NEVADA CITY, Calif. – Nevada County has been recognized with an Award of Distinction for the short-form video series “Field Notes.” The award was presented at the annual CAPIO (California Association of Public Information Officials) conference for outstanding work in public communications across the state and celebrates some of the very best projects and professionals from 2025.

The “Field Notes” video series is a powerful storytelling platform that humanizes County services and offers a behind-the-scenes look at County employees who serve the community in the field—often out of sight, but never out of impact. The videos are part of the internal communications newsletter “The Staff Bulletin” and help staff better understand the breadth of County services and the people who make them possible.

The goal of the project is not just to inform, but to create connection, empathy, and pride across departments.

“The most meaningful outcome has been cultural,” reflects the content creator Jenny Comperda, Administrative Analyst in the County Executive Office. “Employees see themselves and their peers reflected in the storytelling, creating a deeper understanding of one another’s work.”

To date, nearly two dozen videos have been produced, some highlighting: bus drivers, social workers, probation officers, animal control officers, public health administrators, defensible space inspectors, building assessors, and environmental health safety inspectors.

“The County is a large enterprise that provides a diverse array of services to our constituents. The Staff Bulletin newsletter and its companion video series, ‘Field Notes’, help employees stay informed and connected with their colleagues while offering a behind-the-scenes look at County employees serving the community in the field,” states County Executive Officer Alison Lehman.

In total, 105 awards were presented to Excellence in Public Information and Communications (EPIC) Award and Award of Distinction recipients from a recordbreaking pool of more than 500 submissions. Categories included social media, video, graphic design, events, websites, branding, crisis communications, communications campaigns, and many more.

View the entire series playlist on Nevada County’s YouTube channel.