2009

Just three months after we launched our site, San Diego Press Club presented ECM with a whopping 18 journalism awards, including naming our site the best general interest website and second best news site in San Diego County for 2009. Five of our writers including our editor also won individual honors:

E.A. Barrera:  1st place, General News, Firestorm of Controversy. Judge’s comment: “Clear explanation of a complex issue and a strong call to action.”

Editor and founder Miriam Raftery won eight awards:

1st place, Political/Government, Battle of the Watchdogs. Judge’s comment: “This story is like a great political debate. Solid reporting on the contrasting candidates.”
2nd place, Wild Card Category: Regional Economic Budget Crisis, How Prepared is East County for the Next Wildfire? Budget Cuts Burn Some Local Agencies. Judge’s comment: “Disturbing tale of a community left vulnerable in the wake of the worsening economy.”
2nd place, Political/Government, Solar Farm Reaps Controversy. Judge’s comment: “Comprehensive wrap-up of the facts surrounding a controversial subject.”
3rd place, Public Service/Consumer,Early Voting Lines. Judge’s comment: “Clearly, this is an issue that needs to be solved and this story makes a compelling, fact-based argument.”
3rd place, Public Service/Consumer, Where’s the Pork? No Money for Fire Stations or Fire Prevention in San Diego’s Proposed Stimulus Projects. Judge’s comment: “Love the headline – and the story delivered what it promised. As the author says, sometimes you need a little `muckraking.’”
2nd place, Multicultural, Bird Singers and Basketweavers Celebrate Opening of Native American Museum in Warner Springs
2nd place, Essay/Commentary/Opinion, Proposal for President-Elect Barack Obama: Put Americans to work providing fire protection infrastructure and energy independence for San Diego’s fire-ravaged East County region
2nd place, Travel, Lost Highways of East County: Traveling Old Hwy 80 is a Trip Down Memory Lane. Judge’s comment: “A loving, even romantic account of a trip through the region’s past.”
3rd place, Investigative Reporting, Water Board Stirs Flood of Controversy

Gayle Early received awards in two categories:

2nd place, Breaking News, Ecumenical Gathering of Friendship Park Disrupted by Taunting. Judge’s comment: “Chilling account of a tragic human story.”
2nd place, General News, Hungry in East County. Judge’s comment: “Excellent first person reporting, well resourced and comprehensive.”
2nd place, Series, Don Quixote Fights Windmills & So Do the Folks in Boulevard” (part 1, part 2, and part 3.)

Jamie Reno won 2nd place for his column, The Reno Report.

2010

In 2010, ECM editor Miriam Raftery won our first award from Society for Professional Journalists, receiving 1st place in investigative reporting for Sonic weapons used in Iraq positioned at townhall meetings in San Diego County. This article ignited a firestorm of controversy, had more than 150,000 read worldwide, and led to Sheriff Bill Gore announcing he decommissioned the weapon.

East County Magazine also picked up 13 new awards at San Diego Press Club’s “Excellence in Journalism” 2010 awards. ECM was named second-best news site and second best general interest website in San Diego County.   Individual writers also took top honors across a broad range of categories:. 

Miriam Raftery:

1st place, series: “Earthquake Coverage.” Earthquake series included :
• Quake upgraded to 7.2; strongest ever in San Diego area:
• 2 dead, 50 wounded in Mexico quake; numerous fires burning
• 100 aftershocks jar region today; more damage reports roll in
• Quake toll rises as aftershocks continue; minor damage found locally as businesses reopen after holiday weekend

• Renewed seismic activity raises questions over major projects planned in East County
  1st place, political and government: Ethics, Economy and Education Among Issues in 36th State Senate Race”
  1st, public service/consumer advocacy: Lakeside Citizens Put SDG&E Officials in Hot Seat

1st place, multicultural: Summit Seeks Help for Growing Refugee Population in East County

2nd place, multicultural, Refugees from Burma and Bhutan Find News Homes in East County
2nd place, investigative reporting: Sonic Weapons
2nd place, history: La Mesa Turns 100

3rd place, breaking news: CA Attorney General Threatens Lawsuit Against Padre Dam

3rd place, criminal justice: ”National Latino Leaders Targeted by Death Threat

Gayle Lynn Falkenthal:

1st place, gardening: East County’s Eco Warrior

Richard Darvas:

3rd place, investigative reporting, A Defensible Space

2011

In 2011, ECM took home 13 awards from San Diego Press Club, including seven 1st place honors:

