The Marin Independent Journal earned 22 awards in an annual statewide journalism contest.
The California News Publishers Association announced the results of its California Journalism Awards at a gala in Universal City on July 13. The association includes about 850 publications.
The IJ’s reporting staff was singled out for its coverage of a police use-of-force controversy in the Canal area of San Rafael. The newspaper successfully sued for access to public records to illuminate the scandal and the city’s response to it.
The reportage garnered a first-place award for reporters Adrian Rodriguez and Alex Gecan in the coverage-of-local-government category.
The reporting also brought a first-place award in the in-depth-reporting category in the newspaper’s circulation division for work by Rodriguez and reporters Richard Halstead and Giuseppe Ricapito. The team also won a related fourth-place award in the open contest involving newspapers of all sizes.
In addition, the IJ staff earned a third-place award in public service journalism for the coverage.
Editorial writer Brad Breithaupt notched a third-place award for an editorial he wrote on the police controversy. The editorial board urged transparency in the investigation.
Also in the opinion section, George Russell swept the editorial cartooning category, earning five awards for work ranging from a racial incident at Tam High School to a lawsuit over a driveway owned by George Lucas.
Another first-place award winner was political columnist Dick Spotswood, who earned top honors for columns on Marin’s demographics and the political divide and limiting inappropriate online meeting commentary.
The newspaper’s photographers were recognized with a slate of prizes. Photographer Sherry LaVars won first- and fourth-place awards in the feature photo category, and also earned a fifth-place honor in the artistic photo category. Photo editor Alan Dep was honored with a fifth-place prize for a photo depicting a father-and-son beekeeping team.
Former reporter Will Houston was recognized with a fifth-place award for a look at Stinson Beach’s vulnerability to sea-level rise.
Colleen Bidwill, editor of the IJ’s Lifestyles section, won a third-place award for a profile on Lily Samii, a Novato couture designer. Music writer Paul Liberatore’s columns on the Marin music scene earned first- and fifth-place prizes.
The sports staff’s coverage of two Marin athletes facing off for the NCAA men’s basketball title was recognized with a fifth-place award for contributor Danny Schmidt.
The “We Are One Marin” podcast was honored as well, with a third-place award for creators Stephanie Plante, Kalina Cloud and Rob Devincenzi, the newspaper’s president and publisher.
“We are thankful to the judges who recognized the talents of our news team members and contributors,” Devincenzi said. “I am proud of our journalists, particularly for the wins for coverage of local government and for in-depth reporting. Keeping people accountable is our core tenet. I am also thankful that contributions in sports, Lifestyles, photos and commentary were awarded. The team is dedicated to Marin County’s loyal readers.”
The newspaper was a finalist in the general excellence category, earning fourth place for what the judges described as robust local news coverage blended with “well-rounded” reports on state, national and international news.
“There’s something for everyone in the Marin Independent Journal,” the judges said.
“I’m incredibly proud of the IJ’s journalists, whose talent and dedication is evidenced daily,” said Jennifer Upshaw Swartz, the newspaper’s managing editor. “Our ‘deep local reporting,’ as the judges put it, is at the heart of what we do. We’re proud to be here every day to inform the people of Marin.”
