When disaster struck his native Santa Cruz in 2023, reporter Max Chun and a small team of journalists sprang into action for their community—and pocketed a Pulitzer Prize for their work.
When the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes were announced on May 6, the recipient of the—Lookout Santa Cruz, a digital-only media outlet launched in November 2020—made headlines for its underdog triumph. Its 14-person staff, including general assignment reporter Max Chun ’19, beat out the Los Angeles Times to earn the Pulitzer for its “detailed and nimble community-focused coverage” of the catastrophic floods and mudslides that displaced thousands of Santa Cruz residents in January 2023.
This impressive achievement was a bit unexpected for Chun, whose path to journalism had only begun six years earlier. Chun arrived at Occidental with plans to pursue community organizing. His interest in journalism took root after interning at Brave New Films in 2018, where he created online content to raise awareness about social and political issues. This experience, he says, led him to pay closer attention to how information is disseminated and how it shapes our understanding of the world.
In his senior year, Chun took two journalism courses with former Los Angeles Times journalist and Pulitzer recipient Robert Sipchen, who introduced him to the craft of news writing and storytelling. These courses were foundational to Chun’s approach to journalism, helping him navigate the complexities of reporting on a major natural disaster just a few years later.
Chun returned to Santa Cruz after graduating, initially working as a barista before joining Lookout Santa Cruz in 2021. In its early stages, the publication was still figuring out its journalistic path. Chun’s role expanded quickly as he helped cover key issues like housing and homelessness in the city. And his deep connection to Santa Cruz gave him a built-in familiarity with the community he was covering.
Then the storms came.
In January 2023, a series of atmospheric rivers and a bomb cyclone hit Santa Cruz County. The storms caused severe flooding and landslides, displacing thousands of residents and causing millions of dollars worth of damage. Despite limited resources, Lookout’s small team sprang into action. Chun took on multiple roles, from monitoring government updates to sending out emergency information to Lookout readers via email and text.
The scale of the disaster was overwhelming. Roads were blocked by landslides, homes were destroyed, and many residents were stranded. Chun’s reporting not only provided official updates but also highlighted the personal stories of residents. “That balance between the official word and the lived experience of Santa Cruzans during a historic event was crucial in understanding and conveying the gravity of the situation,” Chun explains.
Awards like these are a huge honor. But above all, it is an affirmation that my colleagues and I met the moment and looked out for our community when it needed us.
During the height of the crisis, Lookout published 83 staff-written stories, updated its liveblog 86 times, and sent out 30 emails and texts to its readers. These efforts were essential for the local community, many of whom relied solely on Lookout for information. Chun is proud of how the outlet’s coverage during this period was both timely and vital. “We had many readers tell us that this was the only information they could get,” he recalls.
In the aftermath of the storms, Chun shifted his focus to documenting Santa Cruz’s recovery efforts. Even after evacuation orders were lifted and power was restored, much of the county remained in disrepair. Major roads were still blocked, and sections of the city’s scenic West Cliff Drive were permanently damaged. The full impact of the storm, which caused $240 million in infrastructure damage and affected approximately 1,000 homes and businesses, continues to be felt today.
Lookout’s work throughout the crisis was not only critical to the Santa Cruz community but also instrumental in earning the publication national recognition. Six of the stories published during the January 2023 storms, including Chun’s liveblog, contributed to the Pulitzer Prize-winning body of work. While he certainly appreciates the award, Chun is most proud of the role he and his colleagues played in supporting their community during a time of need.
“Awards like these are a huge honor,” he says. “But above all, it is an affirmation that my colleagues and I met the moment and looked out for our community when it needed us.”