Kevin Hessel
Editor. Reporter. Designer.
Co-owner of The Ark weekly newspaper in Tiburon, Calif.
About Me
I'm the executive editor and co-owner of The Ark, the weekly newspaper serving the San Francisco Bay Area communities of Tiburon, Belvedere and Strawberry since 1973. I joined the paper in June 2011 and took co-ownership in June 2023. I came from the Marin Independent Journal, where I began as an intern 1998 and left as assistant copy desk editor, design chief and online editor. I began as a teen columnist for the Dana Point Times, wrote for my high school newspaper, was the editor of the Saddleback College Lariat newspaper and Inkslinger magazine, studied journalism at San Francisco State University, trained in newsroom leadership at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Fla., was a Knight Digital Media Center fellow at the University of California at Berkeley, and I guest lecture in newspaper design each semester at S.F. State.
I live in San Francisco with my wife and dog.
Celestial hat trick
The super blue blood moon sets behind the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands early Jan. 31, 2018, in this view from San Francisco’s Crissy Field East Beach. It was a lunar trifecta: a blue moon for being the second full moon in January, a supermoon because it orbited about 50,000 miles closer to the Earth than usual and a blood moon due to a lunar eclipse, when the Earth passes between the moon and sun to cast a shadow and give the moon a red tinge.
🥇1st place, Artistic Photo
2018 California News Publishers Association
Awards
🥇 1st - Best Front Page Design (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Sept 20 2023 edition
🥇 1st - Best Informational Graphic (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Belvedere Challenge fun run tackles city's walking lanes
🥇 1st - Best Localized National Story (Nondaily <6k)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Tiburon sees lowest levels of crime in four decades
🥈 2nd - Best Front Page Design (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Dec 27 2023 edition
🥈 2nd - Best Informational Graphic (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Tiburon sees lowest levels of crime in four decades
🥈 2nd - Best Investigative or In-Depth Story or Series (Nondaily <3k)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
New captain to become Tiburon's first female police chief
🥈 2nd - Best Reporting on Local Government (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Cities residents balk at new California housing laws
🥉 3rd - Best Family Life Living Section Pages (Daily & Nondaily)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor
🥉 3rd - Best Front Page Design (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Feb 22 2023 edition
🥉 3rd - Best Informational Graphic (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Cougar tracked deep into Tiburon
🥉 3rd - Best Localized National Story (Nondaily <6k)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Tiburon council is targeted by antisemitic 'Zoom-bombing'
🥉 3rd - Best Public Notice Section (Daily & Nondaily)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Designer
🥉 3rd - Best Use of a Double-Truck (Nondaily <4k)
2024 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Spring cookbooks
🏅 4th - Print Inside Page Layout & Design
2024 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 California Journalism Awards
Community leaders share their favorite recipes
🥇 1st - Print Special Section Cover
2024 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 California Journalism Awards
Designer
🥇 1st - Technology Reporting
2024 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 California Journalism Awards
Paradise Cay puts in private license-plate cams
🥈 2nd - Print Inside Page Layout & Design
2024 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 California Journalism Awards
From barren hill to stunning sanctuary in Strawberry
🥉 3rd - Housing and Land-Use Reporting
2024 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 California Journalism Awards
Series: Tiburon faces opposition to housing plans
🥉 3rd - Print Inside Page Layout & Design
2024 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2023 California Journalism Awards
Fall's cookbooks boast variety with dash of bold flavor
🏅 HM - Best Local News Coverage (All papers <3k)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
🏆 1st - Best Front Page Design (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Designer
🥇 1st - Best Informational Graphic (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Tsunami hazards maps
🥇 1st - Best Reporting on Local Government (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote series on the housing crisis
🥈 2nd - Best Family Life Living Section Pages (All papers)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
🥈 2nd - Best Investigative or In-Depth Story or Series (Nondaily <3k)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Yema owners sue Belvedere in profiling claim
🥉 3rd - Best Informational Graphic (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Election results
🥉 3rd - Best Reporting on Local Government (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2023 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote series on police reform and social equity
🥇 1st - Coverage of 2022 Elections (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote results package
🥇 1st - In-Depth Reporting (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series on Belvedere's illegal sharing of license-plate capture data
🥇 1st - Inside Page Layout & Design (Weeklies <11k)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Designer
🥇 1st - Land-Use Reporting (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series on Tiburon Peninsula's efforts to address housing crisis
🥈 2nd - Breaking News (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Tiburon police sergeant dies in apparent suicide at station
🥈 2nd - Coverage of Local Government (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series on Tiburon Peninsula's efforts to address housing crisis
🥈 2nd - Special Section Cover (All weeklies)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Designer
🥈 2nd - Writing (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Yema owners sue Belvedere in profiling claim
🥉 3rd - Coverage of Business and the Economy (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Sam's sees early success in NFT presale
🥉 3rd - Informational Graphic (All weeklies)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Designer Tsunami flood maps
🥉 3rd - Land-Use Reporting (Weeklies <4300)
2023 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2022 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote housing series on redevelopment of private Mallard Pointe community
🏆 2nd - GENERAL EXCELLENCE (Nondaily <3k)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor; staff award
🥇 1st - Best Business Story (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote "Downtown landlord seeks $300K for late-night ferry" with Deirdre McCrohan
🥇 1st - Best Investigative or In-Depth Story or Series (Nondaily <3k)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote series on policing and diversity
🥈 2nd - Best Family Life Living Section Pages (All papers)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor; staff award
🥈 2nd - Best Reporting on Local Government (Nondaily 2k-3999)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote series on policing and diversity
🥈 2nd - Best Special News Sports or Feature Section or Edition (All papers <3k)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor-designer; staff award
🥉 3rd - Best Sports Feature Story or Series (All papers <3k)
2022 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote "From sails to speedways Tiburon man born to race" with Shayne Jones
🏅 5th - Special Section Cover (all weeklies)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Designer.
