Phil Farrar, anchor-reporter at San Diego AM radio station KOGO Newsradio 600, has been recently honored with three prestigious Golden Mike awards by the Radio and Television News Association of Southern California.
The awards commend excellence in broadcast journalism across a diverse range of Southern California, from Inyo to Imperial counties and encompassing the key markets of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Palm Springs.
During the awards ceremony held in March in Hollywood, Farrar received accolades in three distinct categories: best radio sports feature, best serious news feature, and best weekend newscast anchor.
“These awards are very prestigious and extremely difficult to attain, but it’s all about the art of storytelling,” Farrar shared with Times of San Diego.
He emphasized the meticulous nature of journalism, explaining how some stories require extensive research or even spontaneous inspiration in the middle of the night when an idea strikes.
The sports feature that earned him recognition, titled “His Grind Towards Paris Gold,” focused on Point Loma native and skateboarder Tate Carew, who is set to compete in the 2024 Olympics in France.
The judges noted, “We loved the excitement of storytelling, the tight writing and especially the use of sound.”
Farrar’s serious news feature centered around the 40-year anniversary of the tragic mass murder at a McDonald’s restaurant in San Ysidro.
On July 18, 1984, James Huberty killed 22 individuals, including an unborn baby, and injured 19 others before being subdued by a police sniper approximately 77 minutes after he opened fire.
This incident remains California’s deadliest mass shooting and ranks as the eighth worst in U.S. history.
Farrar stated, “Because of the sensitive matter, I sought out newsroom colleagues to make sure the story was told correctly and not sensationalized.”
The judges praised the entry, writing, “While this looks back at a painful part of California’s history, it was a well-told and compelling story. The reporter is a master storyteller.”
KOGO’s third award for weekend newscasts garnered applause for its thoroughness and innovative use of sound effects.
“These awards are possible only with support from the KOGO team,” Farrar acknowledged.
He highlighted the crucial roles played by editors, engineers, and directors, saying, “There are editors who know where to place the story and feedback from colleagues who offer positive critique, which sometimes leads to a portion of the story being rewritten and reedited.
There are engineers who make sure we are on the air and directors who make sure the story plays when the button is punched.
It’s a team effort and, for now, I’m playing on the right team.”
Since 2009, Farrar has amassed a total of 13 Golden Mike awards.
He reflected on the competition, noting, “We have not competed every year, and there were some years when we didn’t win anything, which only makes you work harder.”
Other San Diego-area broadcast outlets recognized in the recent RTNA awards included KSWB-TV Fox 5 San Diego, which won in the best feature story editing category for a piece on the House of Puerto Rico in Balboa Park, and KPBS-FM, awarded in the best environment reporting category for a story on how new technology aids researchers studying rattlesnakes.
In other news, Local Media San Diego is gearing up for its 10th annual SoCal Taco Fest, a two-day celebration of tacos, music, and Latin culture scheduled for Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, at SeaWorld San Diego.
The event promises to showcase some of the region’s best taco restaurants, along with live music and DJs, Lucha Libre matches, a Chihuahua beauty pageant, and culinary demonstrations.
Beyond the tacos and music, Taco Fest guests can enjoy educational animal shows and explore the park’s exhibits, including a new jellyfish exhibit.
Single-day admission tickets are priced at $69.99, or attendees can buy a SoCal Taco Fest Fun Card for $99.99, offering unlimited access to the festival for the weekend and unlimited admission to SeaWorld San Diego for the remainder of 2025.
Tickets are available for purchase at www.socaltacofest.com.
LMSD operates three FM radio stations in San Diego, including XHTZ-FM Z90.3, XHRM-FM Magic 92.5, and XTRA-FM 91X.
Moreover, in a notable development, One America News, a conservative-leaning cable and satellite TV news network based in San Diego, has reportedly settled a workplace lawsuit filed by Jessamyn Dodd, a former OAN anchor.
The terms of the settlement remain undisclosed.
In her complaint filed in San Diego County Superior Court, Dodd claimed she experienced a hostile work environment, discrimination, and harassment.
She further alleged that a co-worker falsely accused her of being a Neo-Nazi and an Adolf Hitler supporter, accusations she found particularly offensive considering her Jewish heritage.
As reported by The Independent, Dodd identifies as a multi-racial woman of African American, Caucasian, and Jewish descent.
The complaint asserted that the false allegations made by the co-worker had severely damaged her professional and personal reputation.
Dodd reportedly served as a weekend anchor at OAN for approximately one year, starting in August 2022.
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