CapRadio Takes Top Prize at the Sacramento Press Club Journalism Awards
CapRadio’s Scott Rodd wins Journalist of the Year, and Andrew Nixon and Sarah Mizes-Tan also recognized in the 2022 awards program
Sacramento, CA - April 21, 2022: Capital Public Radio (CapRadio) earned the top award and two finalist nods at the Sacramento Press Club’s journalism awards presented Wednesday night in a virtual ceremony. The awards honored the best California journalism of 2021 focused on state politics and policy.
State Government Reporter Scott Rodd won the Journalist of the Year award for investigative reporting work that shed light on some of the most consequential issues facing Californians, including:
- Governor Gavin Newsom misleading the public about wildfire prevention efforts ahead of worst fire season on record;
- California awarding upwards of $1 billion in no-bid contracts to companies that contributed more than $700,000 to Newsom and his political campaigns; and
- The Newsom administration giving a no-bid contract worth $1 billion to SLSCO — a company that built stretches of former president Donald Trump’s border wall and was at the heart of a lawsuit California filed against the Trump administration — to help with COVID-19 response.
Rodd’s watchdog reporting not only held those in power accountable and created transparency for Californians, it also forced change in public policy decisions and state actions. In naming Rodd to their Top 100 List, Capitol Weekly credited him with increasing wildfire prevention investment by $500 million from earlier versions of Newsom’s budget. The state also slashed the SLSCO contract from $1 billion to $350 million amid his reporting.
“This is a huge honor for Scott, whose dedicated reporting and fearless journalism have resulted in real, impactful change for so many Californians,” said Nick Miller, managing editor of news and information at CapRadio. “We are so pleased to see him recognized as the Press Club’s Journalist of the Year.”
Along with Scott Rodd’s award, Andrew Nixon and Sarah Mizes-Tan were honored as finalists for Feature Photography and Best Reporting on Racial Justice, respectively.
Nixon’s feature photography work was recognized for documenting firefighters battling the Caldor Fire and in-person classes during the pandemic. Mizes-Tan’s racial justice reporting was recognized for features on how a federal Covid aid program failed to reach communities it was designed to help and how political redistricting can be used to divide communities of color.
The full list of winners can be found at sacpressclub.org.
About CapRadio
CapRadio serves California’s Capital Region, Central Valley and Sierra Nevada as the public-supported alternative to for-profit media. As the NPR Member station based in Sacramento, CapRadio connects with communities through seven broadcast stations, live streaming, podcasts, digital communities, live experiences and more. Known for its award-winning newsroom, CapRadio is recognized as a leader in community-engaged journalism and state government reporting, and CapRadio Music is the exclusive broadcast source of classical and jazz in the region. With more than 500,000 weekly listeners on-air and online, CapRadio provides a trusted and indispensable source of information, music and events.
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CONTACT:
Chris Bruno
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