Bay Area print and online journalists, photographers, radio and television personnel and public relations professionals were presented with 167 awards of excellence in nine divisions and 36 categories at the San Francisco Peninsula Press Club’s 33rd annual Greater Bay Area Journalism Awards dinner tonight.

The San Francisco Peninsula Press Club’s annual Professional Journalism Awards Competition dinner was held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Foster City.

The winners were selected from 394 entries from media professionals in the 11 Greater Bay Area counties. Awards honored work done in 2009 Entries were judged by the Bakersfield Press Club, Milwaukee Press Club, the Press Club of New Orleans, and the Press Club of Southeast Texas. The Print Photography division was judged by press photographers outside of the Bay Area and was coordinated by Paul Sakuma of The Associated Press.

The San Jose Mercury News received 19 plaques followed by The Daily News with 18 and the Community Newspaper Group with 14. Tied with 13 each were the San Mateo Daily Journal and the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal.

The guest speaker for the event was Jeanne Carstensen, managing editor of The Bay Citizen.

Four $1,500 scholarships in the name of the late San Francisco Chronicle columnist Herb Caen were awarded.

The high school recipients were Maritza Martin, Jefferson High School, Daly City, and Anca Ulea, California High School, San Ramon.

The collegiate scholarships were presented to Margaret Baum, College of San Mateo, and Richard Parks, University of California, Berkeley

Special recognition was given to the General Excellence winner of the Press Club’s High School Journalism Contest, The Colt Quarterly from El Camino High School in South San Francisco. Lauren Eberle, editor-in-chief, and Adam McLearan, adviser, accepted a plaque.

The complete list of journalism award winners follows:

Daily Newspapers

General Excellence

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “San Jose Mercury News,” San Jose Mercury News

 SECOND PLACE: The Press Democrat, “The Press Democrat,” Press Democrat Staff 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “San Mateo Daily Journal,” San Mateo Daily Journal

Editorial

FIRST PLACE: The Daily Post, “Cut off the spend-a-holics,” Dave Price 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily News, “Balance the budget. Now,” Mario Dianda 

THIRD PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Secret deals: University foundations should be subject to public records laws,” The Press Democrat

Columns — News/Political

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Off the Beat Michelle Durand,” Michelle Durand

SECOND PLACE: The Daily Post, “Opinion Diana Diamond,” Diana Diamond 

THIRD PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Columns by Paul Gullixson,” Paul Gullixson

Columns — Feature

FIRST PLACE: The Daily Post, “Columns of Diana Diamond,” Diana Diamond 

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Opinion Sue Lempert,” Sue Lempert

Columns — Sports

FIRST PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Columns by Lowell Cohn,” Lowell Cohn 

SECOND PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Columns by Bob Padecky,” Bob Padecky 

THIRD PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Purdy Columns,” Mark Purdy

Breaking News

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Tragedy Averted,” Heather Murtagh 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily News, “Landlord vanishes,” Will Oremus 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Student shot, college cleared,” Bill Silverfarb

News Story

FIRST PLACE: Sacramento Bee, “20 years later, opponents still battling the Oakland Airport Connector,” Jeff Mitchell 

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Measure money in question,” Heather Murtagh

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Traveling on your dime,” Shaun Bishop

Continuing Coverage

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Spotlight on San Jose Police,” Sean Webby

SECOND PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Clem Carinalli: Reversal of Fortune,” Nathan Halverson, Kevin McCallum 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily Post, “Red-light cameras,” Josh Wolf, Dave Price, David DeBolt

Series

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Life in a Year,” Bruce Newman 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily Post, “Red-light Camera Controversy,” Josh Wolf, Dave Price, David DeBolt 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Policing in the 21st Century,” Bill Silverfarb

Feature Story of Light Nature

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Of course, Mr. S: Nothing but the best for high-rolling former Fry’s exec charged with fraud,” Lisa Fernandez 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily News, “From crib to compost,” Diana Samuels 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “Wave hunters,” Julia Scott

Feature Story of Serious Nature

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “On Tracks: Lives Are Lost But Also Saved,” Lisa M. Krieger 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily News, “Evicted resident returns,” Jessica Bernstein-Wax 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Disabled Menlo Park man helps police patrol city,” Diana Samuels

Analysis

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “District seeks space to grow,” Neil Gonzales

SECOND PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “State Budget 101,” Andrea Maschietto, Doug Griswold, Leigh Poitinger, Mike Zapler 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Inside track on high-speed rail,” Daily News Staff

