4 people from The Veritas Tenants Association
The San Francisco Public Press received awards from the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for health reporting and community journalism, including coverage of the Veritas Tenants Association’s efforts to negotiate a rent-relief package for tenants who faced COVID-19 financial hardships. Credit: Noah Arroyo / San Francisco Public Press

San Francisco Public Press reporters were among the winners announced by the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for its 37th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards.

Viji Sundaram won a health reporting award for three stories from “Coercive Control: Abuse That Leaves No Marks,” a series about expanding the definition of domestic abuse in California and its uneven application in family court.

Madison Alvarado and former Public Press reporter Noah Arroyo won a community journalism award for their reporting on rent debt, public housing conditions, power outages on Treasure Island and tenant organizing rights in San Francisco.

Join us in congratulating Viji, Madison and Noah!

Lila LaHood is executive director of the San Francisco Public Press. She has worked as a nonprofit consultant, and as a freelance writer and editor. She was previously a business writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where she covered retail and real estate. Lila has an M.S. from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. in international relations from Stanford University. She is a current member and past-president of the board of directors of the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.