Times, Tribune Each Take 5 Newspaper Writing Awards

Reporters from the Los Angeles Times San Diego County Edition and the San Diego Tribune each won five first-place writing awards in annual contests sponsored by the area chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

San Diego Union reporters won first-place awards in the two other writing categories for newspapers with circulation exceeding 100,000.

Dave Gatley of The Times won a first-place award in the feature photo category for his images of training endured by the Navy SEALs, a special operations unit.

Photographers from the Tribune and Union each won first-place awards, for news photos and for a photo essay, respectively.

Overall, the Tribune snared eight first-place awards, while the Times and Union each claimed six first-place spots.

The winners were revealed Sunday during a brunch at the Bahia Resort Hotel on Mission Bay. Judging were journalists from Houston, Chicago and Atlanta.

Times reporters who claimed first-place awards were: John M. Glionna, features category; Scott Miller, sports; Chris Kraul, financial; Michael Granberry, ongoing story, and Patrick McDonnell, public service.

Among newspapers with circulations of less than 100,000, the Escondido Times Advocate garnered eight first-place awards, while the Escondido Blade-Citizen, Coronado Journal and San Diego Daily Transcript each received one first-place plaque.

In other categories, San Diego Magazine and KGTV (Channel 10) each won three first-place awards, as did KSDO-AM radio.