Technology Story

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Tweeting: a business necessity,” Heather Murtagh

SECOND PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “New generation of online games attracts millions,” Scott Duke Harris 

THIRD PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Hacker Heaven,” Mike Swift

Business Story

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “10 Silicon Valley Superstars,” Chris O’Brien

SECOND PLACE: The Press Democrat, “SSU foundation’s private land loans,” Nathan Halverson 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Empty storefronts multiply,” Jessica Bernstein-Wax

Entertainment Review

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Netrebko’s ‘La Traviata’ feels genuine,” Richard Scheinin 

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Book Beat: The Ramen King and I,” Cheri Lucas 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Colorblind in love,” Kevin Kelly

Specialty Story

FIRST PLACE: The Daily News, “Where to go when money is tight,” Jessica Bernstein-Wax

SECOND PLACE: Bay Area News Group, “Breaking Wine’s Glass Ceiling,” Jessica Yadegaran

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Economy claims galleries,” Will Oremus

Sports Story

FIRST PLACE: The Daily News, “Larrieu no longer running from self,” Vytas Mazeika

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Bielagus on track,” Nathan Mollat 

THIRD PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Touching Moment,” Daniel Brown

Sports Game Story

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Champions at last,” Nathan Mollat 

SECOND PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Giant Surprise,” Andrew Baggarly 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Press propels Cardinal,” John Reid

Page Design

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Road to the Presidency,” Tiffany Pease 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily News, “The Daily News Weekend,” Daily News Staff 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “SPORTS,” Greg Frazier

Headline

FIRST PLACE: The Daily Post, “Cal Ave wiped off the map,” Dave Price 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily Post, “Stink rises over poop; Once endangered species producing too much feces,” Dave Price 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Reality check for Fantasyland: Hotels struggle as Disney, Universal ramp up,” Kevin Kelly

Non-Daily Newspapers

General Excellence

FIRST PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “Palo Alto Weekly,” Palo Alto Weekly Staff 

SECOND PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Silicon Valley/ San Jose Business Journal,” Moryt Milo 

THIRD PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Los Gatos Weekly-Times,” Dick Sparrer, Judy Peterson, George Sakkestad, Shannon Burkey

Editorial

FIRST PLACE: San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Time for some serious budget reform,” Tim Redmond 

SECOND PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “It’s a slow road through Palo Alto to get to progress,” Cromwell Schubarth 

THIRD PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “3 simple steps to a stadium in San Jose,” Cromwell Schubarth

Columns — News/Political

FIRST PLACE: San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Editor’s Notes,” Tim Redmond

Columns — Feature

FIRST PLACE: San Francisco Business Times, “Editor’s Notebook Steve Symanovich (1),” Steve Symanovich 

SECOND PLACE: Central City Extra, “Multiple Obituary Columns,” Marjorie Beggs, Tom Carter 

THIRD PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Columns by Marianne L. Hamilton,” Marianne L. Hamilton

Columns — Sports

FIRST PLACE: Pacifica Tribune, “From water boy to 49er VP,” Horace Hinshaw 

SECOND PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Columns by Dick Sparrer,” Dick Sparrer

Breaking News

FIRST PLACE: Berkeley Daily Planet, “Investigation Continues into Kindergartner’s Death,” Riya Bhattacharjee 

SECOND PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Campus @ North First project in trouble,” Katherine Conrad 

THIRD PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Solyndra eyes expansion of $2B backlog,” Mary Duan

News Story

FIRST PLACE: Central City Extra, “Information Gap,” Heidi Swillinger 

SECOND PLACE: Sunnyvale Sun, “Sunnyvale custodian who worked at local schools pleads no contest in child porn case,” Tiffany Carney 

THIRD PLACE: San Francisco Bay Guardian, “Uncivil Unions,” Steven T. Jones

Continuing Coverage

FIRST PLACE: Sunnyvale Sun, “Church is looking to sell longtime preschool…,” Tiffany Carney

SECOND PLACE: Berkeley Daily Planet, “The Death of Berkeley Kindergartner Zachary Michael Cruz,” Riya Bhattacharjee 

THIRD PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Sunnyvale town center liens…,” Katherine Conrad

Series

FIRST PLACE: Willow Glen Resident, “High Speed Rail in San Jose,” Stephen Baxter, Tiffany Carney 

SECOND PLACE: Central City Extra, “Robbery Roulette and 64 Robberies,” Tom Carter

