Dancers preparing to perform folklórico (photo by Alyssa Toledo)
The Public Media Journalists Association has honored a KCBX news series and two KCBX news stories in the 2025 PMJA Awards for outstanding public media journalism completed in 2024.
A three-part series about domestic abuse in SLO County, “Behind Closed Doors,” won first place for a series in Division A. Reporter Melanie Senn spoke with local advocates, survivors and law enforcement about ways individuals can find help and break the cycle of domestic abuse.
“My desire was to learn more about domestic violence in our county—about the survivors and the people working to offer support for them,” Senn said, noting that undocumented women faced the most barriers to protection. About one woman she interviewed for the story, Senn said, “She is a true survivor, and I have been forever moved by her harrowing experiences, her resilience, and her strength. I was grateful to everyone I interviewed for sharing information and stories with me.”
KCBX also won two second place distinctions for a sports feature and an arts feature, both from reporter Alyssa Toledo. “Rugby Roots: SLO Women’s Rugby Celebrates 20 Years of Breaking Barriers” reflected on the group’s journey of inclusion and growth on the Central Coast, and “Baile Folklórico Classes and Performances Provide Connection to Mexican Culture for Families in Salinas” profiled youth learning traditional Mexican dance in Monterey County.
Toledo, who grew up on the Central Coast, said she values the perspectives of people in her own community that she gained through exploring various arts and culture programs in the area. “To get recognized for highlighting [the] different communities that matter so much to me… is such an honor,” Toledo said.
Marisa Waddell, director of programming and content at KCBX, said these features are examples of the broad spectrum of stories that are produced by the station’s newsroom. “We feel privileged to receive these awards, grateful for Melanie and Alyssa’s excellent reporting, and proud of the public service journalism we produce at KCBX,” she said.
Waddell said the KCBX reporting recognized by PMJA was made possible by grants the station received. “Behind Closed Doors” was produced as a project for the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism’s Domestic Violence Impact Fund. The rugby feature was made possible by the Shanbrom Family Foundation, and the Baile Folklórico story was funded by an anonymous donor from Monterey County.