Ariele Johannson:

1st place, business and financial: Warner Springs Ranch comes full circle with Pala Purchase 

Ron Logan:1st place, history: Moving forward from the back of the bus

1st place. photography feature: Bob Filner proudly displays his ‘Freedom Ride’ mug shots

Jim Pelley and Miriam Raftery:

1st place, investigative reporting, series: “Powerlink Tower Crashes”, which led to a worldwide recall of a defective helicopter hoist mechanism”

• ECM Special report: Sky cranes, useful in heavy lifting operations such as Powerlink, have history of accidents
• CPUC report highlights safety concerns over dropped Powerlink Towers
• Witness says SDG&E tried to hide evidence of fallen Powerlink tower and intimidate photographer
• Oops, they did it again: SDG&E chopper drops a second tower

Dennis Richardson:

1st place, photography, live or breaking: Lakeside Fire  Now 100 acres: Climbers Reportedly Trapped on Mountain

Miriam Raftery:

1st place, series: “Bridging Worlds: From East Africa to East San Diego”:

• Little Mogadishu: From East Africa to East San Diego
• Alone in a strange land: African asylees tell their stories
• Project Refuge 

1st place, multicultural: Local Iraqi Christians Mourn Loss of Those Killed in Baghdad Church Massacre 

2nd place, education: Will a new charter school in East County make the grade?

3rd place, investigative reporting, single report: A walk on the wild side proves perilous for East County woman attacked by lion in Africa

3rd place, Travel : Picture-perfect: Presidents’ Day on Palomar Mountain

Jeremy Los:3rd place, general news, East County  mayors react to homeless count findings

Billy Ortiz and Miriam Raftery:3rd place, consumer advocacy: Lakeside residents claim helicopters violate no-fly zone near eagles’ nests

Mary Paulet:3rd place, Photography feature: Fire Engine Parade

2012

ECM received the 2012 Media Award from the League of Women Voters in San Diego for our coverage of developers’ efforts to abolish community planning groups. Our coverage led to widespread public outcry, with county supervisors voting 3-2 to save community planning groups.

In 2012, ECM won 11 awards from San Diego Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism Awards. Most of the honors recognized ECM’s in-depth coverage of the impacts of major energy projects, including industrial wind turbines, on local rural, mountain and desert communities.

ECM editor Miriam Raftery won nine awards, including a first place award in general news for Silence of the Lambs: U.S. Government authorizes killing of endangered bighorns in path of wind project.   Raftery and ECM intern Mia Myklebust shared an additional first place award in the public service/consumer advocacy category for Jacumba: A town surrounded. That story focused on the impacts of major energy projects on a small rural community.

Raftery’s entry titled  This was your land: East County suffers loss of our public properties picked up two awards, winning first place in the public service/consumer advocacy category as well as second place among all general interest website entries—a category open only to all first place winners across other categories.  The piece documented the cumulative impact of factors including wildfires, Sunrise Powerlink, proposed wind projects and more on our state and federal lands.

Photographer Tom Abbott won first place in the live or breaking news category for his winning image during the during the mayoral primary titled “DeMaio and Filner gear up for partisan fight.”

Nadin Abbott, a citizen journalist trained by ECM, picked up a second place in the health and medicine category for San Diego’s high suicide rates—and how to get help.

Four writers  and  photographers (Jim Pelley, Susan Massey, Denee Estevan Woolley and Miriam Raftery) shared a second place in the Multicultural category for Tribal members hold vigil at Ocotillo wind site.

Another wind energy story, Whistleblower alleges gag order, written by Raftery received a second place award for investigative reporting. 

In addition, Raftery’s Wind Storm: An ECM special report series on potential impacts of the Ocotillo Express wind project” won second place in the Series category.  The series documents impacts of Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Express wind development, a case study illustrating the negative consequences of federal fast-tracking of large energy projects:

• Part I:  Tribes implore President Obama to stop Ocotillo wind project, save cultural sites
• Part II: Whistleblower alleges gag order kept state park employees from revealing harm to Anza Borrego Desert State Park (a joint investigation with 10 News)
• Part III: Potential risks to residents from 20 square mile wind project proposed for Ocotillo
• Part IV: Planners approve Ocotillo wind, ignore serious health and safety issues, environmental impacts, community and tribal concerns

Raftery’s editorial titled Supervisors should deny Pattern Energy’s application for Ocotillo Express wind won third place in the essay/commentary/opinion category. 

