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Comstock’s features, profiles, covers, designs and photographs took home a record 20 honors in this year’s California Journalism Awards, hosted by the California News Publishers Association. The winning stories cover a sweeping breadth of 2021’s issues and trends as they affected our region — from 2020 closures that became new restaurant concepts, to businesses being challenged to market their products and services via TikTok.

Judges called our winning features “thoroughly reported” and “compelling,” and commented that our design packages displayed “excellent consistency of design and execution.” Among our first-place wins is Rachel Leibrock’s report on the reopening of the Capital Region’s arts scene, which won for the arts and entertainment category. Former Comstock’s Editor Sena Christian won first place in the writing category for weaving together key voices in the complex history of gold mining.

We’re honored to be recognized this year with more awards than any previous year, and we’re beyond proud of our incredible staff and contributors. Their creativity, storytelling and dedication are on full display with this recognition of talent. 

Here’s a list of all our awards, with links to the winning content:

• First place for arts & entertainment coverage for “Are You Ready for the TikTok Challenge?” by Jeff Wilser, and for “Sports, Arts and Entertainment Reemerge in the Capital Region” by Rachel Leibrock.
• First place for writing for “A Tarnished Past” by Sena Christian.
• First place for inside page layout and design for “On the Rise” by Terence Duffy and Carly Cornejo.
• First place for illustration for “The Power of Empathy” by Melinda Arendt.

• Second place for feature story for “New Life for Iconic Sacramento Spaces That Closed During the Pandemic” by Jennifer Fergesen.
• Second place for front page layout and design for the cover of December’s Innovation issue by Sara Bogovich, July’s cover by Terence Duffy and September’s cover by Marissa Lewis.
• Second place for sports feature story for “Capital Region Golf Courses Are Teed Up for Success” by Bob Burns.
• Second place for profile story for “Career Detour” by Marcus Crowder.
• Second place for coverage of local government for “Rise and Shine” by Laurie Lauletta-Boshart.
• Second place for coverage of local government for “Powering Through the Pandemic” by Steven Yoder.

• Third place for in-depth reporting for “Energy Revolution” by Jennifer Junghans.

• Third place for special section cover for “Capital Region Cares” by Marissa Lewis and Ruvi Palafox.

• Fourth place for inside page layout for “Show Me the Money” by Marissa Lewis and Sara Bogovich.
• Fourth place for land-use reporting for “The Burbs Are Booming in the Capital Region” by Graham Womack.
• Fourth place for photography for “Art in Motion” by Sara Nevis.
• Fourth place for agricultural reporting for Regenerating Our Soil by Jennifer Junghans.

• Fifth place for Coverage of Youth and Education for “Studying for the Next Chapter” by Graham Womack.
• Fifth place for coverage of business news for “How Sacramento’s Advanced Manufacturers Are Developing a Talent Pipeline” by Steven Yoder.
• Fifth place for illustration for “Rise and Shine” by Mariah Quintanilla.
• Fifth place for general excellence for the February and September issues by Sena Christian, Tom Couzens, Marissa Lewis and Carly Cornejo.

Thank you to our readers for helping us to continue to tell important stories about the people and businesses who are shaping the future of the Capital Region. Please consider supporting award-winning local journalism with a subscription. 

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