Santa Monica Next was named a finalist for two Los Angeles Press Club Awards in the online news division in an announcement from the club made yesterday for a pair of commentaries written by Damien Newton.
A two part series illustrating how a nonsensical conspiracy theory dominated a city council discussion and vote including “Behind the Imaginary Plot to Keep Phil Brock from Becoming Mayor,” and “Conspiracy theories Win Again: Council Votes Against Minor Change to Mayoral Selection Process” is a finalist in “best political commentary,” and “Newest Iteration of ‘Santa Monica Is Not Safe’ Sign as Mis-leading as It Is Insulting” is a finalist in “non-political commentary.”
There’s a common thread in both finalists. They both grapple with how misinformation in Santa Monica that can be spread by “both sides” journalism have made it difficult to govern…or even have a fact-based political debate.
Next is not the only Santa Monica publication with a chance to bring home some press club hardware. The Santa Monica Daily Press and Scott Snowden are up for “best photo” in the print division for “Potential suicide attempt prevented in Palisades Park by Santa Monica PD.”
As always, the Santa Monica College student newspaper, The Corsair, is a juggernaut in the student news division. The Corsair wracked up seven finalists in categories including “best news photo,” “best features photo,” “best sports writing,” “best arts writing,” and “best news writing.”
Santa Monica Next’s companion publication Streetsblog Los Angeles was also honored with four finalist nominations yesterday in categories including, “best blog, group,” “hard news,” “regular podcast,” and “audio feature.”