🏅 5th - Writing (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "Police press release raises questions about use of race" with Shayne Jones
🏆 2nd - GENERAL EXCELLENCE (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Editor; staff award
🥇 1st - Coverage of Local Government (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-write series on Tiburon tackling racial diversity and justice
🥇 1st - Front Page Layout & Design (Weeklies <11k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Designer
🥇 1st - In-Depth Reporting (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series on Tiburon tackling racial diversity and justice
🥇 1st - Sports Feature Story (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "From sails to speedways Tiburon man born to race" with Shayne Jones
🥈 2nd - Arts & Entertainment Coverage (All weeklies)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Editor; staff award.
🥉 3rd - Coverage of the COVID-19 Pandemic (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "Businesses look to rebound as virus restrictions ease once again" with Deirdre McCrohan
🥉 3rd - In-Depth Reporting (Weeklies <4.3k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "Widespread internet outage leads to frustration questions" with Shayne Jones
🥉 3rd - Public Service Journalism (Weeklies <11k)
2022 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2021 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series of stories on Tiburon tackling racial diversity and justice
🏅 HM - Communication in Crisis (All papers <6k)
2021 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Overall coronavirus shelter-in-place coverage
🏅 HM - Freedom of Information (All papers)
2021 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote articles with Hannah Weikel about Marin state not being able to explain ICU calculations behind coronavirus shutdowns
🥈 2nd - Best Family Life Living Section Pages (All papers)
2021 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor-designer; staff award.
🥉 3rd - Best Local News Coverage (All papers <3k)
2021 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor; staff award
🏅 4th - Coverage of Local Government (Weeklies <4.3k)
2021 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2020 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "Belvedere pushing ahead with plans to upgrade seawalls" with Hannah Weikel.
🏆 2nd - GENERAL EXCELLENCE (Weeklies <4.3k)
2021 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2020 California Journalism Awards
Editor; staff award.
🥈 2nd - Breaking News (Weeklies <25k)
2021 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2020 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "Bay Area ordered to shelter in place" with Emily Lavin.
🥈 2nd - Special Section Cover (All weeklies)
2021 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2020 California Journalism Awards
Designer
🥉 3rd - Front Page Layout & Design (Weeklies <11k)
2021 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2020 California Journalism Awards
Designer.
🥉 3rd - Public Service Journalism (Weeklies <25k)
2021 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2020 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series of articles about race incidents leading to resignations investigations reform citizen panel
🥉 3rd - Best Health Story (All <6k)
2020 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Vaccination rates for kindergartners at 95 percent at Reed Elementary School
🥉 3rd - Best Local News Coverage (All <3k)
2020 - National Newspaper Association Better Newspapers Contest
Editor; staff award.
🏅 4th - Inside Page Layout
2020 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2019 California Journalism Awards
Desire to downsize drives renovation of Tiburon condo
🏅 5th - Special Section Cover (all weeklies)
2020 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2019 California Journalism Awards
Generosity (Summer 2019) Generosity (Winter 2019) & Home (Fall 2019)
🏆 1st - GENERAL EXCELLENCE (Weeklies <4.3k)
2020 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2019 California Journalism Awards
Editor; staff award.
🥇 1st - Coverage of Local Government (Weeklies <4.3k)
2020 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2019 California Journalism Awards
Tiburon drone restrictions and implications on First Amendment freedoms. Reported with Deirdre McCrohan.
