In its first year in the competition, GV Wire won four first-place and six second-place awards in CNPA’s California Journalism Contest.
The winners were announced Saturday at the California News Publishers Association gala in Long Beach.
“We have an excellent team of local journalists working on the stories that matter most to our community. I want to congratulate our team for their determined and relentless effort in bringing these stories to light.” — GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi
In addition, GV Wire claimed four third-place awards and fifth place for General Excellence in the competition for small digital news organizations.
GV Wire, however, competed against California digital publications of all sizes in the columns and story presentation/page layout and design categories, winning a total of three awards.
In all, 18 GV Wire entries made the final round of judging.
“We have an excellent team of local journalists working on the stories that matter most to our community,” said GV Wire Publisher Darius Assemi. “I want to congratulate our team for their determined and relentless effort in bringing these stories to light.”
Taub Is Double First-Place Winner
David Taub won the enterprise and feature writing divisions and claimed second, third, and fourth places for local government reporting.
“Every Californian was impacted by the 2014 law that radically changed (the) usage of plastic bags. This is a smart piece exploring the aftermath,” said a judge about Taub’s first-place story on California’s plastic bag ban.
Of Taub’s first-place feature on Bitwise co-CEO Irma Olguin Jr., a judge wrote, “A compelling read on a native daughter of Fresno who is making a difference in the community today and for the future.”
Said a judge of Jamie Ouverson’s first-place video feature on Central Valley Honor Flight 17: “Wonderful topic with terrific production values. Emotional and meaningful work.”
The year’s honors work published in 2018.
Here are the categories and GV Wire journalism honored by the judges:
First Place
Enterprise: Is California’s Plastic Bag Ban Working? David Taub
Feature: Olguin Writes New Code on Tech, Downtown Fresno, David Taub
Video Journalism: This Video Brings the Cost of Freedom Home, Jamie Ouverson
Youth/Education: Bargain Warp Speed Learning Has a Name: Dual Enrollment, Myles Barker, Bill McEwen
Second Place
Columns (all digital publications): Stop the Spin. Give Us the Truth on High-Speed Rail, Bill McEwen
In Depth Reporting: Who Runs California? Bill McEwen, Drew Phelps, David Taub
Informational Graphic: Pros and Cons of Measure P, Alexis DeSha
Local Government: Recounting the Drama: Hill Places Second, Miller Placed in Cuffs, David Taub
Video Journalism: Her Reading Heart Inspires Students Across Fresno, Jahz Tello
Youth/Education: Ashjian vs. Nelson: A Hot, Loud Debate on Special Ed, Bill McEwen, Myles Barker
Third Place
Breaking News: Animal Shelter Gets Green Light, Likely Lawsuit Awaits, David Taub
Columns (all digital publications): Sweet Holiday Sounds Break Heart of Mom With Excluded Son, Bill McEwen
In Depth Reporting: Battle to Decide California’s Education Future, Nancy Price
Local Government: Letter Perfect: Why P Is for Parks and Z Is for Zoos, David Taub
Fourth Place
Local Government: Harvesting Green or Inviting Danger? Clash Over Measure A, David Taub
Story Presentation/Page Layout (all digital publications): Who Runs California? Jesse Buglione, Hannah Reilly
Fifth Place
General Excellence: GV Wire
Youth/Education: Homeschool Lesson in Civics: How to Kill a Bill, David Taub
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