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We are proud to announce that we have won awards for our 2025 stories, photography, layouts, and newsletters from the California News Publishers Association (CNPA).<\/p>\n
The California Journalism Awards<\/a> provide the opportunity for publishers and editors to promote excellence in journalism and recognize their staffs\u2019 outstanding work to inform and enlighten their readers through reporting, design, photography and multimedia in print and online. A select group of experienced out-of-state journalists judged entries with publication dates between January 1 and December 31, 2025.<\/p>\n 1st Place:<\/p>\n General Excellence: The Santa Barbara Independent<\/a> <\/p>\n Fine Arts Writing\/Reporting: \u201cLooking IN at the Life and Work of Hank Pitcher\u201d<\/a> by Roger Durling<\/p>\n Health Reporting: \u201cSanta Barbara Independent Health Reporting Series\u201d<\/a> by Nick Welsh<\/p>\n Homelessness Reporting: \u201cSylvia Barnard with Her Tiny Homes and Magical Kitchen Saves Lives\u201d<\/a> by Nick Welsh<\/p>\n Illustration: \u201cReign of Administrative (T)error\u201d<\/a> by Xavier Pereyra and Ben Ciccati<\/p>\n In-Depth Reporting: \u201cReign of Administrative (T)error\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Cruz, Callie Fausey, Tyler Hayden, Margaux Lovely, Christina McDermott, and Nick Welsh<\/p>\n Photojournalism: Santa Barbara Photography<\/a> by Ingrid Bostrom<\/p>\n Public Service Journalism: \u201cSable Offshore Oil Coverage\u201d<\/a> by Nick Welsh, Margaux Lovely, Tyler Hayden, Ryan Cruz, and Christina McDermott<\/p>\n Social Justice\/Civic Engagement: \u201cSmoke and Mirrors: Fallout from Federal Raids at Glass House Farms\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Cruz, Tyler Hayden, and Nick Welsh<\/p>\n Writing: \u201cAn American Dream Fulfilled\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Cruz<\/p>\n 2nd Place:<\/p>\n Agricultural Reporting: \u201cSanta Barbara Sparks California\u2019s Agave Explosion\u201d<\/a> by Matt Kettmann<\/p>\n Arts & Entertainment Coverage: \u201cSanta Barbara\u2019s Fall Arts Season is Looking as Vibrant and Colorful as Ever\u201d<\/a> by Leslie Dinaberg, Maggie Yates, and Josef Woodard<\/p>\n Best Newsletter:\u00a0\u201cFully Belly Files\u201d <\/a>by Matt Kettmann<\/p>\n Columns: \u201cThe Angry Poodle\u201d<\/a> by Nick Welsh<\/p>\n Coverage of Youth & Education: \u201cIsland View Preschool Overcomes \u2018Daunting\u2019 Process to Open Daycare in Santa Barbara\u201d<\/a> by Callie Fausey<\/p>\n Film\/TV Writing: \u201cFor the Love of Film\u201d<\/a> by Leslie Dinaberg and Josef Woodard<\/p>\n Housing & Land-Use Reporting: \u201cIndependent\u2019s Housing Series\u201d<\/a> by Christina McDermott and Jean Yamamura<\/p>\n Music Writing\/Reporting: \u201cMac Demarco Sings His Little Heart Out at the Santa Barbara Bowl\u201d<\/a> by Callie Fausey<\/p>\n 3rd Place:<\/p>\n Community Calendar: \u201cSanta Barbara Independent\u2019s The Week\u201d<\/a> by Terry Ortega<\/p>\n Coverage of Local Government: \u201cPaseo Nuevo Redevelopment: The Next Steps\u201d<\/a> by Ryan P. Cruz<\/p>\n Immigration Reporting: \u201cSmoke and Mirrors: Fallout from Federal Raids at Glass House Farms\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Cruz, Tyler Hayden, and Nick Welsh<\/p>\n Photo Story\/Essay: \u201cColorfully Clad Kids Brighten up Overcast Children\u2019s Fiesta Parade\u201d<\/a> by Ingrid Bostrom and Jackson Friedman<\/p>\n 4th Place:<\/p>\n Breaking News: \u201cFederal Agents Deploy Smoke Bombs into Crowds During Raids of Glass House Farms Locations on Central Coast\u201d<\/a> by Ryan Cruz<\/p>\n Feature Story: \u201cEating Lunch with Santa Barbara\u2019s Gay and Lesbian Seniors\u201d<\/a> by Callie Fausey<\/p>\n Print Front Page Layout and Design: \u201cCrude Awakening\u201d<\/a> by Xavier Pereyra<\/p>\n 5th Place:<\/p>\n Home Page Layout and Design: The Santa Barbara Independent Website<\/a><\/p>\n