Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
In summary
The Best of the West competition recognizes work in 14 states. The competition was founded in 1987 to reward journalistic achievements and promote freedom of information.
CalMatters journalists were honored for immigration and border reporting and investigative reporting in Best of the West Awards..
The competition recognizes excellence in journalism in 14 western states with approximately 1,100 annual entries.
Immigration and Border Reports, first place
CalMatters reporters Sergio Olmos and Wendy Fry, along with our project partners Evident Media and Bellingcat, won first place. The team won for the investigation and the mini-documentary, “Border Patrol said it was targeting known criminals in Kern County. But 77 of the 78 arrests were unaccounted for.”
The judge said, “Extensive public records work, on-the-ground reporting, an open-source investigation using social media videos and an interview with (Border Patrol leader Gregory) Bovino revealed the truth behind the January 7 Border Patrol attack on farmworkers in Kern County. . . . The investigation was rigorous and timely. The footage was compelling.”
Congratulations to the other finalists, Yesenia Amaro of The Oregonian in second place for “Immigration to Oregon” and Nina Shapiro of the Seattle Times in third place for “An Account of Northwest Immigration.”
Investigative reporting, 2nd place
CalMatters reporters Robert Lewis and Lauren Hepler won second place for “License to Kill.”
The judge said: “An incredible investigation that used extensive data analysis and powerful reporting to reveal how the California Department of Motor Vehicles routinely allows drivers with horrific histories of dangerous driving, including DUIs, crashes and multiple fines, to continue to operate on our roads, often with deadly consequences.”
Congratulations to the other finalists, Cynthia Diziks and Joaquin Palomino of the San Francisco Chronicle in first place for “Failed to Death”, and Kyle Hopkins and Mark Lester of the Anchorage Daily News in third place for “Slow justice”.