KCET and PBS SoCal Win 14 Southern California Journalism Awards

Presented by Los Angeles Press Club, the combined total awards led all other TV and radio broadcasters.

October 18, 2021

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PBS SoCal and KCET won 14 first place-awards at the 63rd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards presented by the Los Angeles Press Club. For the fourth consecutive year, the two stations led all other L.A. broadcasters with the most honors of any regional TV or radio station. Awards were allocated to multiple winners from a variety of PBS SoCal and KCET on-air and online original programming content. This year, 49 nominations were spread across 35 different categories and honored 15 separate, locally produced series/productions from KCET and PBS SoCal. In addition to the 14 wins, PBS SoCal and KCET programs picked up 12 second place honors and 7 third place honors.

See below for the full list of first place wins for KCET and PBS SoCal.

Feature Documentary (Over 25 minutes)

Paul R. Williams defied the odds to become one of the most notable architects in history.

Royal Kennedy Rodgers, Kathy McCampbell Vance, Michelle Merker, Shirlyn A. Cesar and Niki Alilovic – "Hollywood's Architect: The Paul R. Williams Story" – PBS SoCal

Activism Journalism (Broadcast)

In 2019, 16 children filed a historical petition to the UN to hold five of the world’s leading economic powers accountable for inaction on the climate crisis.

Juan Devis, Matthew Crotty, Nicky Milne, Kim Spencer and Jon Christensen – "Earth Focus: The Youth Climate Movement Around the World"

Local Political/Government Reporting (TV)

The fight against Prop 187 awakened Latino political power, dramatically changing California politics.

Juan Devis, Matthew Crotty, Omar Foglio, Jose Luis Figueroa, Ana Paola Rodriguez and Pilar Marrero – "187: The Rise of the Latino Vote"

National Political/Government Reporting (All Media Platforms – Print, Radio, TV or Online)

Camille Servan-Schreiber and Jason Andrew Cohn – "The First Angry Man"

Educational Reporting (All Media Platforms – Print, Radio, TV or Online)

Youth activate their civic power to reshape systems and institutions for a better future.

Juan Devis, Justin Cram, Jaime Morgan-Munoz, Matthew Crotty and Cathy Hue – “City Rising: Youth & Democracy”

Environmental Reporting (Broadcast)

A quiet, little-known revolution is taking place in American environmental politics.

Juan Devis, Matthew Crotty, Jon Christensen, Eric Waldron and Jaime Morgan-Munoz – "Earth Focus: The New West and the Politics of the Environment"

Animation/Moving Graphic (Online)

Henry Cram, "Props in a Minute: Election 2020"

Humor/Satire Writing (Broadcast)

Southland Sessions Episode Seven “Culture Clash’s Totally Fake Latino News” (Image courtesy of Harry Gamboa Jr.)

Richard Montoya, Ricardo Salinas and Herbert Siguenza – “Southland Sessions: Culture Clash’s Totally Fake Latino News”

Solutions Journalism (Broadcast)

A quiet, little-known revolution is taking place in American environmental politics.

Juan Devis, Matthew Crotty, Jon Christensen, Eric Waldron and Jaime Morgan-Munoz – “Earth Focus: The New West and the Politics of the Environment”

Race and Society (TV)

A Southern California nurse discusses her work inside a COVID-19 ICU.

Karen Foshay, Trevor Jackson, Michael Ray and Tori Edgar, "I WAS THERE"

Crime Reporting (Broadcast)

An investigation into once secret files involving hundreds of police departments.

Karen Foshay, Tori Edgar, Denise Chan, Michael Bloecher and Maya Craig – "SoCal Connected: The Fight to Know"

Videographer

The Light and Space movement of the 1960s explored minimalism with a Californian spin.

Travis LaBella – "Artbound: Light and Space"

Entertainment News or Feature – Under 5 minutes (TV/Film)

Denise Chan, Michael Ray, Trevor Jackson and Karen Foshay – "SoCal Connected: Tour is Cancelled But COVID-19 Won’t Stop L.A.'s Las Cafeteras"

Talk/Public Affairs (TV/Film)

Hosted by artist and designer Rosten Woo, this episode will explore civic art and culture.

Juan Devis, Angela Boisvert, Matthew Crotty, Jacqueline Reyno and Rosten Woo – "Southland Sessions: Civic Imagination"