In summary
CalMatters journalists are honored by the Best of the West and Investigative Reporters & Editors.
CalMatters journalists have earned honors for reporting that explores the harsh realities within cannabis economics and investigates how California dumps toxic waste across state lines.
Best of the West
CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff earned first place for Business and Financial Reporting for his story, “Emerald Triangle communities were built on cannabis. Legalization has pushed them to the brink.” The award was given in the Best of the West contest recognizing journalism excellence in 14 western states, with about 1,200 entries annually.
“Alexei Kosoff takes readers on a compelling journey through communities that got caught up in the ‘green rush’ of legalized pot, only to see their hopes dashed by harsh realities,” wrote category judge David Nicklaus, a retired business columnist with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“He explains what went wrong with the economics of the industry while weaving in heart-rending tales of numerous people who are losing their livelihoods.”
Koseff earned first out of 35 entries, including finalists from the Los Angeles Times and Capital & Main. “It’s great to see so much solid, high-impact business reporting being done across the West,” Nicklaus wrote.
Investigative Reporters & Editors
CalMatters won finalist honors from Investigative Reporters & Editors for the story, “Hidden Hazards: Toxic Waste in California” by Robert Lewis, Jeremia Kimelman, Miguel Gutierrez Jr. and Wendy Fry.
The awards have been honoring the nation’s best watchdog investigative journalism since 1979, with 450 entry submissions this year. The Arizona Republic won for “The Bitter End” and the Kansas City Star was a finalist for “Deadly Dose.”
“In recent years, nearly half of California’s hazardous waste has left the Golden State, much of it bound for states with weaker regulatory laws. This impressive package drove home how a huge industry has carved out disturbing workarounds of California’s strict environmental laws,” the judges wrote.