Awards

Cityside is proud of the work we do and we are honored that our peers recognize our efforts. Both our sites, Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside, have received numerous journalism awards. 

2022

The Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recognized Cityside’s work and several members of our team in its 2021 Excellence in Journalism Awards. Berkeleyside’s housing and homelessness reporter, Supriya Yelimeli, won Emerging Journalist of the Year. Cityside’s news platforms director, Doug Ng, won in the design (web/mobile) category, and The Oaklandside newsroom won in both the investigative and commentary categories.

2021

The Local Online Independent News publishers named The Oaklandside the winner of its 2021 Best Coronavirus Coverage award (in the medium/large category) for its on-the-ground work to reach its audience with its exhaustive COVID-19 vaccination guide — an easy-to-navigate online document that is continually updated and provides answers to critical questions about the vaccine. From the judges: “The Oaklandside’s approach to coronavirus coverage prioritized the needs of their audience. By developing a text-message service, information resources in English and Spanish, and marketing those resources in communities with flyers and QR codes, they ensured their community had access to timely and quality information on the coronavirus pandemic.”

The Institute for Nonprofit News gives a  “Game Changer” award to The Oaklandside for its innovative Mission Metrics program. “The Oaklandside could produce a master class in how to launch a truly community-centered news organization,” said the judges. The Oaklandside won honorable mentions in three other categories: investigative journalism, community champion, and emerging leader of the year for Editor-in-Chief Tasneem Raja.

2020

Cityside is named Publisher of the Year by LION, the Local Independent Online News Publishers Association. “The vision and principles Cityside has built for its role in the community is powerful,” the judges stated.

The Oaklandside wins an Excellence in Journalism award for community journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter just six months after its launch. 

Senior Editor Sarah Han wins an Excellence in Journalism award in the arts and culture category for her food editing and reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter. 

Senior Editor Emilie Raguso wins an Excellence in Journalism award in the longform storytelling category from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter for her story on a man who died while in custody at Santa Rita Jail.

Reporter Natalie Orenstein wins an Excellence in Journalism award in the features storytelling category from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter for her series on Longfellow Middle School.

2019

Berkeleyside founders Frances Dinkelspiel, Lance Knobel and Tracey Taylor receive the prestigious Benjamin Ide Wheeler Medal that honors community members whose work has benefited the people of Berkeley.

Berkeleyside wins an Excellence in Journalism award for community journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter. 

Reporter Natalie Orenstein wins an Excellence in Journalism award in the longform storytelling category from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter for her series on integration in the Berkeley schools, “Beyond the Buses.”

2018

Berkeleyside Editor Frances Dinkelspiel wins an Excellence in Journalism award in the longform storytelling category from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter for her article, “One day, one night: The fuse that lit the Battles of Berkeley.”

Reporter Natalie Orenstein is a finalist in the Education Writers Association contest for her three-part “Beyond the Buses” series on school integration.

Berkeleyside wins Best Local Twitter account in the East Bay Express’s “Best of the Bay” contest. 

2017

Senior Editor Emilie Raguso is named “Journalist of the Year” by the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter. 

Berkeleyside wins an award for overall excellence in the digital media division from the San Francisco Press Club.

Frances Dinkelspiel wins in the series or continuing coverage category from the San Francisco Press Club for her coverage of the wine Ponzi scheme run by Berkeley businessman John Fox. 

Emilie Raguso wins first place in the general news category for her story “Berkeley police emphasize ‘culture of de-escalation” Raguso also wins in the profile category for Unstoppable: Berkeley cyclist’s miraculous recovery after crash that nearly killed her.” 

Berkeleyside contributor Alix Wall wins first place in the light-nature feature category for her story, “Rubicon Bakers rebuilds lives, bakes cakes.”

2016

Reporters Frances Dinkelspiel and Emilie Raguso win an Excellence in Journalism award in the explanatory journalism category from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter for their comprehensive coverage of homelessness in Berkeley.

2015

Berkeleyside wins Best Local Twitter account in the East Bay Express’s “Best of the Bay” contest. 

2014

Berkeleyside wins an Excellence in Journalism award for community journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter. 

2013

Berkeleyside wins an Excellence in Journalism award for community journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California Chapter.