California Watch, a project of the Center for Investigative Journalism, won an award for General Excellence from the Online News Association this past weekend.

The General Excellence, Micro Site, category honors a website that “successfully fulfills its editorial mission, effectively serves its audience, maximizes the use of the Web’s characteristics and represents the highest journalistic standards. Entries were judged on quality of journalism, use of social tools, creative use of the medium, user interface and interactivity.”

“It’s a great honor to have California Watch recognized,” said Robert Rosenthal, executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting. “Mark Katches, California Watch editorial director, has put together an extraordinary team of first-class talent. To be honored for excellence within such a short time since we launched is a real honor.”

A complete list of the Online Journalism Awards can be seen here.
Launched in May 2000, the OJAs are administered by the Online News Association, in partnership with the University of Miami’s School of Communication. Six awards now come with a total of $33,000 in prize money, courtesy of the Gannett Foundation and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

About California Watch: California Watch, now the largest investigative team in the state, is supported by major grants from the James Irvine Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the California Endowment and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. More at www.californiawatch.org.

Founded in 1977, the Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation’s oldest nonprofit investigative news organization. More at www.centerforinvestigativereporting.org.