KQED Wins Nine Society of Professional Journalists Excellence in Journalism Awards 

KQED has received nine Excellence in Journalism Awards from the Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California Chapter. These honors celebrate the outstanding work that embodies the Society of Professional Journalists’ ideals, as well as highlight KQED’s commitment to upholding high journalistic standards and serving Northern California. The awards were presented at a ceremony on November 15.

The awards cover a wide variety of categories, ranging from breaking news stories to longform storytelling. Various episodes of the video series Beyond the Menu and the podcast series Sold Out as well as KQED housing reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi’s reporting on the California Forever proposal won in their respective sections. Other highlights include recognition for reporter Bianca Taylor, and an editorial team of Victoria Mauleón, Brendan Willard, Suzie Racho and Sasha Khokha from The California Report Magazine for their coverage of an all-women mariachi group, and Alan Montecillo, Maria Esquinca and Dana Cronin for an interview with a emergency room physician who volunteered in southern Gaza for The Bay podcast.

Awards
ARTS & CULTURE (radio/audio/podcast): Bianca Taylor, Victoria Mauleón, Brendan Willard, Suzie Racho and Sasha Khokha of KQED for “This All-Women Mariachi Group From Sacramento Is Redefining the Genre.”

ARTS & CULTURE (TV/video): Derek Lartaud, Manjula Varghese and Myles Bess of KQED for episodes of Beyond the Menu on Hong Kong-style pineapple buns, chamoy and Rocky Road ice cream.

BREAKING NEWS (radio/audio/podcast): Brian Watt, Ted Goldberg, Molly Solomon, Scott Shafer, Marisa Lagos, Tara Siler, Alex Emslie, Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez, Sydney Johnson, David Marks, Billy Cruz and Guy Marzorati of KQED for their coverage of the death of Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

COMMUNITY JOURNALISM (print/online large division): Nisa Khan, Carly Severn, Alex Gonzalez, Darren Tu, Marissa Leshnov and Beth LaBerge of KQED for their coverage of queer artists and activists speaking out for Palestinians and advocating in their community.

EXPLANATORY JOURNALISM (radio/audio/podcast large division): Teresa Cotsirilos, Sasha Khokha, Suzie Racho and Brendan Willard of KQED in collaboration with the Food and Environment Reporting Network for “California’s Nuumu People Claim LA Stole Their Water, Now They’re Fighting for Its Return.”

FEATURES JOURNALISM (radio/audio/podcast large division): Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman and Alexander Gonzalez of KQED for “Bay Area’s ‘Fix-It’ Culture Thrives Amid State’s Forthcoming Right-to-Repair Law.”

INTERVIEW (radio/audio/podcast): Alan Montecillo, Maria Esquinca and Dana Cronin of KQED for “Hope and Loss in Gaza: A Bay Area Doctor Reflects on His Aid Mission.”

LONGFORM STORYTELLING (radio/audio/podcast — series): Erin Baldassari, Ezra David Romero, Vanessa Rancaño, Laura Klivans, Adhiti Bandlamudi, Danielle Venton, Kevin Stark and Erika Kelly of KQED for episodes from the third season of Sold Out: Rethinking Housing in America, which examines the intersection of the climate and housing crises, including stories on flooding, heat waves and wildfires.

ONGOING COVERAGE (radio/audio/podcast): Adhiti Bandlamudi of KQED for reporting on the California Forever proposal, fallout among locals and campaign practices.

A complete list of 2024 Excellence in Journalism winners can be found in the Society of Professional Journalists’ press release here.

About KQED
KQED serves the people of Northern California with a public-supported alternative to commercial media. An NPR and PBS member station based in San Francisco, KQED is home to one of the most listened-to public radio stations in the nation, one of the highest-rated public television services and an award-winning education program helping students and educators thrive in 21st-century classrooms. A trusted news source, leader and innovator in interactive technology, KQED takes people of all ages on journeys of exploration — exposing them to new people, places and ideas. www.kqed.org