Feature Story of Light Nature

FIRST PLACE: SF Weekly, “Service with a Snarl,” Joe Eskanazi 

SECOND PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “From There to Hair: Immigrant Tales from Hair International,” Chris Kenrick 

THIRD PLACE: Willow Glen Resident, “Key Decision: Talking to Seniors about quitting driving,” Stephen Baxter

Feature Story of Serious Nature

FIRST PLACE: SF Weekly, “Time Bomb,” Peter Jamison 

SECOND PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “No way out?,” Jocelyn Dong, Carol Blitzer 

THIRD PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “Preventing Teen Suicide: Community Gropes for Answers,” Chris Kenrick

Analysis

FIRST PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “The Big Fix,” Moryt Milo, Katherine Conrad, Mary Duan, David Goll 

SECOND PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “Bridging Troubled Waters,” Gennady Sheyner 

THIRD PLACE: San Francisco Bay Guardian, “The two Newsoms,” Steven T. Jones

Technology Story

FIRST PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “Charging Forward,” Gennady Sheyner 

SECOND PLACE: San Francisco Business Times, “Mother of Invention,” Patrick Hoge 

THIRD PLACE: San Francisco Business Times, “Apple’s game changer Bonanza for Bay Area ‘virtual goods,’ game sellers,” Patrick Hoge

Business Story

FIRST PLACE: San Francisco Business Times, “Mega-project makeovers,” J.K. Dineen, Blanca Torres 

SECOND PLACE: Central City Extra, “TL landmark McDonald’s Bookstore evicted,” Tom Carter 

THIRD PLACE: San Francisco Business Times, “Bay Area seeks stimulus,” Staff

Entertainment Review

FIRST PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “When Wives Collide,” Karla Kane 

SECOND PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “Capitalism; A Love Story,” Karla Kane 

THIRD PLACE: Palo Alto Weekly, “The Class,” Susan Tavernetti

Specialty Story

FIRST PLACE: Central City Extra, “S.F. vs. Tobacco,” Marjorie Beggs 

SECOND PLACE: Willow Glen Resident, “Know-How,” Mayra Flores, De Marcotte 

THIRD PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Off and running,” Marianne L. Hamilton

Sports Story

FIRST PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Super finish to Ferguson’s…,” Dick Sparrer

SECOND PLACE: Pacifica Tribune, “Loving Baseball for 81 years,” Horace Hinshaw 

THIRD PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Tri Tips,” Marianne L. Hamilton

Sports Game Story

FIRST PLACE: Los Gatos Weekly-Times, “Cats top Wilcox in OT to take CCS title,” Dick Sparrer

Page Design

FIRST PLACE: San Francisco Business Times, “Green Giant,” Mitch Green 

SECOND PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Mastering the ‘Elevator Pitch’,” Barry Baldi 

THIRD PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Why now is a great time to start up,” Barry Baldi

Headline

FIRST PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Sun may shine in Big Blue sky,” Cromwell Schubarth 

SECOND PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “A.P. Stump’s Chop House pulls up steaks, moves on,” Cromwell Schubarth 

THIRD PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “Everything’s coming up Rosewood,” Moryt Milo

Magazines/Trade Publications
News Story

FIRST PLACE: The Spectrum Magazine, “Police Shut Down DUI Checkpoint,” Steve Penna

Feature Story of Serious Nature

FIRST PLACE: Traditions Magazine, “Summer Immersion Program Has Heart,” Antonia Ehlers, Michelle Wilkinson

Editorial Cartoons

FIRST PLACE: Berkeley Daily Planet, “Daily Planet Cartoons,” Justin DeFreitas 

SECOND PLACE: here magazine, “here Magazine Cartoons,” Justin DeFreitas

Print Photography

Spot News Photography

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “Listen to me,” John Green 

SECOND PLACE: Associated Press, “House Fire,” Paul Sakuma 

THIRD PLACE: Associated Press, “Fight @ UCB,” Paul Sakuma

General News Photography

FIRST PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Bird’s Eye View,” John Burgess 

SECOND PLACE: The Daily News, “Magical Bridge,” Kat Wade 

THIRD PLACE: The Daily News, “Lost Friend,” Kat Wade

Feature Photography

FIRST PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “A Dog Gone Licking,” John Green 

SECOND PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Moon Reach,” Kent Porter 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “Veterans’ Day,” John Green