In addition, Raftery took third place in the Feature category with A Friday that was anything but black, describing a day of wine-tasting and fall foliage viewing along the back roads of East County.

Also in 2012, Miriam Raftery also received the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) James Julian Memorial Award for best community reporting series. The award honored our  investigative reporting series, “FEMA refund demand sparks firestorm of controversy. which resulted in the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) retracting its demand for local wildfire victims to return disaster funds:

• FEMA to disaster victims: Send back every penny
• Elected officials react with anger to FEMa demanding repayment from fire victims
• FEMA backs down, retracts refund demand to local firestorm survivors
• FEMA adjusts refund demands made to more local fire victims

Raftery also won second place for environmental reporting: County Issues Draft Wind Ordinance: Backcountry leaders level harsh criticism

2013

In 2013, ECM won two special awards from SPJ San Diego, including the Sol Price Award for Responsible Journalism and the James Julian Award for the second year in a row, both for reporting on issues involving the Ocotillo wind energy project’s impacts on residents and the environment. Both prizes included cash awards.

The James Julian Award was for Raftery’s article titled, Awash in Complaints, Residents Seek Protection From Wind Developer’s Actions A judge in the James Julian category remarked, “Hard-hitting and thorough, it’s heartwarming to see this kind of old-fashioned investigative reporting still lives…” 

The Sol Price Award  is presented to journalists whose work not only meets ethical standards but also shows uncommon sensitivity to issues. He or she pursued truth in the face of such obstacles as unpopularity, economic retribution or physical harm. A judge in the Sol Price awards stated that our reporting team, led by Miriam Raftery, should be “commended,” adding, “It goes to show that even the greenest of projects can be an environmental hazard if not undertaken in good faith.”

Raftery shared the Sol Price Prize for Responsible Journalism with photographers Jim Pelley and Parke Ewing, for their story titled Residents Complain of Dust Bowl, Third World Conditions at Pattern Energy’s Ocotillo Wind Site” Ewing was assaulted by the wind farm manager and obtained a restraining order, continuing his coverage.

Raftery won several more awards from SPJ:

2nd place, opinion/editorial: Save Community Planning Groups

Honorable mention, opinion/editorial: “The people our Governor wants to `crush’ took Governor Jerry Brown to task for denigrating rural residents and Native American tribal members protesting Sunrise Powerlink and other big energy projects.

Honorable mention, environmental: “Silence of the lambs,” on  the U.S. Department of the Interior’s decision to issues take permits allowing killing of bighorn sheep in the path of the Ocotillo wind project

ECM also picked up 11 awards in 2013 from San Diego Press Club.

ECM took first place for multicultural reporting for Native American Heritage Commission declares Ocotillo Wind a sacred site, asks Attorney General to weigh legal action.  The story was authored by ECM editor Miriam Raftery, who won eight awards, with an accompanying video report by Paul Kruze.

Several other winning articles dealt with energy issues, including Raftery’s The Betrayal of Boulevard : Can this happen to your town, too? (second place feature), An ill wind blowing (editorial/commentary by Raftery),Where is the wind? (second place, investigative reporting, by Miriam Raftery, photos and video by Jim Pelley) and  Wind turbines arrive in Ocotillo as residents complain of Dust Bowl, third world conditions, (second place, general news categpru) byy  Miriam Raftery, photo and video by Jim Pelley and Parke Ewing. 

Intern Sierra Robinson, along with Nadin Abbott and Raftery teamed up to win second place for their series on wind issues:   Supervisors blow off residents’ concerns over wind ordinance;   Supervisors approve wind ordinance, blow off residents’ concerns, After turbulent hearing, Supervisors postpone action on wind ordinance; East County residents ask County’s top health official to revise report, recognize serious health impacts from wind turbines; and Valley Fever epidemic linked to desert solar construction, heightens concerns over risks from large-scale wind and solar projects

Other stories dealt with fire safety issues. In the breaking news category, Raftery picked up third place for 1900 acres of wilderness scorched in San Felipe Fire amid growing questions over out-of-control burn . She also took third place in the general news category for Palomar’s Volunteer Fire Department Fights Back as County Pushes for Takeover.

ECM photographer Ron Logan won first place in the still photography news category for his image of the Space Shuttle Endeavor’s final journey .  Darin Sefcik took third place for still feature photos with his image, Counting Sheep on the Annual Bighorn County in Anza-Borrego Desert.

