Uptown News Wins Big for its First Edition

San Diego Uptown News garnered seven awards for journalistic and design excellence at the 36th Annual San Diego Press Club Awards ceremony held October 20 at the San Diego Hall of Champions in Balboa Park.

The fledgling community newspaper was honored with first and second place awards for general news, and first place for reviews, in the non-daily category. Architectural critic Ann Jarmusch took first place for “Growing Pains,” an investigative piece about a controversial renovation plan by The Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Caron Golden won a first place award for her profile of the Sausage King, a culinary icon in Mission Hills.

“We’re very proud of these prestigious honors,” said publisher David Mannis. “The notable thing about the seven awards is that they were all for our very first edition, published June 19. It was the only issue eligible because of the June 30 cut-off date for the Press Club awards. We competed against newspapers throughout San Diego County, including the major dailies in the Web site categories, who had a year’s worth of editions to pick entries from.”

“We strive to improve Uptown News with every edition,” continued Mannis. “Our Editor in Chief Ron James and Editor Leslie Wolf Branscomb have recruited some of the best names in local journalism to write informative and entertaining stories that are important to our community. Ken Pagano, our art director, has designed our newspaper with a bold and fresh approach. We can’t wait to see how we fare in future competitions, with a year’s worth of news and features under our belt. Our great Uptown communities deserve an award-winning newspaper.”

San Diego Press Club Awards for June 19, 2009, edition of San Diego Uptown News

NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS — General News

First Place: Ann Jarmusch, “Growing Pains,” San Diego Uptown News. Judge’s comment: “Well researched and structured story of church vs state and neighbors. Evenhanded in its approach.”

Second Place: Charles Shaw, “A Sign of the Times,” San Diego Uptown News.

NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS — Food

Second Place: Ron James, “A Rose is Not Always a Rose,” San Diego Uptown News.

NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS — Reviews

First Place: Caron Golden, “Sausage King Offers a Taste of the Old Country,” San Diego Uptown News. Judge’s comment: “This story flowed and covered the wwww&h (who, what, when, where and how). The details of the food and the establishment are worded in an inviting way! One can’t help wanting to stand inside and savor the smells.”

NON-DAILY NEWSPAPERS — Front Page Design

Third Place: Ken Pagano, June 19, 2009, San Diego Uptown News.

WEB SITES — General Interest Site

Second Place: Ron James, Leslie Wolf Branscomb, www.sduptownnews.com, San Diego Uptown News.

WEB SITES — Overall Use of Design

Third Place: Ron James, www.sduptownnews.com, San Diego Uptown News.