Southern California News Group publications earned 68 honors in the 2021 California Journalism Awards, which were announced recently.
SCNG finished first in 11 categories and had 42 top-three awards in the contest, a significant increase over the past year. The awards recognized journalists throughout the state for work published in 2021.
“We are honored to be recognized by the California News Publishers Association,” said Frank Pine, executive editor of SCNG. “We at SCNG are committed to serving our readers, and I am very proud of the great journalism our team produces every day and of the hard-working and determined reporters, photographers, designers, producers and editors who make it all happen. Our heartfelt thanks to CNPA for these honors.”
Aysha-Samon Stokes son Wyatt, 17 months, jumps on her as her Midwife Kimberly Durdin begins to check her baby at Kindred Space LA, a birthing center Durdin opened during the pandemic with another midwife in South Los Angeles. With fear of another C-Section and fear of the high mortality rate in the hospitals among women like herself Stokes found her midwife in her third trimester. With a history of racism it is hard for pregnant Black women to trust the medical establishment. Many feel they are having unnecessary c-sections and they are unheard by their doctors. In Los Angeles County, mortality rates among Black mothers from perinatal complications are four times higher compared to White women. Black infants are three times more likely to die before reaching their first birthday. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)
Wide receiver Tahj Washington #16 of the USC Trojans catches a pass and dives for the first down against the Brigham Young Cougars in the second half of a NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Saturday, November 27, 2021. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A long exposure photo of cyclists riding down The Strand at Claire’s Place Foundation’s 7th annual Glow Ride in Hermosa Beach on Saturday, August 21, 2021. (Photo by Daniella Segura)
This photo from SCNG photographer Mark Rightmire won first place for artistic photo at the top circulation category in the California Journalism Awards. With a backdrop of large trees and a sky of scattered clouds, Max Ross of Dana Point works on a routine on a midline slackline in Hillcrest Park in Fullerton on Thursday, afternoon, January 28, 2021. Fullerton was the first Orange County city to officially celebrate Arbor Day, 39 years ago and continues to lead the way in embracing the health, aesthetic, economic and air quality benefits of urban forests. Last year, it was the only city in the county to win one of 22 state grants to promote trees in cities.
(Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Photographer Sarah Reingewirtz took first place for her photo essay that covered pregnancy in the pandemic. She and reporter Olga Grigoryants produced a series of stories and photos on the topic that received a second-place award in in-depth reporting and fifth-place recognition in coverage of the pandemic. Reingewirtz added a second-place finish for a news photo from protests about the 2020 presidential election.
Here are SCNG’s other first-place honorees: Keith Birmingham (sports action photo); Tyler Evains, Michael Hixon, Lisa Jacobs and Paul Kryczko (special section); Jason Henry (investigative reporting); Jennifer Iyer (land-use reporting); Riverside Press-Enterprise staff (coverage of business news); Mark Rightmire (artistic photo); Javier Rojas (profile story); Harry Saltzgaver (editorial comment); Daniella Segura (artistic photo); and Brooke Staggs (coverage of the Newsom recall election).
The SCNG premium magazine staff finished second for its special section, “Illuminate: The Brave New World of Back to School.”
And in the general excellence category, The Orange County Register and the Grunion Gazette took third place in their respective circulation/publication levels.
