Patch Wins 5 First-Place Awards at San Diego Press Club Event

Patch editors, columnists and freelancers were recognized Tuesday with five first-place and nine other awards at the 40th annual San Diego Press Club Excellence in Journalism Awards.

The Press Club's annual competition is among the largest regional journalism events in the United States. More than 350 awards were presented in 136 categories, with a record number of entries. 

The awards were presented at a ceremony Tuesday evening at the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation in southeastern San Diego.

The first place awards were for news coverage, photography and headlines:

• Local editor Khari Johnson received first place in general news, daily newspapers and websites, for “Ecological 'Heart Attack' Feared if IB Sand Closes the Tijuana River” on Imperial Beach Patch.
  
  
• Senior local editor Michelle Mowad received first place in still photography, live or breaking, for “Brush Fire Breaks Out Along Interstate 5” on La Jolla Patch.
  
  
• Freelancer Chris Stone received first place in still photography, sports, for “Arizona Jumper Heads for London Olympics” on La Mesa Patch.
  
  
• Freelancer Chris Stone also received a first place for still photography, portrait, for  “Santee-Based Semipro Women's Football Team to Play for National Title” on Santee Patch.
  
  
• Former editor Ken Stone received first place in headlines, newspapers and websites, for a portfolio of headlines on the 13 Patch sites in San Diego county.

• Former editor Eric Yates received second place in criminal justice coverage, newspapers and websites, for, “Teacher Aide Said 'You Can't Handle It,' Boy Testifies in Student Sex Case” on La Mesa Patch.
  
  
• Former editors Ken Stone and Melissa Phy received third place in education coverage, daily newspapers and websites, for “New Ramona High Principal Had Rocky Finale as Boulder Schools Chief” on Ramona Patch.
  
  
• Columnist Helen Ofield received third place in history coverage, daily newspapers and websites, for “1893: Birth of a School District” on Lemon Grove Patch.
  
  
• Former editor Ken Stone received third place in profile, daily newspapers and websites, for “Cindy Marten Calls Herself a 9/11 Soldier-Defending Public Education” on La Mesa Patch. 
  
  
• Former editor Ken Stone received third place in series, daily newspapers and websites, for “Journalists Press Their Cases Against Police Over Media Passes, Access” on La Jolla Patch.
  
  
• Freelancer Chris Stone received third place in still photography, news, for “Patriot Guard Leads Solemn Procession for Fallen Army Sgt. Eric Williams” on Murrieta Patch.
  
  
• Freelancer Chris Stone received both second- and third-place awards in still photography, photo essay, for “Jeneba Tarmoh Withdraws From 100-Meter Dash Runoff” on La Mesa Patch and “Dirty Devils: Brig. Gen. Coglianese Joins Troops, Civilians at Mud Run” on Camp Pendleton Patch.
  
  
• Local editor Deanne Goodman and freelancer Anne Zevely shared a second-place award in feature video for “6-Year-Old Wakes From Coma with Different Personality” on Carlsbad Patch.