Sports Action Photography

FIRST PLACE: The Press Democrat, “Touchdown,” Kent Porter 

SECOND PLACE: Associated Press, “Out of Bounds,” Paul Sakuma 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “A Championship Rally,” Nathan Mollat

Sports Feature Photography

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Birdies Mixed with Rain,” Patrick Tehan 

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “Victory,” John Green 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo Daily Journal, “Snapshot – Losing His Head,” Nathan Mollat

Photo Series or Picture Story

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Safe but not Secure,” Pauline Lubens 

SECOND PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Bursting Point,” Patrick Tehan 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “Same Sex Marriage Protest,” John Green

Radio

General Excellence

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “KCBS News Radio,” KCBS News Team

Breaking News

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “BART Riots,” Margie Shafer

Feature Story of Light Nature

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “Hula Hoop,” Mike Sugerman

Feature Story of Serious Nature

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “Day Music Died,” Doug Sovern 

SECOND PLACE: KALW 91.7 FM, “Seagull Explosion Threatens Bay Area Waterbird Species,” Julia Scott

Public Affairs Program

FIRST PLACE: KQED Public Radio, “Domestic Violence Funding,” Michael Krasny, Judy Campbell, Keven Guillory, Dan Zoll

Special Program

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “Hard Times,” Doug Sovern

Documentary

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “AIDS in Africa: Faces of Hope,” Doug Sovern

Use of Sound

FIRST PLACE: KCBS Radio, “Underground Music,” Mike Sugerman

Television

Breaking News

FIRST PLACE: KRON 4, “The Sandra Cantu Arrest,” Da Lin

Feature Story of Light Nature

FIRST PLACE: KRON 4, “Pride Parade,” Da Lin

Feature Story of Serious Nature

FIRST PLACE: KRON 4, “Did Officer Punch Oscar Grant?,” Da Lin

Public Affairs Program

FIRST PLACE: KQED 9, “This Week in Northern California,” Belva Davis, Robin Epstein, Jon Fromer, Katherine Russell

Documentary

FIRST PLACE: OnTopix Productions / KQED 9, “$100 a Day,” Gwen Essegian, Mark Ligon

Sports Story

FIRST PLACE: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, “Will Rudolph Story,” Andrew F. Johnston

Videography

FIRST PLACE: Comcast SportsNet Bay Area, “Johnston Composite,” Andrew F. Johnston

Public Relations
General Excellence

FIRST PLACE: Sequoia Union High School District, “Middle School Parents Campaign,” Bettylu Smith

Newsletter

FIRST PLACE: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, “Off Camera,” Keith Sanders, Linda Giannecchini, Darryl Compton, Kevin Wing 

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo County Office of Education, “News And Views,” Lisa Rosenthal, Jean Holbrook 

THIRD PLACE: Broadcast Legends, “Broadcast Legends,” Jim Schock, Ed Vasgergian, Peter Cleaveland, Darryl Compton

Press Kit

FIRST PLACE: National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, “Emmy 2009,” Deanne Moenster-Poitras, Cassandra Chavez, Darryl Compton

Broadband/Web
General Excellence-Media Groups

FIRST PLACE: The Press Democrat, “www.pressdemocrat.com,” Press Democrat Staff

SECOND PLACE: KCBS Radio, “www.kcbs.com,” KCBS News and Web Team 

THIRD PLACE: Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, “www.SanJose.BizJournals.com,” Cromwell Schubarth

General Excellence-Independent

FIRST PLACE: The Island, “The Island,” Michele Ellson

Breaking News

FIRST PLACE: Cleantech Group, “Fire Sale: Imara’s battery patents and trade secrets,” Lisa Sibley

Multimedia

FIRST PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Obama Inauguration,” Andrea Maschietto, Pai

SECOND PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “A commitment to service, times two,” Neil Gonzales, David Cenzer 

THIRD PLACE: San Mateo County Times, “Boxer Fatima Alcantar,” John Green

Blogs

FIRST PLACE: SFGate.com, “Say Hey: Mays, Radnich and the linoleum salesman,” Duffy Jennings 

SECOND PLACE: San Jose Mercury News, “Good Morning Silicon Valley,” John Murrell

THIRD PLACE: Cleantech Group, “Former CEO goes after Tesla, Musk,” Lisa Sibley

Photos: Top, Belva Davis of KQED and Bill. Middle, the crew from College of San Mateo. Bottom, Peter Cleaveland, Mike Venturino and Micki Carter. Photos by Paul Sakuma.