The North Coast Current had a successful 2020, receiving 16 awards from local and nationally affiliated professional media organizations.

In addition to seven awards given to the Current — including second place for best news site — by the San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the online news journal and its contributors won nine awards from the San Diego Press Club in October, competing with daily and online news outlets.

The North Coast Current received third place best news site from the Press Club, behind the Times of San Diego and The San Diego Union-Tribune. The awards were officially announced Oct. 27.

Education columnist Marsha Sutton won first place for her serious-subject column “Scorning the public’s right to be heard” and third place multicultural story for “Advocating for transgender rights.”

Freelance writer Julia Shapero received third place for history coverage for her story about the granting of national historic status for the Encinitas Boat Houses.

Freelancer Joel Vaughn won an honorable mention for his report on local leaders’ push to craft a regional transportation plan. Bella Ross won an honorable mention for her coverage of the controversy over construction at Cardiff Elementary School.

North Coast Current publisher Roman S. Koenig received a first place award for editorial writing for a piece on the Cardiff school conflict and a third place in the same category for an editorial about community protests over COVID-19 restrictions. Koenig also second place for headline writing.

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