CONTENTS: The Process | Impacts | Awards & Honors
The Process
Voice of OC stands for professional and probing coverage — featuring institutional knowledge and perspective — at the local level that is provided through a cost-effective, nonprofit model deploying investigative reporters across the region on a daily basis with an eye toward exposes on local government and politics.
And the Opinion page continues to feature a broad array of contributors from all perspectives of the issues who offer their opinions on local issues.
Our founding principle remains true: to offer residents timely & useful information about their local government and community, with the aim of fueling participation and debate.
Whether it’s jockeying over the future of Orange County’s fairgrounds, government outsourcing, public pensions, stadium and convention center expansions, government whistle blowers, arts leadership at the top county institutions, all sides have come to expect impactful coverage from the Voice of OC newsroom.
Impacts
Unlocking Public Records
Voice of OC has more public records lawsuit wins in the last decade than any other local news agency. All four pursuits have been victorious, uncovering police misconduct files, records about a supervisor handcuffing an evangelist, a claim against Westminster by a former police chief and allegations of sexual harrassment by a senior county executive.
Investigating Local Institutions
Our news team investigates fraud, waste and abuse in local government agencies and local institutions. Our stories have uncovered the truth about corruption across local government, substantiated safety problems in local utilities, the truth about secret money flowing to political campaigns and inadequecies in local government’s providing of basic quality of life services.
Delivering Real-Time Civic News
Whether it’s jockeying over the future of Orange County, government outsourcing, public pensions, stadium and convention center expansions, government whistle blowers, arts leadership at the top county institutions, all sides have come to expect impactful coverage from the Voice of OC newsroom.
Enabling Citizens to Create Change
Voice of OC’s Opinion section continues to encourage a broad array of contributions from all perspectives of the issues who offer their opinions on local issues. Series of passionate editorials have triggered grand jury investigations, led to construction of a $35 million animal shelter and have been cited in federal court cases on homelessness.
Honors
Voice of OC’s work has been recognized by regional and national journalism organizations. Here is a summary of all the awards, honors and recognitions for work done at Voice of OC.
Society of Professional Journalists
Distinguished Journalist – Norberto Santana, Jr. The Society of Professional Journalists Los Angeles chapter honored Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana, Jr., as one of five distinguished journalists at its 42nd annual awards banquet. Santana was one of just five journalists given the “Distinguished Journalist” honor which goes to regional journalists across all forms of media; Santana’s honor is as the digital media professional. SPJ/LA states journalists are honored who “demonstrate good news judgment, a strong sense of ethics and a passion for getting the story right” and who also have achieved a record of career accomplishments. (LINK)
Freedom of Information Award – Kelly Aviles Kelly Aviles of Californians Aware who is litigator for Voice of OC, was honored with SPJ/LA’s Freedom of Information award. This honor goes to a non-journalist who has helped to promote First Amendment issues. (LINK)
California Newspaper Publishers Association
2020
Orange County’s only nonprofit newsroom was commended by a national panel of judges for proving “the importance of local reporting in government accountability and for offering “context, perspective.” Voice of OC reporters were recognized for living and breathing their community and profession. (LINK)
2019
The Voice of OC newsroom was recognized by the state’s news publishers association this past weekend at the CNPA annual Journalism Awards with a series of recognitions, winning top honors for an infographic that exposed the dark money campaign contributions that dominated last year’s congressional elections. (LINK)
Latino Health Access
Voice of OC was honored by Latino Health Access for “leadership and commitment to keeping our communities informed with accuracy, transparency and professionalism in these difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.” (LINK)
Southern California Journalism Awards — LA Press Club
2020
Orange County’s only nonprofit newsroom was commended by a national panel of judges for proving “the importance of local reporting in government accountability and for offering “context, perspective.” Voice of OC reporters were recognized for living and breathing their community and profession. (LINK)
2019
The Voice of OC newsroom was recognized by the state’s news publishers association this past weekend at the CNPA annual Journalism Awards with a series of recognitions, winning top honors for an infographic that exposed the dark money campaign contributions that dominated last year’s congressional elections. (LINK)
2017
Voice of OC earned first place for best news website. A panel of national judges applauded the website’s polished design, hard news and strong photography. Judges wrote: “Clean yet newsy front page. Plentiful pictures but not so many or so large they distract from the articles.”
2016
Voice of OC won first place for David Washburn’s profile “A Fighter Steps Out of the Ring” and third place for best online hard news feature for Tracy Wood’s “A War Correspondent Turned Lifelong Corruption Fighter” and Thy Vo’s “Struggles of Second Generation Reveal Long Shadow of War.”
2014
Voice of OC’s news team won second place for cause journalism for “The Paradox of Latino Health” by Amy DePaul, Nick Gerda, David Washburn and Caitlin Whelan.
Orange County Press Club
2020
Voice of OC was honored for investigations, news, arts coverage, photos and graphics. (LINK)
2019
Voice of OC earned a record 14 wins including five, 1st place wins. (LINK)
2018
Voice of OC won numerous awards including Norberto Santana, Jr. honored for best columnist and best political columnist. (LINK)
2017
Voice of OC was awarded for columns, investigations and public affairs reporting. (LINK)
2016
Voice of OC won 11 awards for news reporting and public affairs. (LINK)
2015
Voice of OC took home the top investigative prize for a second year in a row. (LINK)
2014
Voice of OC won first place for best investigative story, news story and best broadcast, and third place for public affairs.
2013
Voice of OC won for best investigative story and third for best public affairs reporting.
2012
Voice of OC won first place for best investigation and third for best series and news feature.
2011
Voice of OC won first place for best investigative story by Tracy Wood and Adam Elmahrek.
Orange County Business Journal
Orange County’s Most Influential Leaders – Norberto Santana, Jr. Norberto Santana was particularly recognized for his successful lawsuit under the California Public Records Act against the County of Orange and his award by the OC Press Club as best columnist in 2017.
Orange County League of Conservation Voters
Voice of OC was honored with the first place award in 2016 for outstanding environmental journalism.
OC Community Organization for Responsible Development
Voice of OC was honored with first place for community leadership in 2013.