“Our team of photojournalists are an extremely talented group of visual communicators that had a rather unusual year of news to cover,” said Dean Musgrove, SCNG photo editor, applauding the staff. “They all bring the viewer face to face with their subjects. I’m so proud to see their work appreciated by their peers.”
The Southern California News Group is made up of 11 daily news publications and several weeklies throughout Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles is a membership organization that recognizes excellence in visual journalism throughout Southern California, according to the group’s website. The awards were presented on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
Feature
FIRST PLACE: MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Jennifer May Nickel says she’s not a glass half-empty kind of person so she performs “Singin’ in the Rain,” in front of her burned-down home in Altadena on Sunday, January 26, 2025 while her friends record her for her Instagram account: Jennifermaydesigns. The TV costume designer lost everything in the home she lived in for 7 years with her husband.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: SARAH REINGEWIRTZ, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
A boy waves an American flag in a vehicle carrying the memory of WWII Veteran Ysabel Rodriguez in the San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade in Mission Hills on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Portrait
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: SARAH REINGEWIRTZ, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
Jessie Smith-Jones, 84, puts jewelry on in her Chesapeake apartment in Baldwin Hills by her favorite window on Thursday, July 10, 2025. Smith-Jones formed the Baldwin-Leimert-Crenshaw chapter of the Los Angeles Tenants Union with her daughter Zerita Jones after fighting their mega-landlord Mike Nijjar who owns the 425-unit complex and is known for keeping his properties in slum-like conditions.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: HANS GUTKNECHT, LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS
Desmond smokes marijuana in an alley in Los Angeles’ Chinatown on May 20, 2025.
Spot News
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: JEFF GRITCHEN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Police use pepper spray as they move protesters away from a van leaving the Federal Building in Santa Ana, CA, on Monday, June 9, 2025. About 200 anti-ICE protesters spent the afternoon carrying signs as they chanted and yelled at police.
Music & Performing Arts
SECOND PLACE: MINDY SCHAUER, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Melody Yang creates colorful bubble and laser art while performing at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
Sports Feature
FIRST PLACE: TERRY PIERSON, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Corona pitcher Seth Hernandez #22 gets a lift by teammates after hitting his second homer of the game against Los Osos in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 baseball second-round playoff game in Corona on Tuesday, May 20 2025.
Sports Action
SECOND PLACE: TERRY PIERSON, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Valley View centerfielder Jacqueline Divine #34 crashes over the centerfield fence trying to catch a home run hit by Poly third baseman Katelyn Cortez #7 during the Ivy League softball game in Riverside on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: TERRY PIERSON, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Vista Murrieta midfielder Abigail Greiner #27 takes a shot over Roosevelt defenders in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls lacrosse first-round playoff match in Eastvale on Monday, April 28, 2025. Roosevelt defeated Vista Murrieta 9-5 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 2 girls lacrosse first-round playoff match.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: TERRY PIERSON, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Corona catcher Jesiah Andrade #6 is hit in the jaw by Los Osos’ pitcher Gavin Loeb-Keene during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 baseball second-round playoff game in Corona on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
Animal
SECOND PLACE: TERRY PIERSON, THE PRESS-ENTERPRISE
Stable helper Kassy McMillan gets a lick from Orpheus, a Cellar Farm equestrian show jumping and cross country horse in the Galway Downs stables in Temecula, Friday, March 28, 2025. Galway Downs may host the 2028 Olympics Equestrian events.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: MINDY SCHAUER, ORANCE COUNTY REGISTER
New furry friends, Sunny, left, and Texas, form a beach bond as they frolic in the sand and water on Saturday, April 19, 2025. Sunny, a golden retriever owned by Jerry Abbott, and Texas, a jack russell terrier, owned by Casandra Ross were romping in Laguna Beach. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Fire
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: JEFF GRITCHEN, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Rows of destroyed homes during the Palisades Fire in the Alphabet Streets neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, CA, on Thursday, January 9, 2025.
Picture Story
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: KEITH BIRMINGHAM, PASADENA STAR-NEWS
Husband and wife Tommy Keiser and Chelsea Bayouth comfort each other after their home of four years was destroyed along East Harriet St. during the Eaton Fire in Altadena on Saturday, Jan. 11, 2025.