Movie reviewer Brian Lafferty picked up a third place honor for his “On the Silver Screen” review, When the Sun Goes Down, of the film “Before Midnight.”

Raftery’s eight awards tied for most awards by a single journalist this year.

2014

In 2014, ECM picked up an international award for our environmental reporting from the World Council for Nature in Spain.

Also in 2014, we won 11 awards from San Diego Press Club and 10 awards from SPJ.. 

Our radio special report, “Out of the Ashes” on the 10-year anniversary of the Cedar Fire, won a first place radio award from SPJ and second place radio award from San Diego the Press Club for our editor. Raftery covered the 2007 wildfires and revisited contacts from her reporting a decade ago as well as adding never-before-told stories from one of the worst firestorms in California history.

Raftery picked up yet another James Julian award for Why is County Veterans Service Department ignoring rural East County vets? Her coverage resulted in the County bringing veteran’s services to rural libraries.

Tom Abbott won a first place SPJ photography award for his dramatic photograph, Lone firefighter shot during the Chariot Fire.

SPJ’s best talk/interview story was awarded to Miriam Raftery for her Draining Lake Morena interviews on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ.  The judges remarked, “This show serves an important community service by hosting public discussions on-air about controversial issues.”

In the investigative/enterprise story category for daily reporting, Raftery won first place from SPJ for What’s polluting waterways in Ocotillo?  The story revealed how a green energy project may be threatening a town’s water supply. The judges remarked, “Aggressive reporting that won’t take `no’ for an answer.’”

Raftery also won first place in the opinion/editorial category for  An ill wind blowing.  The judges commented, “Hammer blow after hammer blow nails each devastating point of the argument in this piece aimed at keeping a `green’ wind-powered system from destroying land, businesses, wildlife and people.”

Tom and Nadin Abbott shared an honorable mention from SPJ in the breaking news category for their behind-fire lines coverage of the Chariot Fire, which  destroyed over 100 homes on Mount Laguna in 2013. The story was titled Historic lodge at Shrine Camp, Foster Lodge cabin among 108 buildings destroyed in Chariot Fire.

Raftery picked up a second place from SPJ in the breaking news story category for 1800 acres of wilderness scorched in San Felipe amid growing concerns over out-of-control burn.

She also received two SPJ honorable mentions for Grand Jury issues report on GUHSD and Alpine High School  in the education category and in the environmental category for The betrayal of Boulevard: could this happen to your town, too?

Our 2014 San Diego Press Club awards included, in addition to Out of the Ashes recognition, included many more awards.

Intern Jessica Richmond received a first place award for environmental reporting for her article titled An ecological disaster in the making? examining the history and impacts of major energy projects in our region  She also shared a third place award with editor Miriam Raftery in the criminal justice category for Sheriff response times in rural areas raise concerns.

Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery received a first place integrated media award in the health and medicine category for “A Hearty Recovery,” documenting Leon’s recovery from open heart surgery on our radio show and news website. See our story, hospital interview, and Leon’s heartfelt message.

Tom and Nadin Abbott’s coverage of the Chariot Fire on Mount Laguna earned a third place award for breaking news, for Historic Lodge at Shrine Camp, Sierra Club’s Foster Lodge cabin among 108 buildings destroyed in Chariot Fire.  Nadin Abbott also took a second place award in the general news category for her Six States? Ballot Initiative Effort Seeks to Split California story.

East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery  won seven awards, including several shared with other staff members .  In addition to those already mentioned, Raftery won second place for environmental reporting with a story titled SOITEC fails to disclose truth about impacts of solar projects. She picked up another second place award for public service/consumer advocacy for a story titled Why is County Veterans Services ignoring rural East County vets? That story resulted in passage of a measure by County Supervisors to bring veterans services to rural libraries.

Raftery won a third place investigative reporting award for her article titled Was it fraud? Experts raise serious questions after low first-year energy production at Ocotillo Wind. In addition, she took third place in the political/government category for her coverage of events that led to the resignation of El Cajon’s mayor, with an article called  Mayor Lewis in controversy over comments on Chaldeans.

Mark and Cody Clement shared a third place radio feature award for their entertaining “Wildest Jobs” interview with a rodeo clown in Lakeside,  aired on East County Magazine’s radio show here on KNSJ.

2015

In 2015, SPJ honored our radio show coverage of local Chaldean Christians’ efforts to halt genocide in Iraq, our interview with a local Kurdish woman on how the ISIS invasion impacted her family, and our investigative report on a proposed energy project.

