Every year the San Diego Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists recognizes excellence among broadcast, print and online journalists in San Diego at their summer award banquet.
The San Diego Free Press, launched in 2012, exists to counteract corporate media influence through the practice of citizen journalism. This unique brand of journalism provides a voice to the underserved and marginalized in the region. At its most effective, it speaks truth to power in an accessible, authentic way.
Every year since 2013 the editorial board of the San Diego Free Press and our media partner the OB Rag review hundreds of submissions published in the prior year by our all-volunteer citizen journalists and submit a list of exceptional writing and videos to SPJ judges for consideration.
San Diego Free Press contributors and editors have garnered awards every year in categories that include breaking news, daily columns, opinion, food, videos and of course, politics.
We are intensely proud to be working with the incredibly talented and passionate people listed below who have been SPJ award winners.
— 2018 Awards —
Sara Kent
Daily Reporting and Writing, Opinion/Editorial
The Mickey Kasparian Scandal, Six Months Later
1st Place
Peter Zschiesche
Daily Reporting and Writing, Review/Criticism
Brian Alexanders ‘Glass House’: Examining Industrial Grief in the Heartland
1st Place
Maria-Elena Ugalde
Daily Reporting and Writing, Arts/Entertainment story
A Missing Link to Greatness: San Diego Artist Guillermo Yermo Aranda
2nd Place
Anna Daniels
Daily Reporting and Writing, Breaking news story
Trumps Long Shadow Falls on San Diego Immigrants, Refugees, Muslims
3rd Place
Doug Porter
Daily Reporting and Writing, Column
The Starting Line
3rd Place
— 2017 Awards —
Martha Sullivan
Opinion/Editorial
Study: SDPD’s Race Bias is Undisputed and Ineffective
1st Place
Mark Hughes
Daily Reporting and Writing, Environmental story
From Coal to Climate: The Evolution of an Activist
1st Place
Lawrence Herzog
Daily Reporting and Writing, Political/Government story
Land Use Planning in a ‘Post- Fact’ World? Looking Back on Measures B and C in Our Recent Election
3rd Place
Doug Porter
Daily Reporting and Writing, Column
The Starting Line
2nd Place
Barbara Zaragoza
Daily Reporting and Writing, Column
North of the Fence
3rd Place
Barbara Zaragoza
Daily Reporting and Writing, Multicultural story
Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, San Diego Chapter
3rd Place
— 2016 Awards —
Norma Damashek
Daily Reporting and Writing, Opinion/Editorial
Civic San Diego – Like a Hole in the Head
1st Place
Bob Dorn
Opinion/Editorial
Losing One’s Perch on America’s Finest Tourist Plantation
3rd Place
Will Falk
Health Story
Returning From Darkness: National Suicide Prevention Month
3rd Place
Maria Garcia
Sports Story
The History of Neighborhood House in Logan Heights: Americanization through Baseball
2nd Place
Horacio Jones
Video Feature
Video: The San Diego March for Ayotzinapa
1st Place
Doug Porter
Breaking News Story
Super Sized #Fightfor15 Protests, Value Meal Press Coverage
1st Place
Breaking News Story
ALEC Gets a Raucous Reception in San Diego
2nd Place
Richard Riehl
Opinion/Editorial
Have You No Shame, Mr. Caruso?
1st Place
San Diego Free Press
Online News Site
2nd Place
— 2015 Awards —
Doug Porter
Opinion/Editorial
Glenn Greenwald on Edward Snowden Leaks
3rd Place
Column
3rd Place
Norma Damashek
Political/Government Story
San Diego’s Genome
3rd Place
Vanessa Ceceña
Legal Story
Immigration, Deportation and Family Separation
2nd Place
Horacio Jones
Video Feature
Barrio Logan Art Show for the 43 Missing Mexican Students
3rd Place
Brent Beltrán
Review/Criticism
Street Tacos and Craft Beer Come to Barrio Logan
2nd Place
Anna Daniels
Multicultural Story
After the Wars, City Heights
2nd Place
Food Story
For the Love of Tamales
3rd Place
— 2014 Awards —
Doug Porter
Opinion/Editorial
Death by Street Planning on El Cajon Boulevard
2nd Place
John Lawrence
Environmental Story
An Analysis of the City of San Diego’s Climate Action Plan.
2nd Place
Anna Daniels
Weekly Column
City Heights: Up Close & Personal
Honorable Mention
Frank Gormlie
News or Feature Series
Digging Tunnels Under the 3o Foot Height Limit — Part 1
Digging Tunnels Under the 30 Foot Height Limit — Part 2
Honorable Mention
— 2013 Awards —
Doug Porter
Daily Reporting and Writing
Debunking the Opposition to Proposition Z, San Diego Schools’ Opportunity to Keep Moving into the 21st Century
1st Place
