How bold of a university to name its magazine with the singular name of the most populous state in the United States! Yet, UC Berkeley did just that. And from the cover illustrations to the choice of themes to its sometimes unconventional takes on conventional topics, the magazine is as bold as its title promises.
California's two submitted issues were quite different thematically: its war stories issue presented stories of alumni throughout history who served in the military, and its election issue examined the 2016 race. These themed issues pull the reader in with compelling cover artwork--especially the election issue, which treats the election with appropriate irreverence with a banner proclaiming "the greatest show on earth" and a circus poster touting such wonders as "the incredible Teflon Don" and "Congress of human oddities." This illustration set the tone for a fresh and original--and thorough--election wrap-up. One judge compared this illustration favorably to another entrant's cover, which also touted an election story but in a more more predictable and formulaic way.
Ever bold and self-assured, California covers these topics with a strong voice. "It's hard hitting and not namby-pamby," noted one judge. "I like the things they tackle."