The SJP awards were all presented to Miriam Raftery

Read and hear our award-winning entries here:

2nd place, Investigative/Enterprise Story – single subject, SOITEC fails to disclose truth about solar impacts

2nd place, Talk/Interview story/audio – Anguish hits home for local Kurdish woman

2nd place.News or Feature Series/Audio: “Local Iraqi leaders speak out to halt genocide”

• Ben Kalasho interview on escalating violence and a humanitarian crisis in Iraq; Listen online ; read more
• Mark Arabo interview on petition to save Iraqi Christians Listen online ; read more
• Mark Arabo discusses genocide in Iraq and visits to Washington D.C: Listen online; read more

Also in 2015, ECM won five San Diego Press Club awards

Our editor, Miriam Raftery, won first place in multicultural coverage for her report, “Christian homes marked, families killed: East County residents rally to save Iraqi Christians.”  She also took first place for public service/consumer advocacy journalism with “Lakeside residents and planners voice outrage over sand mining proposed in El Monte Valley.”

A dramatic photograph of a powerful storm downdraft in La Mesa submitted by Kathleen Coates-Hedberg took first place for breaking news photography.

Raftery received second place in the health and medicine category with “County changes ambulance service without public notice; public safety advocates voice alarm.”  In addition, she placed second for environmental reporting with her  story, “County cleans up dirt dumped in Cleveland National Forest after ECM inquiry.”

In addition, our editor was honored with a Woman in Leadership award from the  San Diego East County Chamber of Commerce.

2016

In 2016, Miriam Raftery and Janis Mork shared the First Amendment prize from SPJ for their articles that resulted in our county dropping efforts to suppress free speech. 

• County seeks to restrict free speech protesters, photography, and more in public park
• Citizens oppose county efforts to curb free speech
• Supervisors postpone action on Waterfront Park free speech rules until July
• County shelves free speech regulation efforts

Other 2016 SPJ awards presented were:

1st place, multicultural story:  East County Chaldeans Plea for Release of Iraqi Christians Detained at Otay, multimedia coverage by Miriam Raftery, Leon Thompson and Ed Barrena

2nd place, political/governmental story: Soitec backers host fundraiser for Roberts—after Roberts cast vote for Soitec, by Miriam Raftery

Honorable mention, news Series: “Ambulance Responses In our Region Raise Alarms,” by Mike Allen and Miriam Raftery (This series led the county to improve ambulance service)

• Fire Board Members raise concerns over ambulance contract response times
• How do county’s response times for ambulance service stack up to other areas?
• County responds to ambulance services questions
• Ambulance updates announced
• County changes ambulance service without public notice; public safety advocates voice alarm

Honorable ,mention, multicultural story: Rise in violent anti-Semitic attacks worldwide raises alarm, by Miriam Raftery

San Diego Press Club presented ECM with its “Wildcard” category award for reporting on border issues, in recognition of our coverage of the Border Fire and issues over authorities’ responses.

Our entry titled “Border Fire Leaves Residents Burned Over Bureaucratic Bungling” won the Wildcard category; the 2016 wildcard topic was “life on the border.”  Our media outlet beat out media in all categories for this prestigious award including TV, radio, newspapers and magazines countywide.

Read our Border Fire entries in the Wildcard category:

• Chicken farmer devastated by losses again
• Animals dying in Potrero, fire services refuses access to aid livestock and pets in evacuation area
• Border Fire survivors share concerns in meeting with Supervisor Jacob, fire and sheriff officials

We also won second place for multicultural reporting for our article titled East County Chaldeans plea for release of Iraqi Christians detained at Otay by Miriam Raftery.

In addition, we picked up a third place award for environmental reporting with Raftery’s story on a paramilitary shooting range inside Cleveland National Forest, Planning Commission guns down appeal, allows Covert Canyon to conduct military firearms training amid federal forest lands

We were also honored with a “Heroes” award from the Alpine-Mountain Empire Chamber of  Commerce in 2016

2017

In 2017,  Society of Professional Journalists awarded four members of ECM’s team.  Miriam Raftery received her fourth James Julian award for community se vice reporting for Whitewash? County’s Border Fire report ignores serious concerns raised by residents.

Rachel Williams took a first place news photography award for her haunting image of Syrian refugee children in El Cajon, taken as part of her article titled A revolution of struggle continues for Syrian refugees in East County.  

