News Summary

The North Bay Business Journal garnered four prestigious awards at the California Journalism Awards ceremony, recognizing its excellence in tourism and travel reporting among other categories. With a commitment to quality journalism, NBBJ stood out in a competitive field, highlighting the importance of local reporting in economic development. The publication, part of a group that received 67 awards, demonstrates the significant role of journalism in informing communities and supporting regional initiatives.

North Bay, California

The North Bay Business Journal (NBBJ) received four prestigious awards during the annual California Journalism Awards ceremony held by the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) on May 17, 2024, in Los Angeles. This recognition highlights the publication’s commitment to quality journalism and its impact on reporting within the state.

Among its accolades, NBBJ earned a first-place award for tourism and travel reporting, competing against other weekly print publications with a circulation of 4,301 to 11,000. This achievement underscores the journal’s strong coverage of local tourism initiatives and attractions that drive economic growth in the region.

Collectively, NBBJ and its sibling publications, which include the Sonoma Index-Tribune, Petaluma Argus-Courier, and The Press Democrat, garnered a remarkable 67 awards from CNPA, comprising 37 first-place honors. This impressive total reflects the overall excellence and dedication to quality journalism within these publications.

Award Highlights

NBBJ’s winning entries included:

First Place: Tourism/Travel Writing/Reporting – Writer: Cheryl Sarfaty
Second Place: Agricultural Reporting – Writer: Susan Wood
Second Place: Coverage of Business and the Economy – Writer: Cheryl Sarfaty
Second Place: Transportation Reporting – Writer: Cheryl Sarfaty

These awards were carefully judged by a panel of experienced journalists from outside the state, ensuring an impartial evaluation of the quality and impact of the submissions, which were published between January 1 and December 31, 2024.

About the California Journalism Awards

The California Journalism Awards honor exceptional work in journalism and aim to encourage acknowledgement among publishers and editors of their staff’s endeavors in various domains of reporting, design, photography, and multimedia, across both print and digital platforms. The CNPA is known for hosting the largest content competition in California, drawing participation from hundreds of news outlets throughout the state.

This year’s ceremony illustrated the high standards of journalistic excellence prevalent in the California media landscape, showcasing the skill and dedication of those in the profession.

Implications for Local Journalism

These awards serve not only to celebrate individual accomplishments but also to emphasize the importance of local journalism in informing communities, supporting economic development, and fostering an engaged citizenry. In a media environment that continuously evolves, NBBJ’s achievements reinforce the significance of investing in quality reporting that addresses regional issues, promotes tourism, and sheds light on diverse sectors such as agriculture and transportation.

Overall, the success of NBBJ at the California Journalism Awards mirrors the broader acknowledgment of quality journalistic practices that resonate with audiences and underscore the vital role of the press in society.