Education

Second: Joe Nelson, Scott Schwebke and Beau Yarbrough

Second: Kristy Hutchings

Third: Jeff Horseman and Jordan Darling

Fourth: Mindy Schauer

Enterprise News Story or Series

Second: Jason Henry

Fourth: Kristy Hutchings, Donna Littlejohn, Olga Grigoryants and Erika Ritchie

Fifth: San Gabriel Valley Tribune staff

Environment Reporting

First: Andre Mouchard

First: Michael Hixon

Second: Kristy Hutchings

Third: Chris Haire

Fifth: Jeff Horseman

Visitors at the Griffith Observatory walk past a Super Moon in Los Angeles on Monday, August 19, 2024. (Photo by David Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Feature Photo

Fifth: David Crane

Food Writing/Reporting

First: Tyler Evains

Third: Andre Mouchard

Fourth: Jonathan Horwitz

Health Reporting

Second: Kristy Hutchings

Fourth: Scott Schwebke

Fourth: Christina Merino

Homelessness Reporting

First: Christina Merino

Third: Kristy Hutchings

Housing and Land-Use Reporting

First: Teresa Liu and Anissa Rivera

Second: Kristy Hutchings

Third: Whittier Daily News staff

Fourth: Jeff Collins

Fourth: Jeff Horseman

Illustration

Fifth: Jeff Goertzen

Immigration Reporting

First: Scott Schwebke

Second: Hanna Kang, Victoria Ivie and Mona Darwish

In-Depth Reporting

First: Jeff Collins

First: Kristy Hutchings

Second: Jeff Horseman

Third: Kristy Hutchings

Fifth: Lisa Jacobs and Michael Hixon

Informational Graphic

Fifth: Jeff Goertzen and Kurt Snibbe

Investigative Reporting

Third: Scott Schwebke

Labor Reporting

First: Andre Mouchard

Second: Kristy Hutchings

Third: Scott Schwebke

Local Coverage of Election 2024

Second: Jeff Horseman

Third: Kaitlyn Schallhorn and Teri Sforza

Fifth: Andre Mouchard

Music Writing/Reporting

First: Features/Press-Enterprise staff

A supporter of the pro-Palestinian encampment places flowers at the feet of police at UC Irvine in Irvine on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

News Photo

Fourth: Leonard Ortiz

Justin Harman, with the California State Guard, shouts orders at Sunburst Youth Academy candidates after startling them awake at 5 a.m. on their first full day at the academy. Known as "Shark Attack," this begins the two-week acclamation phase of the five-and-a-half-month high school credit-recovery program. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG) — Justin Harman, with the California State Guard, shouts orders at Sunburst Youth Academy candidates after startling them awake at 5 a.m. on their first full day at the academy. Known as “Shark Attack,” this begins the two-week acclamation phase of the five-and-a-half-month high school credit-recovery program. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Photo Story/Essay

Third: Mindy Schauer

Photojournalism

Third: SCNG Photo Staff

Print Special Section

First: Grunion Gazette

Second: Samantha Dunn

Second: The Beach Reporter

Fourth: Grunion Gazette

Print Special Section Covers

First: Jeff Goertzen

Second: Jeff Goertzen

Profile

Third: John Murphy

Fourth: Jonathan Horwitz

Fourth: Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Fifth: Todd Harmonson

Religion and Faith Writing

Third: Kaitlyn Schallhorn

Social Media Innovation Award

Second: Carolyn Burt

Fourth: Dorothy Elder

Freddie Freeman (5) of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after hitting a walk off grand slam in the tenth inning to defeat the New York Yankees 6-3 and win Game 1 of a World Series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Orange County Register/ SCNG)