{"id":949,"date":"2025-09-04T00:23:24","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T00:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/720designpythons.com\/ecm\/?page_id=949"},"modified":"2025-11-25T00:33:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T00:33:20","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/720designpythons.com\/ecm\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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East County Magazine is your community media. We reflect the public\u2019s interest, not special interests.<\/p>

Our nonprofit online news site has won 148 major journalism awards and is updated daily. We\u2019ve a large community of readers, averaging 5-10 million hits and 250,000 visits each month.

We also provide wildfire and emergency alerts, keeping our readers safe and informed in real time.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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CONTACT US:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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We\u2019d love to hear from you!<\/p>

Get in touch at\u00a0editor@eastcountymagazine.org<\/a>\u00a0or call (619) 698-7617<\/p>

SUBSCRIBE FREE!
Stay safe and informed!
Sign up to receive our free e-newsletter and wildfire\/emergency alerts at_______.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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SUPPORT AWARD-WINNING LOCAL JOURNALISM!<\/strong><\/h4>

We rely on your support to sustain our reporting on issues that matter in your community!<\/p>

You can support our reporting and\/or our wildfire and emergency alerts with a donation or monthly pledge at\u00a0https:\/\/www.eastcountymedia.org<\/a>.<\/p>

OUR MISSION<\/strong><\/h4>

Our mission is to provide in-depth news and events coverage for the inland areas in San Diego County, reflecting the broad diversity of people and issues in our region, particularly those under-represented in other media. As nonprofit media, we reflect the public interest\u2014not special interests, with a strong commitment to covering social justice issues,\u00a0 diverse and mulicultural voices, community concerns, environmental\/land use issues, and nonpartisan political\u00a0 stories in our region’s urban, rural, mountain and desert communities. We also celebrate our region’s attractions and rich cultural heritage, with special sections such as Visit East County, People Power, Tribal Beat, Refugee Voices, Arts and Music, and more.<\/p>

East County Magazine also founded and operates East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts, keeping people safe and informed throughout San Diego County via e-mail and Twitter alerts. In addition we produce the East County Magazine radio show on KNSJ 89.1 FM.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR COVERAGE: EMPOWERING AND EDUCATING READERS<\/strong><\/h4>

Our nonpartisan news coverage keeps community members informed about local government actions and elections, including fact-checking, videos, and a Citizens\u2019 Action Center empowering community members to contact their elected officials.
We cover major news issues, such as health, education, the environment, business and labor stories.
We also highlight local authors, arts, music, festivals and events plus features such as restaurant reviews, home and garden stories, and more.<\/p>

Our coverage reflects our region\u2019s multicultural diversity, including our many Native American tribes, immigrants from around the world, our Latino heritage, and our pioneer roots.
Our Visit East County section celebrates our inland region, providing guides to the many activities, attractions and rich cultural heritage in our mountains, deserts, rural, and urban areas east of I-15.<\/p>

Plus we offer community resources to help our readers connect to find help, services and support. We also publish reader\u2019s editorials to share a variety of views, as well as best photos and videos from our readers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR WILDFIRE AND EMERGENCY ALERTS<\/strong><\/h4>

We provide free East County Wildfire and Emergency Alerts via e-mail, as well as alerts posted on X (formerly Twitter),keeping people safe and informed.<\/p>

We appreciate the generous support of the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation and the San Diego River Conservancy for our alerts.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR RADIO SHOW<\/strong><\/h4>

Our East County Magazine Radio Show airs on KNSJ 89.1 FM Radio on Mondays and Fridays at 5 p.m., with reruns Tuesdays and Saturdays at 8 a.m. KNSJ is a public interest station broadcasting from Descanso. You can also listen live with the Tune-in app on your smart phone to hear our show from any location.<\/p>

GET INVOLVED!<\/strong><\/h4>

Volunteers, interns, journalists, broadcasters, and \u201ccitizen journalists\u201d are always needed. We provide training. You can \u201cbe the media!\u201d<\/p>

Contact our editor, Miriam Raftery, for more information at (619)698-7617 or\u00a0editor@eastcountymagazine.org.<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR HISTORY<\/strong><\/h4>

East County Magazine was launched in September 2008 out of the ashes of the 2007 and 2003 firestorms to fill a news void for our inland region, where many towns did not have a newspaper, and to provide real-time news during wildfires.<\/p>

During the 2007 firestorms, our editor, then a reporter for another publication, received midnight e-mails from people trapped in a backcountry town, desperately seeking information on safe evacuation routes after their phone lines and cell phone towers burned down. In the 2003 Cedar Fire, our publisher helped save lives by awakening neighbors in the middle of the night.<\/p>

