On the subject of winning awards, iconic chef and TV personality Julia Child once said:
"The measure of achievement is not winning awards. It's doing something that you appreciate, something you believe is worthwhile."
Agreed.
Still, American fantasy author Patrick Rothfuss also has a good take:
"On the other hand, winning awards is cool. Aside from the warm fuzzy, it creates publicity, and that helps spread the word…"
On that note: The San Diego Sun was recognized seven times in the 49th annual Excellence in Journalism Awards by the San Diego Press Club.
The presentations were made on October 25, 2022, in a live ceremony held in Balboa Park.
The San Diego Sun is a hyperlocal website focusing on downtown news and issues. The Sun was founded in August 2021 by veteran journalist Ron Donoho.
The site–which also won three awards earlier in 2022 from the San Diego Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists–was originally funded through the Independent Journalism Project created by Facebook/Meta.
News about the a migration of The Sun's content to a brand-new web venue is imminent.
Stay tuned!
The Sun will remain focused on homelessness issues, as well as all topics that affect quality of life in downtown San Diego.
In the Online & Daily Newspapers category of "Criminal Justice," The Sun won first place in the SPJ awards contest for a story headlined: “Homeless Court: A Helping Hand for Those Trying to Escape Legal Quicksand.”
The San Diego Sun was also honored in the category of "Series: Serious Subject" for a collection of stories about homelessness in downtown San Diego.
The Sun took third place in the broad category of "Websites: General Interest."
Actor Kevin Bacon and wife, Kyra Sedgwick. (Getty Images) |
The insights on winning awards from Julia Child and Patrick Rothfuss are synthesized neatly by acting legend Kevin Bacon. He says:
Here are a few other unabashed, notable quotes from well-recognizable names who have some thoughts on winning awards:
If I don't win, the award show loses credibility. — Ye/Kanye West
If the film is nominated for awards, and even if it wins them, it doesn't make the movie any better, just as if it's ignored that doesn't make the movie any worse. — Quentin Tarantino
My first movie, I got nominated for a Canadian Oscar–for Meatballs. For MEATBALLS. And who am I up against? George C. Scott. So he wins the award and I stand up and go, 'That's it–let's get the hell outta here.' — Bill Murray
Actor Bill Murray. (Getty Images) |
Here's the full list of awards won by the San Diego Sun at the 2022 Press Club ceremony in the Online & Daily Newspapers category:
Criminal Justice
First Place: Ron Donoho, “Homeless Court: A Helping Hand for Those Trying to Escape Legal Quicksand” San Diego Sun
Architecture and Design
Second Place: Ron Donoho, “Shell, Yeah: This World-Class Outdoor Music Venue is Almost Always Open” San Diego Sun
Business & Financial
Second Place: Ron Donoho, “East Village 2021: Doing Business Surrounded by Homelessness” San Diego Sun
Sports
Third Place: Ron Donoho, “San Diego Filmmaker Asks: What if Baseball Players Wore Iron Man Armor?” San Diego Sun
Websites: General Interest Site
Third Place: Ron Donoho, “sandiegosun.com” San Diego Sun
Feature – Serious Subject
Honorable Mention: Ron Donoho, “This 'Street Vet' Cares for Pets of People Experiencing Homelessness” San Diego Sun
Series – Serious Subject
Honorable Mention: Ron Donoho, “Homelessness” various stories, San Diego Sun
Iconic foodie and TV chef Julia Child. (Getty Images) |
San Diego Sun editor/founder Ron Donoho also won three 2022 Press Club Awards for freelance writing in the Magazines category.
Those magazine writing awards were for:
Visual/Fine Art Reporting
First Place: Ron Donoho, “Now Hear This: The Rady Shell at Jacobs Park is deservedly on its way to recognition as a world-class, outdoor music venue” Ranch and Coast Magazine
Travel: Domestic
Honorable Mention: Ron Donoho, “Circa Resort & Casino draws Strip devotees back to Sin City's roots” Ranch and Coast Magazine
Profile
Honorable Mention: Ron Donoho, “The Mensch of Muirlands: Literary icon Mike Sager is a mentor to generations of aspiring writers” Ranch and Coast Magazine
Full-circle closing note: That quote at the top of this story from Julia Child about winning awards? It was first penned in Esquire in 2001 in a piece written by (above-mentioned) "Mensch of Muirlands" profile subject Mike Sager. SDSun
