LOS ANGELES — The Spectrum News 1 team was recognized with more than 20 awards at Sunday night’s 65th annual Southern California Journalism Awards gala.
The event, hosted by the Los Angeles Press Club, was held at the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles and recognized print, television and digital journalists, photojournalists and student reporters in various categories.
One of the night’s major awards went to Spectrum News 1 anchor Giselle Fernandez, who was honored with The President’s Award for Impact on Media. Fernandez, the anchor of “Your Morning on Spectrum News 1” and the weekly series “LA Stories,” was recognized for her Emmy Award-winning career, which spans four decades and includes work as an international correspondent and anchor for CBS, NBC News and Access Hollywood.
“I’ve worked at almost every network,” Fernandez said in a post-awards interview with Spectrum News. “I’ve been national and international, but nothing has felt more meaningful than the work I’m doing now at Spectrum. I feel like I have the best job in television — a long-form interview show where you can dive deep and really give people the time, so that we can find common ground and a common story. I’m living the best part of my career to be able to share stories that have meaning, especially when media and our democracy is challenged in ways that we never believed could happen here in America, and where so many people have lost trust in national news, and lost trust in institutions in general.”
Fernandez was introduced at the gala by acclaimed Hollywood actress Sharon Stone, who was the subject of an “LA Stories” episode in April.
“I interviewed Sharon in my 20s,” Fernandez said. “I interviewed Sharon in my 30s; I interviewed Sharon in my 40s. So the fact that we have not just remained friends, but I admire her tenacity, resilience, her talent.”
Fernandez’s breakfast show, “Your Morning on Spectrum News 1,” won the award for Regularly Scheduled Television Newscast. “Waking up to this team is a pleasure!” a judge said.
Fernandez’s weekly show, “LA Stories,” was also awarded in the Entertainment Personal Profile/Interview category for the episode with Michael Harris of Death Row Records.
“This gripping interview is fascinating from start to finish. It epitomizes what the host and her crew do so well,” the judges said.
Another prime-time show on Spectrum News 1, “LA Times Today,” hosted by Lisa McRee, won in the Talk/Public Affairs category.
“Hard to turn away from this impressive storytelling,” judges said. “Slick and comprehensive. First class all the way.”
The channel’s “Everyday Heroes” segment was awarded for Human Interest Feature for its feature on film and television actor Pepe Serna, with judges calling it a “beautiful story, beautifully told.”
Spectrum News 1 received other awards in 2nd and 3rd place:
Television Journalist:
3rd: Giselle Fernandez, Spectrum News 1
Obituary/In Appreciation:
3rd: Beyond The Sport Team, Spectrum News 1, “The life and career of legendary Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully”
Activism/Journalism:
3rd: Giselle Fernandez, Anaconda Street Productions, Seth Katz, Spectrum News 1 Team, Spectrum News 1 SoCal, “LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez’ Antonio Salazar-Hobson’”
Local Political/Government Reporting:
2nd: Inside The Issues with Alex Cohen Team, Spectrum News 1, “Inside the Issues: Councilman Mike Bonin Speaks”
National Political/Government Reporting:
2nd: Renee Eng, Spectrum News 1 SoCal, “Seeking Answers”
Environmental Reporting:
3rd: Spectrum News 1 Team, Spectrum News 1, “Trickle Down Effect”
Educational Reporting:
3rd: The SoCal Scene Team, Spectrum News 1, “Pullum Community Arts Center”
Immigration Reporting:
3rd: Catalina Villegas, Cory Minderhout, Luca Desando-Grassi, Spectrum News 1, “Title 42: Hangin on by a Thread”
Race and Society:
2nd: Giselle Fernandez, Anaconda Street Productions, Seth Katz, Spectrum News 1 Team, Spectrum News 1 SoCal, “LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez - LeVar Burton”
Sports:
2nd: Beyond The Sport Team, Spectrum News 1, “Beyond the Sport: Battling ALS”
Regularly Scheduled Newscast, Television:
3rd: Spectrum News 1 Team, Spectrum News 1, “Your Evening on Spectrum News 1”
Investigative:
2nd: Kate Cagle, Paul Nankivell, Cory Minderhout, Spectrum News 1, “Investigation of Sheriff Alex Villanueva”
3rd: Renee Eng, Cory Minderhout, Spectrum News 1, “Deed Dispute”
Human Interest Feature (over 5 minutes):
3rd: Andy Schlachtenhaufen, Nicolette Medina, Bill Cipolla, Heidi Berger, Christina Veta, Spectrum News 1, “New Paralysis Therapies”
Entertainment News or Feature (over 5 minutes):
2nd: Lisa McRee, Spectrum News 1, “LA Times Today - Hooray for Hollywood Bowl”
3rd: Tara Lynn Wagner, Spectrum News 1,” Carpenters: A Musical Legacy”
Entertainment News or Feature (under 5 minutes):
2nd: Tara Lynn Wagner, Spectrum News 1, “Curtain Up, Two Years Later”
Website, Traditional News Organization:
2nd: Spectrum News 1 Team, Spectrum News 1