🥈 2nd - Breaking News (Weeklies <4.3k)
2020 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2019 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote "Peninsula hit with PG&E blackouts" with Hannah Weikel.
🏆 1st - GENERAL EXCELLENCE
2019 - National Newspaper Association
Editor staff award. The Ark is named the nation's best small community weekly for the second consecutive year.
🥈 2nd - Best Public Notice Journalism
2019 - National Newspaper Association
Co-wrote series of articles concerning the expansion of the Belvedere-Tiburon Library and the use of public funds.
🏆 2nd - GENERAL EXCELLENCE
2019 - California News Publishers Association 2018 California Journalism Awards
Editor. Ark staff award.
🥇 1st - Artistic Photo
2019 - California News Publishers Association 2018 California Journalism Awards
Celestial hat trick photo of super blue blood moon over the Golden Gate Bridge
🥇 1st - Public Service Journalism
2019 - California News Publishers Association 2018 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series of articles concerning the expansion of the Belvedere-Tiburon Library and the use of public funds.
🥈 2nd - Coverage of Local Government
2019 - California News Publishers Association 2018 California Journalism Awards
Co-wrote series of articles concerning the expansion of the Belvedere-Tiburon Library and the use of public funds.
🥉 3rd - Inside Page Layout & Design
2019 - California News Publishers Association 2018 California Journalism Awards
Designer. Editor of The Ark.
🏅 HM - Best Breaking News Story
2018 - National Newspaper Association
Destruction loss and compassion first-week coverage of Wine Country wildfires with Matthew Hose Emily Lavin and Elliot Karlan.
🏆 1st - GENERAL EXCELLENCE
2018 - National Newspaper Association
Editor staff award. The Ark is named the nation's best small community weekly.
🥈 2nd - Best Editorial
2018 - National Newspaper Association
On the cover: What it looks like without local journalism editorial paired with a blank front page for National Newspaper Week.
🏅 HM - Breaking News
2018 - California News Publishers Association 2017 California Journalism Awards
Destruction loss and compassion first-week coverage of Wine Country wildfires with Matthew Hose Emily Lavin and Elliot Karlan.
🥉 3rd - Editorial Comment
2018 - California News Publishers Association 2017 California Journalism Awards
On the cover: What it looks like without local journalism editorial paired with a blank front page for National Newspaper Week.
🏆 3rd - GENERAL EXCELLENCE
2017 - National Newspaper Association
Editor. Ark staff award.
🥇 1st - Best Education/Literacy Story
2017 - National Newspaper Association
Co-wrote series of stories on school district adapting to state's new childhood vaccination rules with reporter Deirdre McCrohan and contributor Carly Nairn.
🥇 1st - Best Local News Coverage
2017 - National Newspaper Association
Editor. Ark staff award.
🥈 2nd - Best Health Story
2017 - National Newspaper Association
Co-wrote story on school district adapting to state's new childhood vaccination rules with contributor Carly Nairn.
🏅 HM - Best Education Story/Series
2017 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2016 Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote series of stories on school district adapting to state's new childhood vaccination rules with reporter Deirdre McCrohan and contributor Carly Nairn.
🥈 2nd - Best Front Page Tabloid
2017 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2016 Better Newspapers Contest
Designer. Editor of The Ark.
🥇 1st - Best Health Story
2016 - National Newspaper Association
Co-wrote "As measles hits Marin Reed parents' vaccine pleas gain national attention" with reporter Deirdre McCrohan.
🥈 2nd - Best Education/Literacy Story
2016 - National Newspaper Association
Co-wrote "As measles hits Marin Reed parents' vaccine pleas gain national attention" with reporter Deirdre McCrohan.
🥉 3rd - Best Local News Coverage
2016 - National Newspaper Association
Editor. Ark staff award.
🏅 HM - Best Front Page
2016 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2015 Better Newspapers Contest
Designer. Editor of The Ark.
🥇 1st - Best Writing
2016 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2015 Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote "As measles hits Marin Reed parents' vaccine pleas gain national attention" with reporter Deirdre McCrohan.
🥇 1st - Coverage of Education
2016 - California Newspaper Publishers Association 2015 Better Newspapers Contest
Co-wrote "As measles hits Marin Reed parents' vaccine pleas gain national attention" with reporter Deirdre McCrohan.
🏆 3rd - GENERAL EXCELLENCE
2015 - National Newspaper Association
Editor. Ark staff award.
🥇 1st - Best Overall Local News Coverage
2015 - National Newspaper Association
Editor. Ark staff award.
🥇 1st - Best Special Section
2015 - National Newspaper Association
Editor and designer on The Ark's eight-page pullout commemorating Tiburon's 50th anniversary.