The North Coast Current’s news site was recently recognized as being the best in the county by judges of the Society of Professional Journalists San Diego Pro Chapter’s annual contest.

In addition to a first place award for best news site in the contest’s digital category, North Coast Current contributors won top awards for their reporting, from COVID-19 coverage and last year’s election to food tips and recipes. The organization held its annual celebration Sept. 23 at Stone Brewing in Liberty Station. The awards were given for work published in 2020.

“Recognition like this assures our readers that no matter the size of the operation, the North Coast Current works to produce a valuable news site to the areas we cover,” publisher and editor Roman S. Koenig said.

Columnist Laura Woolfrey Macklem won first place for her nondaily food column, Preserved Home. Among her installments that won was “Julian memories cook up apple inspirations.”

Freelance writer Ethan Edward Coston won first place in the political/government category for his story “From pledges to the polls, Encinitas grapples with dearth of election civility,” about the raucous Encinitas City Council election.

Election coverage also factored in Koenig’s first place nondaily editorial, “Which Current are you reading? Encinitas site stirs election season confusion,” about the confusion caused by a mayoral candidate’s launch of political sites Encinitas Current and Cardiff Current in the North Coast Current’s core coverage area.

Koenig also won two awards for reporting: nondaily breaking news story for “County orders halt to COVID-19 antibody tests at Encinitas site” and third place for “Encinitas council OKs parking lot for homeless after lengthy session.”

In addition to the North Coast Current’s awards, hometown colleagues at The Coast News received the James Julian Memorial Award for its community service reporting, “The clean campaign pledge,” which aimed to have 2020 candidates take a pledge of civility.

The SPJ’s San Diego Pro Chapter holds numerous events for the region’s media professionals, educators and students.

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