For coverage of the shooting of Alfred Olango, an African-American man, by a white El Cajon Police Officer and the ensuing civil unrest, a second place award for breaking news coverage was shared by reporters Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson and Jonathan Goetz, photographer Robert Gehr, and reporter/editor Miriam Raftery. Our reporters risked personal safety to get these stories; Rebecca was knocked down and had her camera bag stolen amid the fray. The winning stories are:

• Protests erupt in El Cajon; black man shot by police dies
• Parkway Plaza evacuated,  car show shut down amid unrest after police shooting
• Unrest grows in El Cajon; man killed pointed vaping device at officers

Our broadcast of the Helix Water District candidate forum on the East County Magazine Show on KNSJ radio also won a second place audio award for community service programming. The forum was moderated by ECM editor Miriam Raftery.

ECM also picked up four awards from San Diego Press Club in 2017.

Our editor, Miriam Raftery, won first place in public service reporting for her article titled, Whitewash? County’s Border Fire report ignores serious concerns raised by residents”

Paul Kruze and Raftery shared a second place award for political and governmental reporting for a story with video titled Hunter faces tough questions at raucous town hall in Ramona.

Rachel Williams took third place in the multicultural category for her report, A revolution of struggle continues for Syrian refugees in East County.

Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson, Jonathan Goetz and Raftery shared a third place award in breaking news for their story, Parkway Plaza evacuated, car show shut down amid unrest after police shooting covering civil unrest after the shooting of Alfred Olango in El Cajon.

2018

In 2018, Miriam Raftery and Paul Kruze received the prestigious Gloria Penner Award from SPJ-San Diego for Kalasho threats, their reporting in the face of harassment and threats by Councilman Ben Kalasho.

The judges commented, “Nothing says tough political reporting like exposing a corrupt politican, and the judges believe that Gloria Penner would have been proud of the journalists’ work to expose El Cajon Councilman Ben Kalasho.”

The entry detailed threats and retaliatory actions made by Councilman Kalasho, a mayoral candidate, after our news publication reported on his legal and ethical controversies including judicial findings of sexual harassment, fraud, defamation and cyberharassment against beauty pageant contestants and a businessman. 

The retaliatory actions included threats of a libel suit (despite not disputing any facts in our reports), harassment and defamation on social media.  After the award entry was submitted, the harassment escalated; Kruze filed a complaint with El Cajon Police accusing Kalasho of threatening him with a trained attack dog and  inciting death threats against Kruze on Kalasho’s Facebook page.

The award, named for the late, great KPBS political journalist, was one of four honors won by ECM at last night’s SPJ awards dinner at the Kona Kai resort on Shelter Island. The award includes a $250 prize.

East County Magazine also received three additional awards from SPJ:.

2nd place, columns, for Media Watch by Miriam Raftery

3rd place, arts and entertainment category for Paul Kruze’s coverage of the East County Performing Arts Center in El Cajon approves landmark agreement with Live Nation to reopen ECPAC

2nd place, essay, for Raftery’s piece written on the 10-year anniversary of the Harris Fire, titled, A reporter’s reflections on the firestorms of 2007.

2019

In 2019, San Diego Press Club presented these awards to ECM:

1st place, breaking news for Raftery’s  With West Fire 92% contained Alpine residents return home, but dozens find only ashes

1st place, political/governmental reporting to Raftery for Judge finds facts true and admissible in case against Kalashos: faked nude photos, sexual harassment, defamation, and offer to trade sex for pageant crown

3rd place, series on a serious subject, to Kruze and Raftery for their series titled Councilman Kalasho’s legal and ethical scandals.  The series included:

• Judge finds facts true and admissible in case against Kalashos: faked nude photos, sexual harassment, defamation, and offer to trade sex for pageant crown”
• Councilman Ben Kalasho pled guilty to workers comp fraud, remains on probation
• Disgraced Councilman Kalasho resigns, settles suit with beauty queens—but another defamation case remains pending

Raftery also won SPJ- San Diego’s 2019 third place award for her series on the West Fire in Alpine and its aftermath:

• With Fire 92% contained, Alpine residents return home—but dozens find only ashes
• Our East County Wildfire Alerts provided critical, timely information during early hours of West Fire
•  How to help West Fire survivors in Alpine
•  Hundreds turn out to help fire survivors in Alpine
• Heartbreak and heroism in Alpine

2020

In 2020, ECM’s Miriam Raftery and Paul Kruze won first place for political/governmental reporting from SPJ-San Diego for Disgraced Councilman Kalasho Resigns, Settles Suit with Beauty Queens, but Another Defamation Case Remains Pending. The article culminated nearly two years of investigative reporting on the Kalasho scandals, during which our reporters endured harassment and threats.  “Insane work. Way to stay on it despite the threats,” one SPJ judge commented.

