Tribune wins 40 California Journalism Awards, including 10 first-place honors
The Tribune won 40 California Journalism Awards in the 2025 annual competition results announced in June, included 10 first-place honors.
The awards span a wide range of coverage, from breaking news to investigative reporting to photos and video.
In addition to the 10 first-place awards, The Tribune also won 13 second-place awards, eight third-place, six fourth-place and three fifth-place.
“These awards recognize a range of important journalism that involved literally every member of our newsroom,” Tribune editor Joe Tarica said. “And they represent a scope of work and overall excellence across a wide range of skills and topics, from the quickest breaking news to the most authoritative accountability reporting, to the cutting edge of modern journalism that focuses on audience outreach.”
The total was well more than in 2024, when The Tribune won 34 awards, including seven first-place honors.
Here’s a look at the 10 blue-ribbon winners:
Breaking news: Templeton Feed & Grain fire coverage, by Joe Tarica, Kaytlyn Leslie, Angel Corzo, David Middlecamp, Kathe Tanner and Stephanie Finucane
Investigative reporting: Local hospice center closing after 40 years in SLO, by Chloe Shrager
Coverage of local government: SLO County DA shares posts linking New York’s first Muslim mayor to 9/11 attacks, by Chloe Jones
Health reporting: Shortage of primary care doctors in SLO County, by Kelsey Oliver and David Middlecamp
Columns: Tribune columnist grapples with sudden death of son, by Kathe Tanner
Coverage of travel and tourism: What is there to do in a town with a population of only 18? In Harmony — plenty, by Kathe Tanner and David Middlecamp
Technology reporting: How SLO County is becoming a hub for tech innovation in the middle of California, Sasha Tuddenham
News video: Templeton Feed & Grain fire, by Joe Tarica
Photo story: Templeton Feed & Grain fire, by Joe Tarica
Best newsletter: Tribune weekly newsletter to subscribers, by Joe Tarica
The second-place awards included two more to David Middlecamp for wildfire photo and other video; two more to Kathe Tanner for food writing and fine arts reporting; and two to Stephanie Zappelli for writing and coverage of the environment.
Other second-place winners were Chloe Shrager for reporting on business and the economy; Hannah Poukish and Joan Lynch for agricultural reporting; Sasha Tuddenham and Joan Lynch for religion writing; Joe Tarica for news photo; and The Tribune staff for breaking news, in-depth reporting and audience/community engagement.
Sadie Dittenber won three third-place awards, for public service, homelessness reporting, and coverage of youth and education, as did David Middlecamp for wildfire photo, photo story and other video. Chloe Shrager and Stephanie Zappelli won third place for technology reporting, and Kelsey Oliver won third for enterprise reporting.
The complete list of Tribune awards can be found at the California Journalism Awards page from the California News Publishers Association.