Times of San Diego Named Region’s Top News Site as Staffer Collects 20 Awards

On a night when special-award winners saluted an industry under economic and political siege, Times of San Diego took top honors Tuesday as the region’s No. 1 news site.

It was the eighth time since 2014 that the independent news outlet won first place for News Site at the San Diego Press Club’s excellence in journalism awards.

In all, Times of San Diego staff collected 35 awards, led by a remarkable 20 for contributing photographer Chris Stone of La Mesa, who took home nine first-place plaques.

Her husband, contributing editor Ken Stone, won 10 awards, including one first-place plaque.

Chris Jennewein, founder and general manager of Times of San Diego, added a first-place for editorial writing — his latest such honor but first since the site was acquired in June by the nonprofit group NEWSWELL, part of the ASU Media Enterprise at Arizona State University.

“The entire Times of San Diego team can be proud of receiving this recognition for the eighth time,” he said. “It’s a tribute to their hard work and devotion to keeping San Diego readers informed.

“And a special congratulations to Chris and Ken Stone, who once again demonstrated excellence in journalism.”

JW August won two awards for KPBS reporting projects and, with Times of San Diego, took first place for public service/consumer advocacy.

Some 200 news and public-relations professionals and students attended the 51st annual event at the Liberty Station Conference Center in Point Loma.

The Press Club said more than 500 awards were handed out in 130 categories and 10 divisions, including college media. Scholarship winners were announced as well.

Judging was done by 15 professional journalism organizations, including press clubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Rochester, Florida, Cleveland, Orange County, Milwaukee, Tulsa and Alaska.

Special recognition went to:

• Amita Sharma of KPBS, who won the Harold Keen Award for Outstanding Contribution in Journalism.
• Kaye Sweetser and Peter MacCracken, who tied for the Andy Mace Award for Outstanding Contribution in Public Relations.
• Lora Cicalo, senior editor of The San Diego Union-Tribune, who won the Jim Reiman Enlightened Media Management Award.
• And CSU San Marcos chief spokesman Jerry McCormick, who took home the new Terry Williams Directors’ Award.

Cicalo, introduced by U-T political columnist Michael Smolens as his “partner in crime,” quoted kindergarten values as worthy of journalism.

Citing an essay in Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten,” she said: “I don’t mean to imply that a kindergarten education will make you a good journalist.”

But Cicalo said she often thought that his premise speaks to what makes a great newsroom: “Simple edicts like: Share, play fair, don’t take things that aren’t yours, clean up for your own mess, say you’re sorry when it’s necessary.”

She added: “Be honest, nurture your imagination, ask questions and learn more. … try new things, remember to truly listen … follow the Golden Rule.”

She closed by noting challenging times in her profession.

“We face grave uncertainty, upheaval and no shortage of threats” to credibility and independence. “But it’s also a time of great opportunity. And our work is as viable as ever.”

Sharma called her industry “diminishing in numbers” and under attack by politicians.

“Yet you continue to work every day on what I consider the loftiest work — the highest calling” she said.

PR leader Sweetser said the news industry was never more vital to the country.

“That kind of Us vs. Them mindset that paints the (news) media and PR as frenemies is a false dichotomy,” she said. “We each have a role in making sure the public has timely, accurate information.”

“Society depends on it. It depends on us.”

And McCormick, founding president of the San Diego Association of Black Journalists, thanked his former students at several colleges he calls #JerrysKids.

“You all are the watchdogs and keepers of democracy,” he told the audience, “and are the unsung heroes. Now, more than ever, journalism is important.

“I hope you all will keep fighting the good fight.”

Times of San Diego First-Place Awards

• Websites: News Site: Chris Jennewein and Times of San Diego Team for “Best San Diego News Website”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Editorials: Chris Jennewein for “San Diego’s Brian Jones Helps Build an Effective ‘Loyal Opposition’ in Sacramento”
• Online and Daily newspapers: History: Chris Stone for “How Did He Survive WWII, Korea and Vietnam? ‘I Ran Fast and Ducked Low’”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Public Service/Consumer Advocacy: JW August for “On Sunshine Week, San Diego’s Open Records System Is Failing”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Military: Chris Stone for “Not ‘Big Hairy Monsters’ or Superman, Say San Diego Navy SEALs of Vietnam”
• Photography — Still: Breaking News: Chris Stone for “Victim of San Diego flooding”
• Photography — Still: Feature — Serious Subject: Chris Stone for “King Tides at La Jolla Cove”
• Photography — Still: News: Chris Stone for “Artillery salute at USS Canley commissioning”
• Photography — Still: Photo Essay: Chris Stone for “Navy SEALs on Honor Flight San Diego”
• Photography — Still: Portrait: Chris Stone for “Sha’Carri Richardson at start of 100”
• Photography — Still: Sports: Chris Stone for “Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone Stands Alone as Icon”
• Photography — Video: Feature — Light Subject: Chris Stone for “King tides, majestic birds at La Jolla Cove”

Second-Place Awards

• Online and Daily newspapers: Feature — Serious Subject: Chris Stone for “Turning the Tide Against Suicide: Retired Fire Chief at Annual Games in San Diego”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Political/Government: Ken Stone for “Q&A With GOP’s Ellis T. Jones, D3 San Diego City Council Candidate, Ex-Felon”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Sports: Ken Stone for “Why Did Chula Vista Lose U.S. Paralympic Track and Field Trials to Miramar, Florida?”
• Photography — Still: News: Chris Stone, “Waiting for reopening of OB Pier”
• Photography — Still: Portrait: Chris Stone for “Noah Lyles at start of 100”
• Photography — Video: News: Ken Stone and Chris Stone for “Vietnam-era Navy SEALs homecoming in San Diego”

Third-Place Awards

• Online and Daily newspapers: Election Coverage: Ken Stone for “Toss-Up in Congress Race of Rep. Levin vs. Matt Gunderson? GOP Poll Is Scrutinized”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Multicultural: Chris Stone for “San Diego Diocese Ordains Vietnamese, Mexican Immigrants as Auxiliary Bishops”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Political/Government: Ken Stone for “Threats to Local Elected Officials Studied: Nearly Half of Women Consider Quitting”
• Photography — Still: Portrait: Chris Stone for “Megan Rapinoe’s final season”
• Photography — Video: Feature — Serious Subject: Chris Stone for “Sunset on Vietnam Veterans Memorial replica”
• ‘Photography — Video: News: Chris Stone for “Snapdragon Streaker Exposed — Jacob T. Parker Eluded Security at Man U Match”
• Body of work: Ken Stone

Honorable Mentions

• Online and Daily newspapers: Business & Financial: Ken Stone for “Google Saving Local Journalism or Dooming It? LA Times Exec Fears Statewide ‘News Desert”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Environment: Ken Stone for “‘Love Your Neighbor’: San Diego Diocese Divests, Boasts Full-Time Climate Chief”
• Online and Daily newspapers: Military: Ken Stone for “Walt Nauta’s ‘Weird’ Navy Bio: Why Was Trump Aide in San Diego Only a Month?”
• Photography — Still: Feature — Light Subject: Chris Stone for “Baton twirlers at La Jolla Christmas Parade”