Cal Journalism Awards Recognizes Nearly 30 Voice of OC Stories as Finalists Across 19 Categories

Congratulations to the Voice of OC Newsroom for their stellar showing as finalists in this year’s California News Publishers Associations Awards. Voice of OC news staff and photographers are recognized for their excellent work across 19 categories. 

CNPA received nearly 3,000 entries this year from news outlets across the state of California. Winners will be announced at the California Journalism Awards Gala in Los Angeles July 13, 2024. For the complete list of CNPA Finalists click here.

The Complete list of Voice of OC Finalists:

• Agricultural Reporting: Voice of OC (Brandon Pho)
  • A Community Urban Farm Faces New Test in Sustaining Its Neighbors in Santa Ana

• Artistic Photo: Voice of OC (Julie Leopo)
  • Sugar Cane Drink on a Hot Day

• Breaking News: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Brandon Pho, Spencer Custodio, Noah Biesiada)
  • Ex-Anaheim Mayor Sidhu Agrees to Plead Guilty to Corruption Charges
  • Anaheim’s Own Look at City Hall Finds Disneyland Resort Businesses Improperly Steer Policymaking
  • Democratic Consultant Who Admitted Trying to Bribe Irvine Councilmembers Worked All Over Orange County

• Coverage of Business and the Economy: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Noah Biesiada, Brandon Pho)
  • Visit Anaheim CEO Resigns After Allegations of Rerouting Tax Dollars
  • San Juan Capistrano Businesses Shocked Over Staggering Proposed Water Bill Hike

• Coverage of Local Government: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Noah Biesiada, Spencer Custodio, Brandon Pho)
  • Pulling Back the Curtain: What Exactly Are Investigators Looking at in The Anaheim Corruption Probe?
  • Orange County’s 911 Dispatchers Are Chronically Overworked; Can They Handle the Next Disaster?

• Enterprise News Story or Series: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Noah Biesiada, Norberto Santana)
  • Anaheim’s Ticket to Ride: City Leaders Hand Out Thousands of Free Tickets Every Year
  • Santana: Tustin Residents Still in the Dark on Asbestos Yard Clean Up

• Environment Reporting: Voice of OC (Noah Biesiada, Spencer Custodio, Norberto Santana, Vivienne Ayres, Sara Bass)
  • Homes Atop Former Tustin Air Base May Have Toxic Groundwater

• Feature Photo: Voice of OC (Julie Leopo)

• Health Reporting: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Noah Biesiada)
  • The Happiest Place on Earth is Surrounded by Some of Orange County’s Poorest
  • Something’s In the Air: Irvine Residents’ Yearslong Battle For Breathable Air

• Homelessness Reporting: Voice of OC (Noah Biesiada)
  • San Clemente Bussed Homeless People Out During Surf Competition

• Housing and Land-Use Reporting: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Noah Biesiada, Brandon Pho)
  • California’s Battle With Huntington Beach Over Housing Goals Heads To Court
  • The Year of The Renter: Orange County Tenants Get Some Relief

• In-Depth Reporting: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar)
  • The 2023 Food Cliff: Orange County Continues Confronting High Food Demand

• Investigative Reporting: Voice of OC (Noah Biesiada)
  • County Employees Attacked At Work Find A Big Hole in California’s Workers Comp System
  • Former Tustin Military Base Hangar Burns Down

• Labor Reporting: Voice of OC (Brandon Pho)
  • When the Building Trades Align With Anaheim’s Shadow Government
  • Orange County’s Police Unions Are Increasingly Electing, Unseating Their Own Bosses

• Photo Story/ Essay: Voice of OC (Julie Leopo)

• Profile Story: Voice of OC (Brandon Pho)
  • Remembering Orange County’s Environmental Matriarch

• Religion and Faith Writing: Voice of OC (Hosam Elattar, Julie Leopo, Erika Taylor)
  • This Ramadan, Meet Five of the Newest Members of OC’s Muslim Community
  • OC Jewish Community Celebrates Hanukkah – a Festival of Lights
  • Orange County Celebrates Islamic New Year

• Transportation Writing: Voice of OC (Noah Biesiada, Brandon Pho)
  • Is Orange County’s Coastal Train Entering its Final Days?

• Writing: Voice of OC (Norberto Santana, Jr.)
  • Santana: Tackling California’s Local News Crisis
  • Santana: Washington Warned Us To Skate Through The National Political Fracas