CalMatters has been awarded five Golden State Journalism Awards for exceptional public service reporting. - Byrhonda Lyons won for impact in journalism, exposing $8 million in DMV auction proceeds kept from owners.
- Sergio Olmos was honored for courage after being struck while covering an immigration protest in Los Angeles. - Anat Rubin won for criminal justice reporting, revealing inadequate defense investigations for poor defendants.
- Jocelyn Wiener, Marisa Kendall, and Erica Yee won for public health reporting on the failure of CARE Court. - Adam Echelman won for education reporting on fraud in community colleges, prompting policy changes.
The awards highlight CalMatters' role in holding institutions accountable and driving change.