Stocktonia Honored with Top California Journalism Awards for Community-Focused Reporting

The California News Publishers Association has awarded Stocktonia five top honors in its annual California Journalism Awards, including first place for public service journalism. The awards recognize reporting from news outlets across the state, and Stocktonia, a nonprofit newsroom founded in 2022, won first place in several categories: public service reporting, investigative reporting, coverage of local government, and immigration watchdog reporting.

In the public service category, the entire Stocktonia staff was honored for its relentless coverage of a November mass shooting at a children's party in Stockton that left four dead and 13 wounded. The team provided daily video updates in both English and Spanish, broke news throughout the week about the investigation and crime scene, and revealed the deeper impacts of gang violence and online hate speech.

Stocktonia also captured the city's heart by publishing local residents' tributes to their hometown, which filled an entire issue of Stocktonia magazine.

Stocktonia also earned first place for investigative reporting, awarded to Aaron Leathley, and first place for coverage of local government, awarded to Cassie Dickman. After Dickman's reporting, a city contract was canceled and the interim city manager's job was not renewed.

In the immigration watchdog category, Lillian Perlmutter, Shaylee Navarro, and Annie Barker won first place for a collection of reporting and photography on the national immigration crackdown and its ripple effects in Stockton.

Additionally, Aaron Leathley earned second place for in-depth reporting on a city contracting system that defies logic: the larger the cost overruns, the less public approval they require. In one instance, the investigation found that the City Council approved nine cost increases, but spending was actually increased 33 times, adding nearly $20 million to costs without public votes.

Stocktonia Editor Scott Linesburgh congratulated his team, saying, "I'm very proud of our team, which includes reporters, visual personnel, editors and more. Stocktonia was founded to do in-depth, serious journalism in our community.

It is an honor to be recognized by an organization as prestigious as the CNPA."

Stocktonia, which has grown to be the largest newsroom in Stockton with six full-time staff and contributing journalists, launched to fill a critical void in San Joaquin County. In 2022, there were not enough journalists to scrutinize local government agencies and elected officials.

The newsroom is now running a summer fundraising campaign to raise $6,000 by June 30 to strengthen its ability to serve San Joaquin County throughout 2026 and beyond.