In summary

The CalMatters honor is in the 90th National Headliner Awards contest, founded in 1934.

CalMatters’ visual journalists are honored with a third place win in the National Headliner Awards, one of the longest-standing journalism contests in the country.

The award honored the work of CalMatters’ visuals team: visuals editor Miguel Gutierrez Jr., assistant editor Adriana Heldiz and photographer Larry Valenzuela. First place went to Newsday, and second place to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Judges noted that the award is for “a portfolio of pictures taken throughout the year, judged by the power of its best pictures.”

CalMatters’ previous honors in the Headliner Awards include first place for TV business and consumer reporting last year, and previously for reporting on mental health and for the 2018 Voter Guide.

View some of the photos that constitute the honored entry:

Gov. Gavin Newsom marches with a group of ticketed supporters towards the state Capitol on Jan. 6, 2023. The governor's campaign touted the event as a “March for Democracy”, as it's being held on the two-year anniversary of when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
Gov. Gavin Newsom marches with a group of supporters towards the state Capitol for his second inauguration on Jan. 6, 2023. The governor’s campaign touted the event as a “March for Democracy,” held on the two-year anniversary of when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
People fill bags with sand in preparation for Hurricane Hilary at the Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Station in San Diego on Aug. 18, 2023. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
María Vela assembles a cardboard box as her family gets ready to move out of their home of nearly 30 years in East Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 2023. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
First: People fill bags with sand in preparation for Hurricane Hilary at the Bonita-Sunnyside Fire Station in San Diego on Aug. 18, 2023. Last: María Vela assembles a cardboard box as her family gets ready to move out of their home of nearly 30 years in East Los Angeles on Dec. 17, 2023. Photos by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
First partner Jennifer Siebel addresses the media during an event to observe the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade at the state Capitol on Jan. 23, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
First partner Jennifer Siebel addresses the media during an event to observe the 50th anniversary of Roe v. Wade at the state Capitol on Jan. 23, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
Sunset above the flood waters in farmland with submerged tractors and farming equipment in Hansen Ranches south of Corcoran on April 26, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
Christina Cabrera cleaning out the water and mud in her family home after a series of storms on March 12, 2023. Cabrera, who shares the home with her brother Victor Cabrera, said that the home has been in her family for decades and hopes to salvage it. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
First: Sunset above the flood waters in farmland with submerged tractors and farming equipment in Hansen Ranches south of Corcoran on April 26, 2023. Last: Christina Cabrera cleaning out the water and mud in her family home after a series of storms on March 12, 2023. Cabrera, who shares the home with her brother Victor Cabrera, said that the home has been in her family for decades and hopes to salvage it. Photos by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
A member of TODEC loads a crate of bottled water into a resident's vehicle outside Oasis Mobile Home Park in Coachella Valley on Aug. 24, 2023. For years, the Oasis mobile home community’s water has been contaminated with high levels of arsenic. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
A member of TODEC loads a crate of bottled water into a resident’s vehicle outside Oasis Mobile Home Park in Coachella Valley on Aug. 24, 2023. For years, the Oasis mobile home community’s water has been contaminated with high levels of arsenic. Photo by Adriana Heldiz, CalMatters
A trucking company warehouse in flooded farmland near Hansen Ranches south of Corcoran March 23, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
A car stops on a flooded Lambert Road off Interstate 5 in Sacramento County on Jan. 3, 2023. Northern California was hit by a major rainstorm that caused power outages, landslides and flooding over the New Year's holiday weekend. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
First: A trucking company warehouse in flooded farmland near Hansen Ranches south of Corcoran March 23, 2023. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local Last: A car stops on a flooded Lambert Road off Interstate 5 in Sacramento County on Jan. 3, 2023. Northern California was hit by a major rainstorm that caused power outages, landslides and flooding over the New Year’s holiday weekend. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
Welding instructor Mitchell Schmidt teaches a student to use welding tools during a welding course at Lakeshore College in Wisconsin on Aug. 16, 2023. Lakeshore College offers courses that practice competency-based education that some California schools are hoping to adopt. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
Welding instructor Mitchell Schmidt teaches a student to use welding tools during a welding course at Lakeshore College in Wisconsin on Aug. 16, 2023. Lakeshore College offers courses that practice competency-based education that some California schools are hoping to adopt. Photo by Larry Valenzuela, CalMatters/CatchLight Local
Physician assistant Brett Feldman and Carla Bolen sit in her housing at a motel turned into housing for homeless residents as part of Project Homekey in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2023. Bolen was previously living in a homeless encampment at the Figueroa St. Viaduct above Highway 110 in Elysian Valley Park. Photo by Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters
A worshipper at the Shri Guru Ravidass Temple in Rio Linda on June 3, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters
First: Physician assistant Brett Feldman and Carla Bolen sit in her housing at a motel turned into housing for homeless residents as part of Project Homekey in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 13, 2023. Bolen was previously living in a homeless encampment at the Figueroa St. Viaduct above Highway 110 in Elysian Valley Park. Photo by Larry Valenzuela for CalMatters Last: A worshiper at the Sri Guru Ravidass Temple in Rio Linda on June 3, 2023. Photo by Miguel Gutierrez Jr., CalMatters

Sonya builds bridges between the community and CalMatters as director of membership. Previously, she led engagement, membership, marketing, digital storytelling and product at Voice of OC, a nonprofit...