Writers, photographers and editors from the Los Angeles Times' Orange County edition received more awards than any other publication Sunday in the 45th annual Orange County Press Club Excellence in Journalism awards in Costa Mesa.
Among 36 overall awards won by The Times were double winners Paul Carbo and Diane Pucin. Carbo won two first-place trophies for graphics work, while Pucin won for best daily sports story and the David McQuay Award for best column. The award is named for the late David McQuay, a columnist at the Orange County Register.
Overall, The Times won 10 first-place trophies, 17 second-place certificates and nine third-place honors. Writers, photographers and editors from the Orange County Register won 29 awards overall: 13 first-place trophies, five second-place certificates and 11 third-place honors. The OC Weekly totaled 21 awards: eight first-place, seven second-place and six third-place honors.
Receiving the Watchdog/Investigative Award was Bob Emmers, who won for his expose of conditions at the Orange County animal shelter for OC Weekly. Emmers also won first place for best magazine story.
Among other standout winners was Chapman University's Ruth Wardwell, who took home two first-place trophies, for best press kit and best internal publication.
The winners were announced at the club's banquet at the Doubletree Hotel Orange County Airport. U.S. Dist. Court Judge David O. Carter presented the awards. The evening's speaker was veteran television journalist Stan Chambers of KTLA-TV Channel 5.
The club also awarded $3,000 in scholarships Sunday. Student winners received $750 for first place, $500 for second place and $250 for third place for the club's on-the-spot writing competition. Winners for two-year colleges were: First place, Kimiko Martinez, Orange Coast College; second place, Nancy Carol Ako, Saddleback College; and third place, David Song, Orange Coast College. Winners for four-year colleges were: First place, Stan Kabala, UC Irvine; second place, Shaya Mohajer, UC Irvine; and third place, Raul Mora, Cal State Fullerton.
Rancho Alamitos High School also received the club's annual high school prize of $1,000, which will benefit its journalism program.
The writing winners included:
Best Daily News Story--First: Anne C. Mulkern, Tony Saavedra and Heather Lourie, Orange County Register, "Disneyland Has History of Not Calling Police"; second: Megan Garvey, Los Angeles Times, "Rolling Thunder on the Highways"; third: Jonathan Gaw, Los Angeles Times, "Internet Hoax Sends O.C. Stocks Up 31%."
