Stocktonia News earned five awards at the California News Publishers Association excellence in journalism awards gala held at the Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City Hotel on May 17.
The nonprofit, local community news site, which was founded in 2022, was recognized in categories ranging from coverage of local government, feature stories and community engagement.
Veteran journalist Michael Fitzgerald won first place in the Feature Story category for his article “When ‘yasoo’ means goodbye,” covering the closing of Yasoo Yani, a popular Greek restaurant, and downtown Stockton staple which opened in 1974.
Edward Lopez won second place for Audience/Community Engagement for his work on “Stocktonia and CalMatters talk politics at Delta College.” The local California news organizations hosted Voting Matters: Ballots & Burritos at Delta College to educate residents and students about ballot measures in 2024 elections. Stocktonia also placed second in the sustainabilty division.
Cassie Dickman garnered third place for covering local government for her series in the censure of Stockton City Councilmember Michelle Padilla. And a group of journalists (Josh Susong, Emmanuel Lozano, Mike Caronna, Lopez and Fitzgerald) finished fourth in the Innovative Technology category for its virtual reality-driven coverage of the abandoned ship the Aurora in the Delta.
Stocktonia is a member of NEWSWELL, a nonprofit organization that is part of Arizona State University Media Enterprise.