September 23, 2004

Recipients of 10th annual California
Journalism Awards announced

The Center for California Studies at California State University, Sacramento and the Sacramento Press Club have announced the winners of the Tenth Annual California Journalism Awards. They will be presented at a luncheon on Friday, Oct. 1 at the Holiday Inn Capitol Plaza.

The awards recognize outstanding reporting on California public affairs and politics. Judging is by a distinguished panel of California journalists.

This year's awards ceremony will feature Holly Heyser, president of the National Association of State Capitol Reporters and Editors. There will also be a free drawing for a book featuring the work of the late Frank del Olmo, associate editor of the Los Angeles Times and the first Latino promoted to the Times' masthead of top editors. Del Olmo died in February at the age of 55.

Recipients of this year's awards are:

• The John Jacobs Award for print special feature/enterprise reporting – Kimberly Kindy of the Orange County Register, who investigated the California Technology, Trade and Commerce Agency. Kindy showed that at least 31 times – on deals totaling $4.2 million – the state played little or no role in deals it claimed credit for. The agency was shuttered in December.
• The John Jacobs Award for print daily coverage – James P. Sweeney of Copley News Service, who reported on Gov. Gray Davis' handling of Indian gaming and gambling in California.
• For excellence in radio reporting – Ina Jaffe and Cathy Shaw of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered."
• For excellence in television reporting – Randy Paige, Frank Snepp and Richard Alvarez of KCBS-TV.
• The Katharine M. Macdonald Award for excellence in student journalism – Matt Ballinger of Orange Coast College, who wrote a piece on California's open meeting law.

The cost for the luncheon is $55 and $40 for students. Reservations must be made by Monday, Sept. 27. For more information, contact the Center for California Studies at (916) 278-6906. Additional media assistance is available from the Sacramento State public affairs office at (916) 278-6156.

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