The Desert Sun earned 32 honors at the 2024 California Journalism Awards, including 10 first-place finishes for its reporters, photojournalists and editors.
From a profile of artist Casey Niccoli — a Twentynine Palms resident whose pivotal role in shaping Jane’s Addiction’s visual identity went unrecognized for decades — to coverage of Donald Trump’s only California rally during his presidential campaign, The Desert Sun’s first-place awards honored reporting across politics, the environment, advocacy and the arts.
The winners were announced May 17 at the California News Publishers Association’s annual gala in Los Angeles, the state’s largest journalism competition recognizing work published in 2024.
The Desert Sun competed in Division 2, a category for daily newspapers and online news publishers with a print circulation between 15,001 to 50,000; monthly web traffic of 600,000 to 699,000 unique visitors; and/or 26 to 39 full-time staff members.
Casey Niccoli reflects on her time spent with the band Jane’s Addiction in the 1980’s at her home in Twentynine Palms, Calif., August 16, 2024.
Top laurels were awarded in 10 categories:
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First place in breaking news went to Tom Coulter, Paul Albani-Burgio, Ani Gasparyan, Andy Abeyta, Jay Calderon, Taya Gray, Kathryn Palmer, Kate Franco, Jim Ward and Eric Hartley, “Trump takes aim at California during Coachella Valley rally, his first and only in Golden State during presidential campaign”
Second place awards were earned in six categories:
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Second place in public service journalism went to Ani Gasparyan, Andy Abeyta, Niki Kottmann, Paul Albani-Burgio, Sam Morgen, “Traffic officer crashes into crowed at Palm Springs holiday parade”
Third place awards were given in 11 categories:
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Third place for profile story went to Janet Wilson and Jay Calderon, “Wildflowers: Scouting ‘super’ blooms in California desert with photographer Sicco Rood”
Fourth place awards were received in four categories:
In the sports action photo category, fifth place went to Jay Calderon for “ASU basketball player outmaneuvers opponents for rebound.”
The full list of winners can be found at cnpa.com.
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: The Desert Sun wins 32 California Journalism Awards
