inewsource journalists were honored with 19 awards Wednesday night from the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, including 15 first-place awards – the most of any news organization.
The Follow The Money series – a five-part guide to the money behind five measures on the November ballot – won first place in the audio, digital and video categories.
Judges said about the project: “This series lays out and explains the various propositions that California voters would find on the ballot in a clear conversational manner that was easy to understand.” For the digital presentation, the judges called it “a true public service.”
inewsource also swept the video category for a single investigative or enterprise story, with reporter Brad Racino taking first place for a television piece on security lapses at San Diego’s shipyards. The judges called the findings “disturbing” and called the report “a vital public service.” Racino and former inewsource videographer Megan Wood took second place for an investigation into dangerous human research at the San Diego VA. Reporter Jill Castellano captured third place for a piece on how San Diego fueled the effort to repeal California’s gas tax repeal.
The contest was judged this year by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Here’s a complete list of inewsource’s awards:
Brad Racino
- First place, audio business/consumer reporting, “Developer, fishermen reach deal to help save San Diego’s storied fishing industry”
- First place, audio investigative/enterprise, “Security gaps at San Diego shipyards put billion-dollar Navy warships at risk”
- First place, video investigative/enterprise, “Security lapses found at San Diego shipyards despite Navy rules”
- First place, daily business reporting, “Saving San Diego’s storied fishing industry”
- First place, daily health reporting, “Dangerous human research alleged at San Diego VA; Rep. Peters vows action”
- First place, daily investigative/enterprise reporting, “HiCaliber Horse Rescue”
- Third place, daily environment reporting, “Earthquake safety: Touring a few of San Diego’s most iconic buildings”
Jill Castellano
- First place, daily political/government reporting, “Democrats spent 37 times the contribution limit on Nathan Fletcher. And it’s legal.”
- First place, audio news, “How San Diego fueled California’s gas tax repeal effort”
- Third place, video investigative/enterprise, “How San Diego fueled California’s gas tax repeal effort”
Leonardo Castañeda
- First place, daily housing/development reporting, “Eastlake homeowners pay millions in Mello-Roos school taxes but money goes elsewhere”
Cheryl Clark
- First place, daily reporting series, “Hustling Hope: Trina Health”
Shyla Nott
- First place, digital multimedia presentation, “Follow The Money”
Jill Castellano and Brad Racino
- First place, audio community services series, “Follow The Money”
- First place, video community services series, “Follow The Money”
- First place, video news, “How San Diego fueled California’s gas tax repeal effort”
Brandon Quester and Leonardo Castañeda
- First place, digital data/visualization, “Mapping The Vote: 2018 General Election”
Brandon Quester, Jill Castellano and Jim Tinsky
- Third place, digital data/visualization, “inewsource launches first-ever searchable database of San Diego County campaign finance transactions”
Brad Racino and Megan Wood
- Second place, video investigative/enterprise, “Whistleblowers allege dangerous human research at San Diego VA”
For a list of all of the SPJ contest winners, click here.