In the education category, Kruze and Raftery took second place for Cajon Valley School District Spends Over a Half Million Dollars on Promotional Videos. 

ECM also won seven awards in 2020 from San Diego Press Club. including first place in the breaking news category for our coverage of the La Mesa riot, Night of Terror in La Mesa. The winning entry by Paul Kruze, Rebecca Jefferis Williamson and Miriam Raftery also included photos by Jake Rose.

In the photography category,  Henri Migala won second place for documenting the protest in La Mesa, including his own ordeal in Photographer hit by pepper spray shares front-line experience covering protest in La Mesa. Jake Rose received an honorable mention for his photo essay, Witness to Chaos, covering the La Mesa riot including video of arsonists in action.

Raftery and Kruze won first place in the education category for Cajon Valley School District spends over a half million dollars on promotional videos.

Kruze also took third place in education for Cajon Valley Union School District’s bumpy road to a  new school year during COVID-19 pandemic.”

Jefferis-Williamson and Raftery received an honorable mention in the history category for Golden spike ceremony crowns railway’s centennial celebration in Campo.

2021

In 2021, ECM received 11 awards from San Diego Press Club. These included two first-place radio awards: Grossmont Hospital healthcare heroes reflect on pandemic (specialty reporting) and  Interview with Congresswoman Sara Jacobs on capitol attack, impeachment, COVID relief and more (interviews).  

For online and daily news, we received three breaking news awards:  

2nd place, Henri Migala, Man arrested for battery of protesters in La Mesa; ECM photographer also attacked 

3rd place, Miriam Raftery, Violent insurrectionists take over Capitol

Honorable mention, Briana Gomez, Tuesday protest in La Mesa stays peaceful; man briefly detained after displaying pepper spray at protesters.

Other awards included :

1st place in Criminal Justice for Raftery’s LMPD officer in trolley stop incident leaves force; questions of accountability and transparency remain,

3rd place in election coverage for  In lively forum, five candidates shared diverse views in El Cajon City Council District 2 race

2nd place for political/government for El Cajon Council votes to oust planning commissioner Humbert Cabrera by Raftery and Briana Gomez,

Honorable mention for Environmental reporting for Migala’s  Hundreds march to save El Monte Valley

2nd place real estate story by Helen Horvath. High prices, low inventory put squeeze on low income and first-time homebuyers during pandemic,

Honorable mentions for serious columns by David Shorey and Paul Levikow, Advancing Healthy Communities.

2022

In 2022, ECM picked up 3 awards from SPJ San Diego.  These include second place in the education category for Hundreds protest school vaccines and mask mandates in East County; top doctor addresses parents’ concerns and COVIC risks to children by Henri Migala and Miriam Raftery on protests over school vaccine and mask mandates, which included an interview with a top doctor at Rady Children’s Hospital addressing risks of COVID-19 to children. 

Elijah McKee received a third place award in the multicultural reporting category for Volunteers and agencies welcome Afghan refugees in El Cajon, but more help is urgently needed.. Migala and Raftery also earned a third place award for their series on community members’ successful effort to block placement of sexually violent predators in their neighborhood.  Read the five-part series:  1  2  3  4  5. 

San Diego Press Cliub in 2022 honored  multicultural journalist Brian Gomez posthumously for her final story for ECM. The article, Pro-Israel rally held in El Cajon: Palestinians march in protest, received an honorable mention in the breaking news category.

Editor Miriam Raftery took third place in the Criminal Justice category for Accountability questions raised in La Mesa after jury finds police officer not guilty, bank arsonist sentenced to probation. The article examined accountability issues in the wake of civil unrest in La Mesa.

Raftery also received an honorable mention in the Environment category for Giant invasive snails take hold in local lakes, city reveals after ECM inquiry.

Paul Levikow and David Shorey shared an honorable mention for their column, Advancing Healthy Communities.

2023

In 2023,  SPJ San Diego awarded first place in the daily reporting profile category to Shiloh Ireland for his  article,  Who was Thomas Moreno?   The article profiled a man found dead in a Lakeside pond near a homeless camp, under suspicious circumstances. 

