Enterprise-Record earns pair of statewide first-place honors in annual judging
The Chico Enterprise-Record earned two first-place statewide honors and several other awards in the 2019 California Journalism Awards competition.
The E-R placed first in the state in Public Service Journalism for its Nov. 8, 2019 “Camp Fire Remembrance” edition, published on the one-year anniversary of the Camp Fire. The 44-page edition, which E-R staffers had worked on for nearly two months, consisted entirely of staff-produced, Camp Firerelated content.
“I’m more proud of the recognition we received in this category than any other award we could have been nominated for,” editor Mike Wolcott said. “I knew we’d hit the mark when I saw hundreds of readers carrying a copy of that section at the remembrance ceremony at City Plaza that morning. We made a huge effort at capturing the emotions felt by our community a year after the fire and our staff did an incredible job of that.”
In judging comments, one judge wrote “A powerful effort from the Chico Enterprise-Record grips you from the first page, with a collage of photos showing all who had died in the devastating Camp Fire. The newspaper put faces to the tragedy and gave readers a full sense of the trying year … In sum, this was a remarkable journalistic effort.”
Also winning first place in the statewide competition was sportswriter Will Denner, who took first place in Sports Game Story with his story of an injured Hamilton High volleyball star who returned for one final moment on the court in her senior year.
It was the second consecutive statewide first-place finish for Denner, who was honored for best Sports Feature Story a year ago.
“I’ve worked with dozens of great high school sports writers the past 40 years. None are better at their job than Will,” Wolcott said.
Also winning a first-place award in statewide competition was Audria Ruscitti, a designer in the NorCal Design Center based at the Enterprise-Record. Ruscitti took first place in best Profile Story for a weekly publication, with her “Recovering Hope” story taking first place honors for the Paradise Post.
Other awards won by E-R staffers include:
• Second place, Sports Feature Story, “Still Good As Gold,” Sharon Martin.
• Second place, E-R staff, “Camp Fire Images,” Best Special Section.
• Second place, Informational Graphic, “Rebuilding An Icon,” Esmeralda Ramirez.
• Third place, Feature Story, “Concow families rebuild with lumber from their burned trees,” Camille von Kaenel.
• Fourth
place,
Sports
Feature Story, “Rise of the Women,” Sharon Martin.
• Fourth place, Best Sports Section, E-R staff.
• Fifth place, General Excellence, E-R staff.
• Fifth place, In-Depth Reporting, “Inhaled,” Robin Epley.
• Fifth place, Agricultural Reporting, “Noble Orchards starts u-pick apple harvest,” Camille von Kaenel.
Meanwhile, in weeklies competition, the Chico News & Review — which ceased publication two weeks ago because of declining revenues brought on by the coronavirus pandemic — had an outstanding showing, earning three first-place awards and several other honors.
The CN& R made it a Chico sweep in Public Service Journalism by taking first with their “Post- Camp Fire water contamination” section. They also placed first in Coverage of Business News, and Arts and Entertainment coverage.
The CN&R placed second in Special Sections with their Camp Fire one-year anniversary issue; third in Agricultural Reporting; fourth in front page layout and design; third in Coverage of Local Government; fifth in InDepth Reporting, and fifth in General Excellence.
“It’s really bittersweet at this time because of what happened in the past week and a half,” said editor Melissa Daugherty. “I don’t know what the future of the News & Review will be, but we are trying to move forward. We’ve long been the alternative voice in Chico and a lot of people want to see that continue and we’re trying to figure out how to do that.”
Of the awards, Daughterty said “These awards reflect how well we know the community. I’m very proud of the News & Review staff — they just did a phenomenal job covering the Camp Fire.”