Times Staffers Win 8 Press Club Awards

Nancy Ray, longtime reporter for the Los Angeles Times, was honored with the Harold Keen award, the most prestigious one presented by the San Diego Press Club, at a ceremony held Monday night at the San Diego Hilton.

Ray was hired as a general assignment reporter by the San Diego Union in the early 1960s and joined The Times San Diego County Edition in February, 1978. She was selected from among 15 reporters to receive the Keen award for “a professional journalist who has proven (herself) over a period of years as a credit to the profession.”

The Times won four top writing awards including best news story, best news feature and best investigative reporting. Overall, eight awards were given to Times writers and photographers.

The San Diego Union also won four top awards for newspapers with a circulation of 100,000 or more. The Tribune garnered one top award, for best staff-written editorial.

Times reporter Jim Schachter captured the award for best news story for his article on the verdict in Sagon Penn’s second trial. Times reporters Ralph Frammolino and Richard A. Serrano won the best news feature story award for their two-part profile of Santee pastor Dorman Owens.

For their series on the relationship between migrant workers and suburban residents in North County, Times reporters Eric Bailey, Anthony Perry and H. G. Reza picked up the top award for best investigative reporting.

The best feature award went to Bill Manson for his story about a group of bullfighting aficionados from Chula Vista.

Vince Compagnone won first place for best sports photography for his photo of striking San Diego Chargers watching their substitutes practicing on the field.

Kevin Brass took second place in the business/financial writing category. Times reporters Barry Horstman and Leonard Bernstein received third place in the political/governmental category for their feature on the accessibility of the mayor.