Alta Journal contributors have been recognized by the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California in the organization’s annual Excellence in Journalism Awards for the third consecutive year. Taking home the win for Feature Journalism is Joy Lanzendorfer for “‘Look Out or You’ll Be Poisoned,’” her gripping historical account of love and murder at the Carmel artist colony.
Alta associate editor Ajay Orona’s “The Grizzly Next Door,” a look at efforts to reintroduce the state animal to California, won for Science Reporting. This is the third time Alta’s science journalism has been recognized by this organization, which gave awards to John Markoff’s “The Butterfly Effect” in 2021 and Lydia Lee’s “Olympian Dreams” in 2022.
“We’re so pleased to see Ajay Orona and Joy Lanzendorfer honored for their outstanding work,” says editorial director Blaise Zerega. “Both writers demonstrate originality and skilled reporting in their smart and provocative writing.”
Honorees of SPJ NorCal’s 38th Excellence in Journalism Awards will be recognized at an awards dinner on Thursday, December 7, at the Marines’ Memorial Club & Hotel in San Francisco.•