Our editor, an award-winning journalist, wrote a successful grant funded by San Diego Foundation for Change to launch our news site published by the nonprofit Heartland Foundation.<\/p>

Major grants to support our news site include the Conrad Prebys Foundation for our major website upgrade, a Facebook Journalism Grant for community reporting, County of San Diego community enhancement grants for local events coverage, and a Grossmont Healthcare District grant for health news during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>

Over the years, we\u2019ve had grants and sponsorship for our alerts from Viejas, Grossmont Healthcare District, SDG&E, the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation, and San Diego River Park Conservancy, as well as donations from our readers.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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We\u2019ve been growing ever since! In 2013, we expanded onto the airways, launching the East County Magazine radio show.<\/p>

In 2018, on our 10-year anniversary, our founder established a new nonprofit 501(c)3 organization,\u00a0www.EastCountyMedia.org<\/a>\u00a0(tax ID #83-1108634) to sustain and support our efforts over the long-term. East County Media has its own board of directors and raises funds to sustain our local community reporting and alerts.<\/p>

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, our circulation doubled as people turned to ECM\u2019s online news as a vital source of accurate information. Grants from Grossmont Healthcare District and the Facebook Journalism Project enabled us to expand our local news coverage during COVID lockdowns.<\/p>

In 2025, we launched a major upgrade and site redesign, with a generous grant from the Conrad Prebys Foundation. We also launched our Visit East County project, informing tourists and residents of the many activities and attractions in San Diego\u2019s inland region.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR FOUNDER AND EDITOR<\/strong><\/h4>

Miriam Raftery has over 35 years of experience as a journalist and editor. She has won more than 400 major journalism awards, including the American Society of Journalists & Authors\u2019 national Arlene Award for community journalism and San Diego Press Club\u2019s Best of Show award prior to founding ECM.<\/p>

She\u2019s also won dozens of top awards from Society of Professional Journalists and San Diego Press Club for articles she\u2019s written at ECM, including first place honors for investigative journalism, breaking news, multicultural reporting, and several special awards for reporting that\u2019s made a positive difference in our community.<\/p>

She has covered major news stories including the California wildfires, Congressional and presidential elections, as well as topics ranging from politics and election integrity to health, nutrition, homes and gardens.<\/p>

A former columnist and freelance writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, she has also worked as an editor of a national nutrition journal and a literary magazine as well as senior national investigative reporter for RawStory.com. Her works have appeared in many national and and regional publications, from Woman\u2019s Day to Arizona Highways, as well as in many local community newspapers and magazines.<\/p>

An East County native, she takes pride in exploring East County\u2019s back roads and byways, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for news and feature stories.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR TEAM<\/strong><\/h4>

Contributing Editor Karen Pearlman has decades of journalism experience, including serving as the San Diego Union-Tribune\u2019s East County correspondent and as a reporter for the San Diego Business Journal covering nonprofit organizations. She\u2019s also been a sportswriter, freelance journalist, and loves writing about dogs and other animals.<\/p>

East County Magazine<\/em>\u00a0has published works by numerous award-winning writers and photographers including J.W. August, Mike Allen, E.A. Barrera, Ariele Brooke, Jamie Reno, Gayle Early, Richard Darvas, Michael Howard, Nadin Abbott, Briana Gomez, Rebecca Jefferis-Williamson, Ron Logan, Joseph Rocha, Jeremy Los, Elijah McKee, Henri Migala, Miriam Raftery, and many others.<\/p>

Our team includes professional journalists as well as freelance writers, columnists, community volunteers, college interns, award-winning photographers and videographers, sound editors and radio broadcasters.<\/p>

OUR EVENTS<\/strong><\/h4>

We have organized many community events, such as SummerFest, Celebrate East County, Celebrate Our Roots, Outstanding Citizen Awards, Wild West Fest, Party with the Press, nonpartisan local candidate forums, our 10th anniversary celebration at Mission Trails, and our Community Champions Awards.<\/p>

In 2020, we moved our \u201cEast County Movers, Shakers and Movers\u201d event series and candidate forums\/debates into virtual formats due to the pandemic. We also host East County Dining Club events and more.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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OUR AWARDS: MAKING A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE<\/strong><\/h4>

East County Magazine<\/em> has won 148 major journalism awards, including awards every year since our inception. Many of these awards honor coverage that resulted in positive changes for local communities.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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2009<\/b><\/h4>

