California Grand Jurors’ Association Presents Award For Best Reporting 2021-2022
The OBSERVER’s Genoa Barrow recently was awarded the
California Grand Jurors’ Association’s (CGJA) 2022 Best News Media Reporting
Award.
The senior staff writer received the award for “extensive,
unbiased and continued coverage” stemming from the Sacramento County Board of
Supervisors’ decision to give millions in federal funds meant for pandemic
relief to the sheriff’s department to balance its budget. Barrow’s award
reception was held Oct. 23 during the CGJA Annual Conference in San Rafael.
Barrow and The OBSERVER broke the story in August 2020.
Activists demanded answers and ultimately, the board asked County Executive Nav
Gil to resign.
After a yearlong investigation, a county grand jury released a
report in February titled “Sacramento County Board of Supervisors Abandons
Responsibility for COVID-19 CARES Act Spending.” The grand jury nominated
Barrow for the award.
“The journalist conducted herself with integrity and provided
the community with critical information that revealed the misuse of public
funds,” the nomination reads.
The CGJA’s Excellence in Reporting Award program recognizes
individuals and media that have created positive changes in their communities
by increasing awareness of the California grand jury system.
Barrow shared with association members that being honored was
a full-circle moment, as late OBSERVER co-publisher Kathryn C. Lee was the first
African American to serve on a Sacramento County grand jury in 1973.
Observer Newsroom
Staff Report
November 17, 2022
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