Awards

Miriam Raftery has received over 300 individual writing awards from national and local writing organizations, including prestigious prizes and monetary awards. Under her leadership, East County Magazine has won 116 major journalism awards.

Miriam’s individual writing and leadership honors include:

San Diego Press Club 2019: 1st place, breaking news ((“With West Fire 92% contained, Alpine residents return home, but dozens find only ashes”), 1st place, political/government reporting (“Judge finds facts true and admissible in case against Kalashos”), 3rd place shared award for series (“Councilman Kalasho’s legal and ethical scandals”).

Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego 2019: 3rd place, daily reporting (“West Fire in Alpine”)

Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego 2018: Gloria Penner award for political coverage in the face of harassment and threats (“Kalasho threats”), 2nd place award for columns (“Media Watch”), and 2nd place essay award (“A reporter’s reflections on the firestorms of 2007”) written for the 10 year anniversary of one of California’s worst wildfires.

San Diego Press Club 2018: 2nd Place for political reporting (“Kalasho gets slapped: Countersuit against accusers thrown out by San Diego judge.”

Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego 2017: James Julian award for community service (“Whitewash? County’s Border Fire report ignores serious concerns raised by residents”), 2nd place, breaking news (shared award for series on the police shooting of Alfred Olango and ensuing civil unrest), 2nd place, audio award for community service programming (“Helix Water Di strict candidate forum”)

San Diego Press Club, 2016: Wildcard Award for reporting on border issues ( for coverage of the Border Fire and issues over authorities’ responses), 2nd place for multicultural reporting (“East County Chaldeans plea for release of Iraqi Christians detained at Otay”), 3rd place for environmental reporting (“Planning Commission guns down appeal, allows Covert Canyon to conduct military firearms training amid federal forest lands”), and honorable mentions for coverage of rising anti-Semitism and issues with local ambulance services.

Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego 2016: First Amendment Award (series on County efforts to suppress free speech), 1st place, multicultural reporting (“East County Chaldeans plea for release of Iraqi Christians detained at Otay”), 2nd place, governmental story ("Soitec backers host fundraiser for Roberts--after Roberts cast vote for Soitec”), Honorable mention, news series (“Ambulance response times in our region raise alarms”), Honorable mention, multicultural story (“Rise in violent anti-Semitic attacks worldwide raises alarm”), all published in East County Magazine.

San Diego-East County Chamber of Commerce: Women in Leadership Award 2015 (media, arts and culture category)

San Diego Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism Awards 2015: 1st place, multicultural reporting (“Christian homes marked, families killed: East County residents rally to save Iraqi Christians”), 1st place, public service/consumer advocacy journalism (“Lakeside residents and planners voice outrage over sand mining proposed in El Monte Valley”), 2nd place, health and medicine (“County changes ambulance service without public notice; public safety advocates voice alarm”), and 2nd place, environmental reporting (“County cleans up dirt dumped in Cleveland National Forest after ECM inquiry”), all published in East County Magazine.

Society of Professional Journalists, San Diego 2015: 2nd place, news or feature series/audio (“Local Iraqi leaders speak out to halt genocide” on the East County Magazine Radio Show on KNSJ), 2nd place, talk/interview story/audio (“Anguish hits home for local Kurdish woman” on the East County Magazine Radio Show), and 2nd place, investigative/enterprise story (“SOITEC fails to disclose truths about solar impacts” on East County Magazine.

Society of Professional Journalists San Diego 2014: James Julian Award, a monetary prize for community service (“Why is County Veterans Services ignoring rural vets?”); 1st place, radio talk/interview (“Draining Lake Morena” on the East County Magazine Radio Show); 1st place investigative/enterprise story (“What’s polluting waterways in Ocotillo?”; 1st place editorial (“An ill wind blowing”), 2nd place radio special report and breaking news, both for wildfire reporting; honorable mention in education and environmental.

San Diego Press Club 2014: 1st place, radio, specialty reporting (“Out of the Ashes: Cedar Fire Anniversary” aired on the East County Magazine Radio Show), 1st place, integrated media (“A hearty recovery:”), 2nd place, environmental and consumer advocacy; 3rd place, investigative reporting, criminal justice, and political/governmental.

Society of Professional Journalists San Diego 2013: Sol Price Award for Responsible Journalism and the James Julian Memorial Award for community service story, both monetary prizes, both awarded for reports on negative impacts of a wind project; 2nd place and honorable mention, editorials; honorable mention, environmental reporting.

San Diego Press Club 2013: 1st place, multicultural (Native American issues), 2nd place, investigative reporting, features, general news, series and editorial; 3rd place, breaking news and general news.

World Council for Nature 2013: International award for environmental coverage (East County Magazine).

Maness Vineyards Trailblazers Award 2013: For coverage of our region’s wine industry.

League of Women Voters 2012: Media Award 2012, for coverage of developers’ efforts to eliminate community planning groups

Society of Professional Journalists San Diego 2012: James Julian Memorial Award for best community service series (“FEMA refund demand sparks firestorm of controversy”); 2nd place, environmental reporting; honorable mention, daily news reporting.

San Diego Press Club 2012: 1st place, general news (bighorn sheep threatened by wind project), 1st place, public service/advocacy (energy projects’ impacts on Jacumba); 1st place, public service/consumer advocacy, 2nd place in investigative reporting, general interest website entry, multicultural, and series; 3rd place editorial and feature stories.

San Diego Press Club 2011: 1st place, investigative reporting (series), 1st place, series (“Bridging Worlds”), 1st place, multicultural, 2nd place, education, 3rd place (investigative reporting (single report), 3rd place, travel, 3rd place, public service/consumer advocacy.

San Diego Press Club 2010: 1st place, series (earthquake coverage); 1st place, political and government, 1st place, public service/consumer advocacy, 1st and 2nd place, multicultural, 2nd place, investigative reporting, 2nd place, history, 3rd place, breaking news, 3rd place, criminal justice.

San Diego Press Club 2009: Daily Newspapers and Websites—1st place, General Interest Websites, and 2nd place, News Sites (www.eastcountymagazine.org) 1stand 2nd place, Political/Government Reporting 2nd and 3rd Place, Public Service/Consumer, 3rd Place, Investigative Reporting 2nd Place, Multicultural 2nd Place, Essay/Commentary 2nd Place Travel, 2nd place, Wild Card Category: Regional Economic Budget Crisis.

San Diego Press Club 2008: Best investigative reporting and best political reporting, non-daily newspapers (1st Place); 3rd place in best investigative reporting, daily newspapers and websites; 2nd place, non-daily newspapers, general news.

San Diego Press Club 2007: 3rd place Excellence in Journalism Award for investigative reporting

San Diego Press Club 2006: Best of Show (“Changing face of East County” series), Best political reporting, best investigative reporting, best series for a non-daily newspaper.

American Society of Journalists and Authors 2006 Arlene Award: National monetary award ($1,000) for articles that make a difference in a community (“Monkey Business” investigative report led to a ban in California on certain electronic voting machines).

California Press Women: Five 1st place awards for news and feature articles in the 1990s, including impacts of the Gulf War and real estate topics, as well as the 1993 Darla Carson 110% award for dedication to CPW (including organizing a statewide conference).

National Federation of Press Women: 2nd and 3rd place for news articles and newspaper columns in the 1990s.

San Diego Book Awards 1997: 3rd place, historical novels, Apollo’s Fault .

Romance Writers of America Golden Heart competition: 3-time national finalist for unpublished novelists; also won numerous local and regional writing competitions.

International Raymond Chandler Writing Competition 1993: 3rd place, fictional short story in the style of Raymond Chandler.