The 50th: A Scandal. A Dynasty. An Election

The Story

The 50th was an eight-episode documentary series produced by The San Diego Union-Tribune, documenting the indictment, guilty plea, and resignation of Rep. Duncan Hunter and the congressional race that followed. Photojournalist Sam Hodgson conceived the series and reporter Morgan Cook provided the foundational reporting.

The Work

Beto served as executive producer, greenlighting the project and securing publisher support. On the creative side, he illustrated the hero image used across the print and digital advertising campaign, including full page and half page ads in the Union-Tribune. He art directed designer Gloria Orbegozo on the typography, which carried through into the documentary itself, and designed and animated the motion graphics that appear throughout the series.

To ensure the documentary reached its most relevant audience, the project was brought to the Union-Tribune's events team, resulting in a public premiere at the California Center for the Arts in Escondido. The six episode series aired on Cox and Spectrum Cable in San Diego.

The Result

The 50th won a regional Emmy Award from the Pacific Southwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 2021. For the The San Diego Union-Tribune, it represented one of the most ambitious original productions the newsroom had ever undertaken.

Watch The 50th on YouTube and view the Emmy recipients listing at the Pacific Southwest Chapter of NATAS.