Just three months after we launched our site, San Diego Press Club presented ECM with a whopping\u00a018 journalism awards<\/a>, including naming our site the best general interest website and second best news site in San Diego County for 2009. Five of our writers including our editor also won individual honors:<\/p>

E.A. Barrera:\u00a0 1st place, General News,\u00a0Firestorm of Controversy<\/i><\/a>. Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cClear explanation of a complex issue and a strong call to action.\u201d<\/p>

Editor and founder Miriam Raftery won eight awards:<\/p>

1st place, Political\/Government,\u00a0Battle of the Watchdogs<\/i><\/a>. Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cThis story is like a great political debate. Solid reporting on the contrasting candidates.\u201d
2nd place, Wild Card Category: Regional Economic Budget Crisis,\u00a0How Prepared is East County for the Next Wildfire? Budget Cuts Burn Some Local Agencies.<\/i><\/a>\u00a0Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cDisturbing tale of a community left vulnerable in the wake of the worsening economy.\u201d
2nd place, Political\/Government,\u00a0Solar Farm Reaps Controversy<\/i>.<\/a>\u00a0Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cComprehensive wrap-up of the facts surrounding a controversial subject.\u201d
3rd place, Public Service\/Consumer,Early Voting Lines<\/i><\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cClearly, this is an issue that needs to be solved and this story makes a compelling, fact-based argument.\u201d
3rd place, Public Service\/Consumer,\u00a0Where\u2019s the Pork? No Money for Fire Stations or Fire Prevention in San Diego\u2019s Proposed Stimulus Projects<\/i><\/a>.<\/i>\u00a0Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cLove the headline \u2013 and the story delivered what it promised. As the author says, sometimes you need a little `muckraking.\u2019\u201d
2nd place, Multicultural,\u00a0Bird Singers and Basketweavers Celebrate Opening of Native American Museum in Warner Springs<\/i>
<\/i><\/a>2nd place, Essay\/Commentary\/Opinion,\u00a0Proposal for President-Elect Barack Obama<\/i>:\u00a0Put Americans to work providing fire protection infrastructure and energy independence for San Diego\u2019s fire-ravaged East County region<\/i>
<\/i><\/a>2nd place, Travel,\u00a0Lost Highways of East County: Traveling Old Hwy 80 is a Trip Down Memory Lane<\/i>.<\/a>\u00a0Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cA loving, even romantic account of a trip through the region\u2019s past.\u201d
3rd place, Investigative Reporting,\u00a0Water Board Stirs Flood of Controversy<\/i><\/a><\/p>

Gayle Early received awards in two categories:<\/p>

2nd place, Breaking News,\u00a0Ecumenical Gathering of Friendship Park Disrupted by Taunting.<\/i><\/a>\u00a0Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cChilling account of a tragic human story.\u201d
2nd place, General News,\u00a0Hungry in East County<\/i><\/a>. Judge\u2019s comment: \u201cExcellent first person reporting, well resourced and comprehensive.\u201d
2nd place, Series,\u00a0Don Quixote Fights Windmills & So Do the Folks in Boulevard<\/i>\u201d (part 1,<\/a>\u00a0part 2,<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0part 3.<\/a>)<\/p>

Jamie Reno won 2nd place for his column,\u00a0The Reno Report<\/i><\/a>.<\/p>

2010<\/b><\/h4>

In 2010, ECM editor Miriam Raftery won our first award from Society for Professional Journalists, receiving 1st\u00a0place in investigative reporting for\u00a0Sonic weapons used in Iraq positioned at townhall meetings in San Diego County<\/i><\/a>. This article ignited a firestorm of controversy, had more than 150,000 read worldwide, and led to Sheriff Bill Gore announcing he decommissioned the weapon.<\/i><\/p>

East County Magazine also picked up 13 new awards at San Diego Press Club\u2019s \u201cExcellence in Journalism\u201d 2010 awards. ECM was named second-best news site and second best general interest website in San Diego County. \u00a0 Individual writers also took top honors across a broad range of categories:.\u00a0<\/p>

Miriam Raftery:<\/p>

1st place, series: \u201cEarthquake Coverage.\u201d Earthquake series included :
\u2022\u00a0Quake upgraded to 7.2; strongest ever in San Diego area<\/i><\/a>:<\/i>
<\/i>\u2022<\/i>\u00a02 dead, 50 wounded in Mexico quake; numerous fires burning<\/i>
<\/i><\/a>\u2022<\/i>\u00a0100 aftershocks jar region today; more damage reports roll in<\/i>
<\/i><\/a>\u2022<\/i>\u00a0Quake toll rises as aftershocks continue; minor damage found locally as businesses reopen after holiday weekend<\/i><\/a><\/p>