The North Coast Current won a special award Oct. 30 for its reporting on the state of local media.

Writers Alex Groves and Ernesto Lopez received the Wildcard award from the San Diego Press Club during the organization’s 40th annual awards celebration. The Current won 19 awards overall.

The special award was given for coverage of U-T San Diego’s purchase of the daily North County Times.

“This richly sourced, detail-filled and thoughtful report gives the reader the landscape within which this newspaper’s sale and subsequent shutdown have impacted the communities it formerly served,” judges said in their comments. “A sad story and one we are hearing far too often. Well told.”

The Current also won awards for its online content and design: First Place for Overall Use of Design and Second Place for News Site (both awarded to Publisher and Editorial Director Roman S. Koenig).

In addition, North Coast Current contributors won the following awards.

Scott Allison: Second Place Feature Photography for “A twist on business: Cities differ on allowing sign twirlers;” Second Place Portrait Photography for “Mary Fleener lives art on the edge.”

Christopher Earley: Second Place Non-Daily Business and Financial Story for “A twist on business: Cities differ on allowing sign twirlers,” about local merchants’ use of sign twirlers to drum up business.

Alex Groves: First Place General News Story for “Downtown plan for San Marcos moving ahead,” about plans for new development in San Marcos.

Helen Hawes: First Place Sports Video for “Second annual Kook Run draws colorful characters,” about the annual Kook Run in Cardiff; Second Place Non-Daily Health and Medicine Story, and Second Place Video Feature, for “Scripps Encinitas utilizing exoskeleton for therapy,” about a new tool to manage paralysis; Third Place Non-Daily Feature Story for “Employees mourn businessman Mark Anderson,” a profile late longtime Encinitas businessman Mark Anderson.

Ernesto Lopez: Second Place Non-Daily Government/Political Story for “Critics question nonprofit’s motives; group vows to continue,” about the November 2012 election; Third Place Non-Daily Government/Political Story for “Newspaper publisher quietly steps into the political fray,” about the November 2012 election; Third Place Non-Daily History Story for “Saving Times: Newspaper’s former archivist opens North County Times cabinets to local historical societies,” about the sale of the daily North County Times.

Manny Lopez: First Place Non-Daily Business and Financial Story for “Transfer of flower power,” about the changing ownership of Ecke Ranch.

Ken Pagano: First Place Non-Daily Arts and Entertainment Story for “Mary Fleener lives art on the edge,” about Encinitas artist Mary Fleener; Second Place Non-Daily Education Story for “Bond key issue in trustees’ race,” about the vote for a local school development bond.

Koenig also won: First Place Non-Daily Front Page Design for “All’s fair in hometown contests,” a preview package about the San Diego County Fair; Third Place Non-Daily Feature Design for “Kane ready and able,” a story package on local singer Candye Kane.