Voice of OC’s commitment to accountability journalism and community impact was widely recognized this year, as the newsroom brought home more than 50 awards across state, regional, and national competitions.
Highlights include 34 honors at the California Journalism Awards, with nine first-place wins in categories such as Breaking News, Environment, and Homelessness.
At the LA Press Club Awards, County Reporter Noah Biesiada was named Journalist of the Year for Southern California, while the OC Press Club recognized Voice of OC with 12 awards, including Best Environmental News Story and Best News Feature Story.
These accolades underscore the newsroom’s relentless pursuit of transparency and civic engagement across Orange County.
- Best Environmental News Story 1st Place: Something’s In the Air: Irvine Residents’ Yearslong Battle For Breathable Air, Noah Biesiada
- Best News Feature Story 1st Place: Fear and Loathing at Anaheim City Hall: Working Under the Gun of Retribution, Brandon Pho and Hosam Elattar
- Best Health/Wellness Story 3rd Place: ‘Becoming a Civilian Again,’ Veterans Use Equine Training to Combat Mental Stress, Julie Leopo
- David McQuay Award for Best Columnist 2nd Place: Norberto Santana, Jr.
- Best Feature Story, 2nd Place: Battling to Survive Santa Ana’s Street Car, Julie Leopo
- Best Education Story 3rd Place: These Community College Retirees Say Bad District Leadership Put Their Healthcare in Peril, Noah Biesiada and Carrie Graham
- Best Public Health Story 3rd Place: Homes Atop Former Tustin Air Base May Have Toxic Groundwater, Noah Biesiada, Vivienne Ayers and Sara Bass
- Best Photo Essay / SlideShow Honorable Mention: Local Lens: A Swim Around Surf City’s Pier, Erika Taylor
- Best Investigative News Story or Series 2nd Place: Anaheim’s Ticket to Ride: City Leaders Hand Out Thousands of Free Tickets Every Year, Noah Biesiada and Hosam Elattar
- Best Religion Story 3rd Place: OC Jewish Community Celebrates Hanukkah – a Festival of Lights, Hosam Elattar and Erika Taylor
- Best News Story 2nd Place: Orange County’s 911 Dispatchers Are Chronically Overworked; Can They Handle the Next Disaster?, Noah Biesiada
- The Real OC Award 2nd Place: The Happiest Place on Earth is Surrounded by Some of Orange County’s Poorest, Hosam Elattar
Voice of OC brought home a record 34 awards at this year’s California Journalism Awards, winning nine first place awards in categories ranging from Religion, to Photo Essay, to Breaking News, the Environment and Homelessness.
Team coverage was recognized with multiple first place wins including:
- Breaking News – the entire news team worked together to cover former Anaheim Mayor Sidhu’s guilty plea
- Environment Reporting – Noah Biesiada, Spencer Custodio and Norberto Santana were recognized alongside Chapman University student journalists Vivieene Ayers and Sara Bass for their work on the fallout from the Tustin Hanger Fire.
- Coverage of Business and the Economy – Noah Biesiada and Brandon Pho teamed up for coverage of local San Juan Capistrano residents shocked over water rate hike.
- Housing and Land Use Reporting – Hosam Elattar and Noah Biesiada’s work on the city of Orange’s attempt to sidestep Sacramento’s housing laws.
- Coverage of Local Government – Hosam Elattar, Noah Biesiada, Spencer Custodio, and Brandon Pho’s deep dive into the Anaheim Corruption Probe investigation also received a first-place nod.
- Enterprise News Story or Series – Noah Biesiada and Norberto Santana teamed up to cover the breaking news story of Tustin’s Historic Navy Hangar Fire and the effects of the toxic ash on the surrounding community.
- Homelessness Reporting – Noah Biesiada was recognized for his story bringing to light the treatment of the homeless in advance of a surfing competition in San Clemente.
- Photo Story/ Essay – Julie Leopo won for her work, ‘Becoming a Civilian Again,’ Veterans Use Equine Training to Combat Mental Stress which highlighted a unique therapy program for veterans offered at the Shea Center in San Juan Capistrano.
Hosam Elattar also swept the Religion and Faith Writing category winning first, second and fourth place for his stories Orange County Celebrates Islamic New Year with Julie Leopo; This Ramadan, Meet Five of the Newest Members of OC’s Muslim Community; and OC Jewish Community Celebrates Hanukkah: a Festival of Lights with Erika Taylor.
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