J.W. August elected CalAware president

Board member J.W. August is taking over leadership of the board of Californians Aware, an open-government advocacy group.

The governing board of Californians Aware recently announced it has elected J.W. August, a veteran broadcast journalist and San Diego SPJ board member, as its new president.

August, managing editor of KGTV 10News in San Diego, succeeds Richard P. McKee, a Pasadena City College chemistry professor and open-government advocate who will remain on the board.

Also elected were Kathryn Dresslar, chief of staff for Senator Darryl Steinberg, as vice president, and Dennis Winston, a partner with Moskowitz, Brestoff, Winston & Blinderman, as secretary-treasurer.

A founding member of CalAware's board and one of its three journalist directors, August oversees 10News’ daily news coverage plus investigative and special projects. He has worked his way up the TV news ranks from reporter to assignment editor to his current post.

During his career he has won several awards for outstanding broadcast journalism including the San Diego Press Club’s highest honor, the Harold Keen Award, which he received in 2006. In 2005, he was the recipient of the national Society of Professional Journalists’ major award for his work advocating for open government and the First Amendment.

August has reported on a wide range of investigative issues including the environment, the energy industry, white-collar crimes and political corruption. A San Diego native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from San Diego State University in 1981.

Last year, August coordinated statewide television news participation in CalAware's audit of public records practices in local law enforcement agencies as well as directing his own station's part of the project.

CalAware is a nonprofit whose mission is to defend and support open government