Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters, Evident Media and Bellingcat documentary nominated for Emmy award

The documentary, “Operation Return to Sender,” investigated the immigration forces carrying out the first raids of the mass deportation campaign.

By

Sisi Wei

• April 7, 2026

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters named a finalist in prestigious National Magazine Awards public interest category

The American Society of Magazine Editors named CalMatters’ investigation, “The Man Who Unsolved a Murder” as a finalist in the public interest category. Winners will be announced in May.

By

Sonya Quick

• March 3, 2026

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters named a finalist in Toner Prize for Excellence in Local Political Reporting

The Toner Prizes, awarded by the Newhouse School, recognize the best political reporting and are named after Robin Toner, the first woman to hold the position of national political correspondent for The New York Times.

By

Sonya Quick

• March 3, 2026

Dave Lesher in the CalMatters newsroom on April 3, 2024. Photo by Fred Greaves for CalMatters

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters’ visionary co-founder, Dave Lesher, retires

Dave Lesher turned CalMatters into one of California’s most influential newsrooms — and launched new tools to make your government transparent

By

Ryan Sabalow

• February 2, 2026

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters’ Anat Rubin wins Sidney Award for outstanding investigative journalism that exposes social and economic injustices

The reporting “speaks volumes about the role that public defenders play in maintaining the integrity of the whole system, not just in defending their clients.”

By

Sisi Wei

• January 14, 2026

Inside the Newsroom

My Legislator: CalMatters’ new accountability newsletter lets Californians track their state legislators

Californians can now easily follow what their state representatives say and do each week, as the Legislature considers about 5,000 bills before adjourning in August.

By

Sonya Quick

• January 8, 2026

Impact

How CalMatters kept our government transparent and our leaders accountable in 2025

In 2025, CalMatters’ and The Markup’s reporting prompted lawmakers to introduce eight new bills, agencies to take action, companies to change their practices and constituents to contact their representatives.

By

Sisi Wei

• December 31, 2025

Inside a communal room, a person holding a notepad speaks with an older person wearing a baseball cap and button-down shirt. In the background, several other people talk near leather chairs and small tables along the wall, beneath mounted shelves and televisions.

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters’ 2025 special election Voter Guide reached more voters, thanks to partnerships across the state

CalMatters produced a nonpartisan voter guide for the Prop. 50 special election, and brought it to more readers across the state thanks to newsroom partners.

By

Sonya Quick

• December 23, 2025

Awards graphic highlighting that CalMatters won the 2025 Human Right to Housing Awards by the National Homelessness Law Center

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters honored with the Stewart B. McKinney Award by the National Homelessness Law Center

CalMatters’ homelessness coverage this year has spanned multiple investigations, stories and resources that led to real-world impact.

By

Sonya Quick

• December 8, 2025

Inside the Newsroom

CalMatters’ Anat Rubin honored for journalistic integrity by the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice

The organization said Rubin’s work “exemplifies the highest standards of journalistic integrity and advances public understanding of justice, due process, and equal protection.”

By

Sonya Quick

• November 3, 2025