Awards

Our work has been recognized by a number of groups evaluating journalism and its impact.

2023

California Journalism Awards (California News Publishers Association)

Statewide Overall Awards

  • 1st Place – In-Depth Reporting

    Gig by Gig At California Community Colleges
    By Thomas Peele, Daniel Willis, Andrew Reed, Zaidee Stavely, Rose Ciotta

    “Excellent well-rounded project featuring fine reporting; excellent overall presentation; effective use of data; smart use of photos, graphics and multimedia journalism; and superb use of notes to explain how EdSource did its reporting and conducted its data collection. Well done!”

  • 3rd Place – Enterprise News Story or Series

    Library or police, a small town’s struggle
    By Emma Gallegos, Coby McDonald, Zaidee Stavely


Monthly Unique Visitors: 100,001-400,000

  • 1st Place – Coverage of Youth and Education

    Covid challenges, bad student behavior push teachers to limit, out the door
    By Diana Lambert

    “Well-researched, cleanly written investigative series that served the community, especially those whose education was most affected by the pandemic. It featured easy-to-read graphics and offered solutions to how to help students catch up.”

  • 1st Place – In-Depth Reporting

    Gig by Gig At California Community Colleges
    By Thomas Peele, Daniel Willis, Andrew Reed, Zaidee Stavely, Rose Ciotta

    “Gig by Gig at California’s Community Colleges” draws its authority from meticulous original research and data analysis as well as from its wealth of human stories. Its impact in terms of revelation and explanation stems from the specificity of its findings, which are the fruits of original reporting drawing by on data from 73 districts statewide and analysis revealing the patterns and the exceptions. As a result, the series by reporter Thomas Peele and other contributors points the way toward possible improvements while also holding local trustees and administrators accountable for their decisions. Videos and information graphics also excel, and EdSource makes the effort to add reach through podcast and an online forum.”

  • 1st Place – Podcasts

    Should a small town library be turned into a police station?
    By Emma Gallegos, Zaidee Stavely, Coby McDonald

  • 1st Place – Enterprise News Story or Series

    Library or police, a small town’s struggle
    By Emma Gallegos, Zaidee Stavely, Coby McDonald

    “Really thorough and well-written reporting with great supporting components in the graphics and podcast. This series expertly uses one town’s fight over a library to highlight broader inequities. Well done!”

  • 1st Place – Informational Graphic

    Dual Enrollment: Who’s In and Who’s Out
    By Yuxuan Xie, Daniel Willis

    “Great use of the interactive map. Great color use and very informative.”

  • 2nd Place – Coverage of Youth and Education

    Education on fentanyl, other drugs often optional in California schools, if offered at all
    By Carolyn Jones

    “Story addressed an important topic — the dangers of fentanyl use among youths and the surge of drug overdoses and death statewide in an easy-to-comprehend manner. Well-written, well researched.”

  • 2nd Place – Public Service Journalism

    California’s Reading Dilemma
    By EdSource Staff

    “Tremendously important reporting that describes not just a problem in early education but also the decisions California school districts are making and the people who are accountable for those choices.”

  • 2nd Place – Podcasts

    California’s Reading Dilemma
    By Carolyn Jones, John Fensterwald, Karen D’Souza, Zaidee Stavely, Coby McDonald

  • 2nd Place – Coverage of 2022 Elections

    The politics of school board elections in 2022
    By Diana Lambert

    “Good writing and nice follow-up story on an interesting topic. Lots of details.”

  • 2nd Place – Enterprise News Story or Series

    Nearly 1 out of 5 classes in California taught by underprepared teachers
    By Diana Lambert, John Fensterwald, Daniel Willis, Yuxuan Xie, Zaidee Stavely

    “This important and very thorough series uses a number of components, sources and data bases to show where educational inequities exist and why they matter. Strong reporting that could lead to systemic change!”

  • 3rd Place – Informational Graphic

    California’s Enrollment Rollercoaster
    By Yuxuan Xie, Daniel Willis

  • 3rd Place – Feature Story

    L.A. Unified’s bilingual program for deaf students hailed as a model for California schools
    By Carolyn Jones

    “This was a thoroughly reported story that spotlighted an issue most of us do not know about.”

California Teachers Association

John Swett Awards for Media Excellence

Sacramento Press Club

Institute for Nonprofit News Awards 


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