Julie Watts Email & Phone Number

New York, Us

Through in-depth research, strategic interviews, and data journalism, Julie's reporting holds the powerful accountable and breaks down complicated topics for viewers.Julie Produces and edits weekly localized investigative, accountability, and solutions-oriented reports for the CBS stations in California's largest markets (Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles), home to 30 million Californians.As the CBS News California investigative reporter, Julie tells stories from California communities through the lens of government accountability and solutions-based journalism. Her stories reveal how state government is *really* working (or not working) to address the issues that matter most to Californians. Based in the State Capitol for maximum access to lawmakers and state agencies, Julie is dedicated to holding the powerful accountable, getting answers, and digging deeper into the issues that matter to you.

New York, Us

Through in-depth research, strategic interviews, and data journalism, Julie's reporting holds the powerful accountable and breaks down complicated topics for viewers. Her work has prompted recalls, federal investigations, and several new laws. Julie's reports air on CBS stations in Sacramento, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, and are distributed to CBS stations nationwide.In addition to being the chief investigative/accountability reporter at CBS Sacramento, Julie is a news anchor and meteorologist (AMS). She also led the station's weather graphics audit while consulting on the launch of the station's First Alert weather brand.The 14-time Emmy® Award winner has been honored with many prestigious national journalism awards.Most recently, Julie received a National Press Club Award & Emmy® for THE COVID LAB: State Secrets Exposed. The whistleblower investigation exposed public health failures at California's $1.7B COVID testing lab, prompted state and federal investigations, and two pieces of accountability legislation that transcend COVID.Julie received an Emmy® in 2021 for a five-year investigation that held the state's unemployment agency (EDD) accountable for putting millions at risk of identity theft. The reporting prompted a joint legislative hearing, a state audit, and a new law. Julie's early reporting on the issue was honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award.In 2020, Julie was honored with Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow awards for her reporting on a failure to respond to DUI 911 calls, a National Headliner Award for her investigation into the financial impact of new cell towers near schools, and an Emmy® for “Troubling Water: The Ripon Child Cancer Investigation.” The Ripon investigation revealed a history of cancer-causing chemicals in drinking water, exposed glaring errors and omissions in city water reports, and exposed evidence that officials failed to tell parents about chemicals in school drinking water despite multiple student cancer diagnoses.

New York, Us

Julie's locally-produced consumer reports were also distributed nationally to hundreds of CBS affiliate television stations. They were also periodically featured on CBS network news broadcasts.

New York, Us

On the ConsumerWatch, Julie and her team resolved viewer problems, reported on pocketbook issues, and examined technology & business trends. Her in-depth investigations also exposed scams, unscrupulous business practices, and loopholes in consumer legislation. Those reports frequently prompted recalls, federal investigations, and new legislation. PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES ● Managed day-to-day operations for the ConsumerWatch team of 15+. ● Trained team members on new technologies. ● Produced multiple daily reports, meeting tight deadlines while managing ongoing projects and in-depth investigations. ● Regularly interacted with media relations specialists, and strategic corporate and government contacts to pitch stories, secure interviews, and diplomatically facilitate resolutions to viewer problems.Julie's ConsumerWatch reports were honored with several prestigious national awards and several Emmy awards.Notably, Julie's “Toxic Safety” investigation into car seat flame retardants prompted multiple recalls and led to significant changes within the child car seat industry. The investigation was honored with the National Gracie Award for Best Investigative Feature, the National Press Club’s award for Consumer Journalism, and the Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Award for Public Service.Julie also won a Gracie Award for her investigation into California’s Newborn DNA Database and a National Headliner Award for her child-ID-theft investigation, “Toddler Has a Credit Card,” which prompted a new state law in 2016.Her 2014 series, “UN-Covered California,” earned Julie her first National Press Club Award. The reports exposed numerous flaws within California’s health insurance exchange, prompting action by state regulators and changes within the insurance industry.

New York, Us

Julie for much of her time in San Francisco, Julie was a News Anchor, Political Host, Consumer Correspondent, and Meteorologist (AMS) for the KPIX weekend morning news.In addition to covering the day’s top stories, Julie discussed hot topics and conducted live interviews with newsmakers and politicians. She also produces the ConsumerWatch weekend roundup segment which included the week’s top consumer headlines along with a relevant live interview segment.During her first stint on the show (2009-2010), Julie was named Best News Anchor by the Associated Press for her role as Anchor/Host. She also won the American Meteorological Society's prestigious award for "Excellence in Science Reporting by a Broadcast Meteorologist."

San Mateo, California, Us

San Mateo, California, Us

As the Emmy® Awards and Gala Chair, Julie oversaw the regional Emmy® Awards competition with 2000+ entrants and produced the annual Emmy Awards Show Gala & fundraiser with 500+ high-profile television industry professionals and guests. In her first year as Gala Chair, Julie increased the chapter’s sponsorship income by 1600% while leading external and crisis communications. Following a hotel union strike in 2013, Julie developed and successfully implemented the crisis communication plan while facilitating a last-minute gala venue change.In all, Julie produced 5 galas over 10 years, including the chapter's first-ever interactive virtual gala.

San Mateo, California, Us

Julie joined the NATAS Board of Governors in 2009 and was an active member of the Emmy Awards Committee for more than 13 years. She served as Awards Chair from 2014-2016 and served as Gala Chair/ Emmy Awards Show-Runner/ Gala Producer five times.

San Mateo, California, Us

As Gala Chair in 2020, Julie led the chapter in pivoting amid the pandemic and produced the first-ever virtual Emmy® Awards Ceremony and Interactive Online Gala, which was later used as a template for other NATAS awards shows throughout the pandemic.

San Mateo, California, Us

Julie is the former Emmy® Award’s Chair for the NorCal NATAS chapter and continues to advise the awards committee.In addition to managing the local competition (entry certifications, category selection, judging, etc.), Julie produced the black-tie Emmy® gala and award show for several years. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES ● Manage internal & external communications for the regional Emmy® awards competition and awards ceremony. *Honored with Governor’s Award for significant contributions to the chapter ● Plan and produce regional Emmy® award ceremony & gala for 500+ media attendees. ● Responsible for PR, crisis management, and hotel/vendor/subcontractor contract negotiations. ● Developed and implemented Emmy® sponsorship program, increasing sponsorship income for the nonprofit by 1600% year to year. ● Facilitate regional Emmy® award entries and judging for California, Reno, Hawaii & Guam.

Back before "fake news" was part of the vernacular, Julie recognized a lack of unbiased, independent, multi-sourced content on topics related to parenting. Pay-for-play mommy blogs and un-vetted parenting message boards dominated the parenting news space online. After the birth of her first child, Julie founded NewsMom.com: News, Reviews & Research For Parents, By Parents... Who Are Also (professional) Journalists NewsMom was a resource for parents to access trustworthy news and information that was relevant to them by providing an outlet for journalists to share their relevant research and reports with an audience of parents that they wouldn’t otherwise reach.The website and social media brand quickly developed a loyal following. Julie stopped actively publishing in 2019.

Arlington, Virginia, Us

Sacramento, California, Us

Us

London, England, Gb

New York, Ny, Us

Ma, Digital Journalism

Journalist Law School Fellow

Ba, Broadcast Jurnalism

Broadcast Meteorology