The Southern California News Group was well-represented among the finalists for the 2024 SoCal Journalism Awards.
The Los Angeles Press Club announced the finalists for the 66th annual awards on Thursday, May 9, and SCNG had 26 total finalists across 19 categories – including a possible journalist of the year.
Staff writer Beau Yarbrough, who writes for The Sun and SCNG’s other Inland Empire publications, was named a finalist for journalist of the year in the “print, circulation under 50,000” category.
To be eligible for journalist of the year, a candidate must also be a finalist in multiple other categories. Yarbrough is also a finalist in three other categories:
Public service news or feature (any type of media) for the story, “Here’s how much military hardware law enforcement agencies have in Riverside, San Bernardino counties.”
National political/government reporting (any type of media) for the story, “How much did your member of Congress get done last term?”
Investigative (newspapers, under 50,000 circulation) for the story, “San Bernardino County officials expected milder storms before mountains were hammered, records show.”
SCNG, which comprises 11 daily news publications and various community weeklies, also dominated the investigative category for newspapers with a circulation under 50,000.
A year after staff writer Scott Schwebke comprised 80% of the finalists in that category, SCNG once again had four of the five overall investigative reporting finalists: Besides Yarbrough, Schwebke, Clara Harter and Jason Henry are also finalists in that category.
Here are the rest of SCNG’s finalists for this year’s SoCal Journalism Awards:
All media print or online, in any outlet:
Education reporting: Brooke Staggs and Roxana Kopetman, Orange County Register, for “Are Southern California students and teachers breathing clean air?”
Immigration reporting: Yusra Farzan, Orange County Register, for “OC Ukraine Refuge.”
Crime reporting: Schwebke for “Suspect confesses in jailhouse interview to killing bicycling doctor in Dana Point.”
Photography:
Sports photo: Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News, for “White Abarrio captures $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic at Santa Anita.”
Photo essay (news or news feature): Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News, for “Photos accompanying series on Fentanyl addiction taking its toll on MacArthur Park area.”
Hard news in print, any outlet:
San Gabriel Valley Tribune staff for “10 killed in Monterey Park mass shooting as Lunar New Year is celebrated.”
Schwebke for “Suspect confesses in exclusive jailhouse interview to killing bicycling doctor.”
Business reporting: Jeff Collins, Orange County Register, for “Fannie’s secret ‘blacklist’ wreaks havoc for condo buyers and sellers.”
Gender and society reporting: Olga Grigoryants, Los Angeles Daily News, for “LGBTQ+ Russians fleeing Kremlin’s anti-gay propaganda seek safe haven in LA.”
Environment reporting: Steve Scauzillo, Los Angeles Daily News, for “Biologists discover thousands of migrating songbirds in Angeles National Forest.”
Newspapers with 50,000-plus circulation:
Hard news feature: Collins for “Goodbye starter home: First-time buyers struggle with Southern California prices, lack of inventory.”
Hard news feature: Erika Ritchie, Orange County Register, for “Marine veterans find new mission as firefighters helping people.”
Columnist Patricia Bunin, SCNG.
Newspapers with under 50,000 circulation:
News feature: Teresa Liu, Daily Breeze, for “Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, IndyCar Series look to go green.”
Personality profile: Kristy Hutchings, Long Beach Press-Telegram, for “A WWII bride, now a Seal Beach resident, recalls Queen Mary trip, other adventures.”
Personality profile: Jo Murray, Long Beach Press-Telegram, “From King of the Beach to personal struggles, racing icon Al Unser Jr. strives to rise anew.”
Investigative: Harter and Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News, for “Fentanyl addiction fuels underground shoplifting economy in LA’s MacArthur Park.”
Investigative: Henry, Los Angeles Daily News, for “Aftermath of the inferno that shut down the 10 Freeway.”
Investigative: Schwebke for “VA Loma Linda Whistleblower Retaliation Sparks Federal Legislation.”
Commentary: Delilah Brumer, Los Angeles Daily News, for “The Class of 2023 at Daniel Pearl Magnet High School has a few things to say.”
Columnist: Rich Archbold, Long Beach Press-Telegram.
Columnist: Dennis McCarthy, Los Angeles Daily News.
You can check out the full list of finalists on the LA Press Club’s website. The winners will be announced at a gala on June 23 at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles.
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