Behind the Badge
Behind the Badge OC won 11 awards at the Orange County Press Club’s 2018 Excellence in Journalism Contest, including four first-place nods.
The awards were announced at an evening gala at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa on Thursday, June 14.
Since launching nearly four years ago, Behind the Badge OC has won 27 awards from the OCPC.
Behind the Badge OC Editor Bill Rams offers a toast to the late Larry Thomas after delivering his tribute to the former newsman, Irvine Company media relations guru and political strategist. Photo by Steven Georges/Behind the Badge OC
The 11 BTB winners, for work produced in 2017, were:
FIRST PLACE
Best Blog — Behind the Badge OC
Best Feature Photo — Steven Georges for photo of a tiny police driver
Best News Feature Story (advocacy journalism or specialty publication) — Greg Hardesty, “OCSD deputies recount terror in Las Vegas: ‘I had never felt that close to death before’
Best Food/Restaurant Story or Review (advocacy journalism or specialty publication) — Shawn Price, “Chow Time with Anaheim Fire & Rescue: Coq au Vin”
Judges’ comments: “Price takes the time to tell a story about the firefighter behind the chef’s apron, giving a sense about him as much as the food being served to his fellow first responders. A well-written story.”
Steven Georges’ Second Place Best Feature Photo shows Eric Hille of San Miguel Fire & Rescue finishing the first of three laps around Newport Dunes in full fire gear and oxygen mask during the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk as he crosses a bridge lined with posters of the 9/11 first responders who lost their lives during the attack 16-plus years ago.
SECOND PLACE
Best Feature Photo — Steven Georges for photo of an San Miguel Fire & Rescue team member
Best Feature Story (advocacy journalism or specialty publication) — Shawn Price, “Anaheim Fire & Rescue strike teams: ready for the long haul”
Best News Feature Story (advocacy journalism or specialty publication) — Jessica Peralta, “OCSD’s TSA K9s are federally trained dogs at the ready to sniff out explosives”
Best Slideshow — Steven Georges for his series of homeless encampments in O.C.
Judges’ comments: “It is obvious that a large amount of time and effort was devoted to this homeless series. The cooperation of the local authorities, gaining the trust of enough homeless (people) to shoot and display their faces, seemed monumental.”
THIRD PLACE
David McQuay Award for Best Columnist — Joe Vargas
Best Feature Story (advocacy journalism or specialty publication) — Jessica Peralta, “OCSD’s human remains detection dog, Cinder, is hard at work in training”
Best News Feature Story (advocacy journalism or specialty publication) — Greg Hardesty, “Nearly killed by DUI suspect, Orange police officer is humbled by outpouring of support”
Behind the Badge OC winners and staff members and writers at the Orange County Press Club’s 2018 Excellence in Journalism Contest on Thursday, June 14 include, from left, Steven Georges, Bill Rams, Greg Hardesty, Elysse James, Joe Vargas, Shawn Price and Jessica Peralta.