SPJ also awarded third place for breaking news to Shiloh Ireland and ECM editor Miriam Raftery for their report,  Heroic bystander and deputies save drowning woman in Lindo Lake.  The article documented a shocking delay by deputies to take action while a homeless woman was drowning in Lindo Lake, prompting a bystander to enter the water first. ECM grilled multiple officials in an effort to seek answers and accountability.

Also in 2023, San Diego Press Club awarded Rebecca Person third place in the breaking news category for her article, Jacumba Hot Springs community stunned by arrival of hundreds of migrants. Person described efforts by local residents to aid migrants left without food, water, shade or shelter in sweltering desert heat.  Her coverage prompted an investigation by a human rights organization and filing of a federal complaint accusing Border Patrol agents of violating U.S. and international laws.

ECM editor Miriam Raftery received third place in the radio interviews category for her interview on KNSJ Radio with Kathi Torres, a sex trafficking survivor who now works with Freedom from Exploitation, an organization that helps survivors of human trafficking.

2024

In 2024,  ECM editor Miriam Raftery received three awards from  SPJ San Diego: 

2nd place, investigative/enterprise story:  Is the goose cooked? Mother Goose Parade organizer duck media calls after event cancelled for fourth straight year  

2nd place, profile:  End of an era: `Backcountry Warrior’ Donna Tisdale retires after final battle

3rd place, politics/election story  Trump indicted under Espionage Act for risking national security, sharing defense secrets and hiding evidence from grand jury

Four members of East County Magazine’s journalism team won awards at the San Diego Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism Awards in 2024. Their coverage encompassed  public safety issues in La Mesa, the future of the Water Conservation Garden, international migrants in Jacumba, and La Mesa’s ban on public comments after anti-Semitic rants.

Miriam Raftery won second place in the public service/consumer advocacy category for her article, How dangerous is the area where La Mesa seeks to erect digital billboards? Her documentation of numerous serious accidents and deaths on the section of freeway slated for billboards led the La Mesa City Council to reverse its approval.

She also received a second-place award for her series, Water Conservation Garden struggles to thrive” in the series on a serious subject category. Read the series documenting the garden’s financial challenges:  Part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, part 5.

Reporter Bransen Harper and Photographer Patrick Watkins won third place awards in the feature-serious subject category for their coverage of international migrants in Jacumba, There were guys with guns, silencers and I am devastated. I fear for his life. The article included interviews with migrants from multiple countries and a follow-up on a young Russian migrant opposed to the Ukraine War, now facing deportation.

Journalist Michael Howard received an honorable mention in the political/governmental category for his article, La Mesa bans remote public comments after anti-Semitic rants.

Also in 2024, East County Magazine received the Santee Chamber of Commerce’s “Santee Favorites” award for best business resources.

2025

San Diego Press Club awarded six awards to ECM.  Alex Schorr and Miriam Raftery won first place for Education reporting in their article, Recall effort launched against four GUHSD trustees who refuse to rescind mass firings, which detailed conflicts of interest involving three of those trustees.  One of the judges commented, “The massive reporting effort on this piece is evident. As an education reporter for 15+ years, I found it riveting to read. It’s also well written.  The two reporters on this story are truly lan asset to their community. Well done.”

Raftery also won first place from PressClub for a radio interview with immigration attorney Nora Milner titled Who will be there when they come for you?  In addition, she took first for an editorial titled As we celebrate Independence Day, our democracy is at risk.

Henri Migala took third place for his coverage of Syrian-Americans in East County reacting to the fall of the Assad regime in their homeland in his article, Syrian community celebrates liberation of Syria.  Raftery won third place in public service journalism for interviewing homeless people in Lemon Grove for her story, Homeless people in Lemon Grove hope for dignity and homes.  In addition, she took third place in the election coverage category for What is Project 2025—and how could it impact you, your family and your community?

East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery won two awards from Society for Professional Journalists in the 2025San Diego SPJ Journalism competition.  In the series category for daily reporting and writing, Raftery took third place for her series on the Water Conservation Garden’s growing pains.  The series chronicled the Garden’s financial struggles, brief closure, and reopening after operations were taken over by the Garden’s joint powers authority. View the series:  part 1, part 2, and part 3.

Raftery also won third place from SPJ in the opinion/editorial category for her editorial published last July 4 , titled As we celebrate Independence Day, our democracy is at risk. Several of the threats to our democratic system of government  that she warned of have since come to pass via authoritarian actions rolled out by the Trump administration following the blueprint outlined in Project 2025.