Times of San Diego takes home 18 journalism awards, including top News Site honor

The Times of San Diego collected eighteen awards at the San Diego Press Club’s 53rd Annual Excellence in Journalism Awards, held on November 2. The newsroom earned six first-place victories and secured recognition in thirteen distinct categories. This performance included the top distinction in the News Site category, a mark the judges reserved for the best of the year.

In the criminal justice reporting division, the outlet swept the top three spots. Lillian Perlmuter claimed the first-place prize for her investigation titled “What happens when ICE arrests US citizens.” The newsroom also took second place in the Breaking News category. That award recognized coverage of the attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego.

Judges praised the outlet’s ability to serve the local population with depth and accessibility. One judge noted that San Diego benefits from having sophisticated watchdogs who provide valuable news in two languages. Another judge highlighted the breaking news coverage as very comprehensive. They specifically pointed out that two of the three main stories were available in Spanish.

The judges also commended the outlet’s “ticktock” format. They described this style as compelling and helpful for readers trying to make sense of the senseless tragedy at the Islamic Center. Beyond these major wins, the newsroom received honors in ten additional areas. These included series, architecture and design, education, editorial, food reporting, history, military, sports, profile, and light column.

The award ceremony marked the 53rd annual recognition event for local journalism. The Times of San Diego’s collection of prizes places it among the most recognized outlets in the region for this cycle. The specific categories and placements reflect the judges’ evaluation of accuracy, clarity, and community impact across different types of reporting.