From the Nominator

California Magazine is an editorially independent quarterly publication of the non-profit Cal Alumni Association. Every issue is about two things: The world of UC Berkeley, and Berkeley in the world. We see our mission as creating a publication anyone would want to read, no matter where they went to school. If you graduated from Berkeley, we want you to be proud this is your magazine. If you didn't attend Berkeley and you stumble upon a copy, we want you to wish you had.

From the Judges

While focusing on UC-Berkeley, California Magazine is a national-caliber magazine that would appeal even to readers who’ve never been west of the Rockies. It addresses the issues of the day with editorial ambition and visual flair. Concepts are brilliantly conceived and executed, as in the varied package of stories on genetics. Headlines are witty, covers compelling, and photos and illustrations dazzling. That the storytelling in individual articles is so consistently strong is a credit to the editorial team. Scenes come alive, and personalities leap off the page. The writers pose dramatic questions and hold readers’ attention to the last paragraph. The range of approaches–from vivid first-person accounts to flash fiction to meaty profiles–makes for an exceptionally lively publication.