The Star earns top honors in California Journalism Awards
Journalists don't exactly have Olympics although the thought of competitions for fastest typist, best turn of phrase or most public records requests in a year brings me a chuckle.
We do, however, have the California Journalism Awards, an annual contest hosted by our statewide professional group, the California Newspaper Publishers Association. Earlier this month, CNPA held its annual gala at the Sheraton Universal where The Star's haul of 25 awards showcased our humble newsroom's reporting chops.
The awards honor our work in 2023 and that of the other newspapers and news sites throughout the state.
A hearty congratulations to our fellow winners and competitors not only across this Golden State but down the road. Despite the rivalries, I like to think that most news publications and sites serve to complement each other's work.
Notably, The Star received five first-place awards — three to reporter Tony Biasotti and one he shared with reporter Dave Mason on breaking news coverage of the death of a Jewish man in Thousand Oaks. The last top award was earned for a piece written by Mason, Dua Anjum and Isaiah Murtaugh on a related topic: "Finding common ground for Jews, Muslims."
On Biasotti's story about "Tales from Teatro," on Oxnard's historic, downtown theater, the judge said, "Story talks about history but the writer brings this venue to life and showcases a community's role in the recording industry."
If you haven't enjoyed this now award-winning piece, you can find it on our website at vcstar.com.
Biasotti was not alone in his success. The newsroom also took home nine awards for second place, three for third, five for fourth and three for fifth. The categories included everything from agricultural reporting to editorial to sports.
I'm immensely proud of the work of this hard-working team not just for the honors garnered but for the efforts made daily to ensure our readers and the community at large has the important news to help them better understand their world.
Along the way, the CNPA judges offered such kind adjectives as fun, smart, unique and clear for the staff's work. I appreciated one judge's straightforward "a job well done."
On Cheri Carlson's and Kathleen Wilson's submissions for storm coverage, the judge in giving the pair a second place for environmental reporting described their work as "a compelling series of easily digestible stories."
"Many times while reading, I felt I was on the scene," the judge says.
The best of our work does just that. It puts readers in the shoes of their neighbors and allows them to peer into the hardship they face. We need every bit more empathy for one another in divided times.
For sure, judges offered critiques like the work "could be cleaner" and "more to be done."
It's true. There's more to done. So much more.
In a business that faces no shortage of challenges, we still need to find ways to improve. We're doing that by joining with other colleagues across the state. More on that for a future column.
In the meantime, I'll be watching what I can of the 2024 Paris Olympics and following our local competitors.
The games may not offer categories for longest toss of a newspaper, but there's great inspiration to be found in the athletes' stories. It's not just for fellow athletes but for journalists and humanity in general.
Competitors must train for years to be at the top of their profession, but at times perseverance, grit and a little luck can get them across the finish line first.
Stacie N. Galang is the news director of the Ventura County Star. She can be reached at 805-437-0222 or stacie.galang@vcstar.com.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County Star earns top honors in California Journalism Awards
