inewsource was honored with 16 awards Tuesday night from the San Diego Press Club, including two of the top awards.
Senior investigative reporter Brad Racino earned the Body of Work award for his in-depth coverage of multiple government entities, businesses, an animal rescue nonprofit and a major educational institution. The contest covers work done from July 1, 2018, through June 30, 2019.
Racino’s work that was recognized for this award included his investigations of security lapses at San Diego’s shipyards, dangerous human research performed on veterans at the local VA, and how a renowned eye doctor at UC San Diego broke human research rules for years and put his patients at risk.
Investigative data reporter Jill Castellano received the Rising Star award, which goes to an emerging leader in journalism or public relations with fewer than five years of experience. Castellano began her professional journalism career in 2016 when she became a Dow Jones News Fund data fellow and spent the summer working as a data reporter at The Salt Lake Tribune. She was then hired as investigations editor at The Desert Sun in Palm Springs. There, she was part of the USA Today Network and helped newsrooms throughout the U.S. on data-driven enterprise stories, including one on the U.S.-Mexico border wall that received the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting.
Castellano joined inewsource last year and led our campaign finance data reporting, showing how money can influence elections. She has also teamed up with Racino in the ongoing Risky Research series that examines dangerous medical research performed on human subjects.
Here’s a full list of inewsource’s awards with links to each story:
First place
Brad Racino, “Seaport developer, fishermen reach deal to help save San Diego’s storied fishing industry.” Online and Daily newspapers: Business & Financial
Jill Castellano, Brad Racino, “UCSD has not told women with HIV of data breach, despite researchers pleas.” Online and Daily newspapers: Investigative Reporting
Brad Racino, Jill Castellano, Shyla Nott, Megan Wood, Nicole Tyau, “Follow The Money.” Online and Daily newspapers: Public Service/Consumer Advocacy
Brad Racino, Jill Castellano, “Risky Research.” Online and Daily newspapers: Series – Serious Subject
Brad Racino, “Dangerous human research alleged at San Diego VA.” Radio/Podcast: Enterprise/Investigative Reporting
Brad Racino, “UCSD eye doctor broke human research rules, putting patients at risk.” Radio/Podcast: General News Story
Second place
Jill Castellano, “Democrats spent 37 times the contribution limit on Nathan Fletcher. And it’s legal..” Online and Daily newspapers: Election Coverage
Brad Racino, “Death lives here, property owner says of destruction left by HiCaliber Horse Rescue.” Online and Daily newspapers: General News
Jill Castellano, “How San Diego fueled California’s gas tax repeal effort.” Radio/Podcast: General News Story
Jill Castellano, Brad Racino, “How San Diego fueled California’s gas tax repeal effort.” Television/Online Video: News Feature Pre Produced
Brad Racino, Jill Castellano, Megan Wood, Nicole Tyau, “Follow The Money.” Television/Online Video: Community Service/Public Affairs Report
Third place
Leonardo Castañeda, “Eastlake homeowners pay millions in Mello-Roos school taxes but money goes elsewhere.” Online and Daily newspapers: Education
Jill Castellano, “How San Diego fueled California’s gas tax repeal effort.” Online and Daily newspapers: Election Coverage
Jill Castellano, “Democrats spent 37 times the contribution limit on Nathan Fletcher. And it’s legal.” Radio/Podcast: Enterprise/Investigative Reporting