Your favorite all-local, all-human, independent nonprofit font of news and culture 48 Hills again swept the annual California News Publishers Association’s 2025 California Journalism Awards with nine wins in Division 7—including two first place wins for Video Journalism and Fine Arts Writing! We could not have done this without our incredible readership, especially our supporters who believe that local coverage should be driven by true love of the Bay Area, not cynical profit motive. We are able to compensate our fantastic writers and help them stay here to practice their rare and invaluable craft, thanks to our generous readers. You can support our important storytelling mission here.
Mary Corbin won first in Fine Arts Writing for her incredible series of local artists profiles that 48 Hills has been honored to publish for the past six years. Her in-depth looks at the creators who sustain the soul of the Bay Area in these times, and preserve it for the future, have included groundbreaking muralists, painters, photographers, sculptors, weavers, installationists, quilters, collagists, ceramicists, illustrators, printmakers, and mixed media and uncategorizable makers, showcasing the breadth of the abundant talent we’re so fortunate to have here. 48 Hills is overjoyed to be one of the few publications that still supports the independent arts scene with Mary’s terrific writing.
Andrew Brobst took home top Video Journalism honors with his instantly recognizable and immaculately edited on-the-street reels, regularly posted to our Instagram and TikTok pages. Last year he went deep inside the Lowrider Parade, Rainbow Grocery‘s 50th Anniversary, Folsom Street Fair, and San Francisco’s New Year’s Eve party frenzy, among many other hot spots. He also snagged third place for Video News Reporting.
Another highlighted win: Bruce Mirken for second place in Health Reporting—Bruce is a much-decorated journalist who for decades has covered HIV and minority health issues, and we’re so proud that his excellent reporting has found a home here, especially during this terrible time of accelerated crisis, disgusting attacks, quack science, targeted misinformation, and general mismanagement. Also
See the full list below for all our winners. Congratulations to them and our 48 Hills family!
Fine Arts Writing, First Place
Mary Corbin
Video Journalism—General, First Place
Andrew Brobst
Video Journalism—News Reporting, Third Place
Andrew Brobst
Health Reporting, Second Place
Bruce Mirken
Music Writing, Second Place
Marke B., “MTT’s brilliance shone through at final SF Symphony bow”
Fine Arts Writing, Fourth Place
Charles Lewis III, Drama Masks column
Music Writing, Fourth Place
Joshua Rotter, “Still hung up on ‘Confessions on a Dance Floor’”
Music Writing, Fifth Place
John-Paul Shiver, “Sun Ra Arkestra traversed magnificent orbits at SFJAZZ”
Film/TV Writing, Fifth Place
Dennis Harvey, Screen Grabs column
