Coachella Valley Journalism Awards
The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation, with support from the California News Publishers Association, created two annual journalism awards in 2024 to recognize the outstanding work from local journalists.
The Rising Star Award honors a journalist under age 30 (or with less than 5 years in the industry) who has worked for a valley media organization for at least a year and produced notable journalism in the previous year that indicates they will be a strong contributor to telling the valley’s story in the years to come.
The Journalist of the Year Award honors a professional who has demonstrated excellence and high ethical standards in their coverage of issues in the Coachella Valley with journalism that had a significant impact on our community in the past year.
Each of the journalism award winners received a cash prize underwritten by the California News Publishers Association.
Rising Star Award Recipients
2025
Honorable Mention: Jodeci Alcocer of The Chaparral and NBC Palm Springs began his journalism path at College of the Desert (COD), where he earned an associate degree in journalism, complementing his associate’s degree in business and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from San Diego State University. While at COD, Jodeci worked as a copy editor for The Chaparral news team, where he managed social media and curated news content. Jodeci further honed his skills through an internship at NBC Palm Springs, where he debuted on The Roggin Report with Fred Roggin. During this internship, he handled a wide range of responsibilities, from research and interviews to video editing and recording.
Winner: Jennifer Cortez of The Desert Sun covers education. A graduate of La Quinta High School, Jennifer initially returned to her alma mater as a teacher before pursuing a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley. Since joining The Desert Sun, she has covered local school districts and College of the Desert with a commitment to accuracy, compassion, and community engagement. Jennifer’s nomination highlighted her dedication to detailed and thoughtful reporting. She consistently prioritizes accuracy and ensures that her stories are not only factual but also inclusive of all relevant perspectives, exemplifying the highest standards of journalism.
2024
Runner-up: Kendall Balchan of the Palm Springs Post. Balchan was prolific in 2023, writing more than 300 articles or posts on a wide range of topics, from long-term AIDS survivors to intricate negotiations over the future of Desert Regional Medical Center. One of her nominators called Kendall’s work “informative and entertaining,” adding: “I especially enjoy journalism that covers the happier stories. Kendall’s enthusiastic approach brightens my inbox each day.”
Winner: Andy Abeyta of the The Desert Sun. From photographs of sports action to wildfires, portraits to drone photography and videography, Abeyta is extremely versatile. Yet amid this versatility is a consistency — drawing out emotion and humanity from even the toughest subjects.
Journalist of the Year Award Recipients
2025
Honorable Mention:Taya Gray of The Desert Sun was honored for her work as photojournalist.Taya’s ability to tell compelling visual stories has made her an integral part of the community. Known for her professionalism and care, Taya’s work captures the essence of the Coachella Valley—whether at a ribbon-cutting ceremony or the scene of a dramatic event. Her nomination, which included a letter from a rival news organization, highlighted her passion for engaging with the community and her expertise in capturing stories through photography. Taya’s dedication to documenting impactful moments underscores the importance of visual storytelling in journalism.
Winner: Olivia Sandusky of NBC Palm Springs. Olivia, who holds a master’s degree in journalism from USC, joined the station in 2020 and quickly became a cornerstone of its evening newscasts. In June, she earned her first Emmy award for her coverage of Tropical Storm Hilary. Olivia’s creativity and commitment to in-depth reporting were evident in the three long-form specials she produced in 2024. Her first two specials, Restoring the Salton Sea and its follow-up, addressed critical issues surrounding the Salton Sea and earned recognition from the American Planning Association. Her third special, Tribes of the Coachella Valley, aired during Native American Heritage Month and provided an unprecedented 45-minute exploration of the history and significance of local Native American tribes. These projects, alongside her daily reporting, have solidified Olivia’s role as a leader in local journalism.
2024
Runner-up: Christopher Damien of The Desert Sun. Damien is recognized for reporting on a particularly difficult subject — deaths in our county jails. In 2022, Damien uncovered a record number of jail deaths in the county and the sheriff’s department’s illegal failure to report some of them in a timely way. In 2023, that work’s impact spread, as the California attorney general launched a civil-rights probe of the sheriff’s department. Damien chronicled the human toll by speaking to the victims’ families. In some cases, they had never been told their relatives were hospitalized until it was too late. He also reported on the drug problems fueling some of the deaths, including fentanyl being smuggled into jail.
Winner: Rich Tarpening of Gulf California Broadcasting. When we think of journalism, we often think about reporters or photographers, in-the-field correspondents or news anchors. But behind the scenes are many dedicated editors and managers whose work every day makes the news happen. Tarpening is the Assignment Manager for Gulf California Broadcasting. He manages the daily newsroom operations and helps plan for short- and long-term news stories for KESQ, KDFX, CBS Local 2 and Telemundo 15. Rich oversees the News Channel 3’s I-Team, helping to plan and organize investigative reports. In 2023, those reports included probes into fentanyl deaths, malware attacks on College of the Desert that cost the school over $1 million, the dismissal of more than 1,700 cases in Riverside County courts, and school safety issues.