The Editors:
Martina Schimitschek & Leslie Crawford
Martina Schimitschek loves a good story. As a kid, she was called a bookworm. As an adult, she turned her love of the written word into an award-winning journalism career as a reporter and editor. Along the way, she also discovered the importance of visual storytelling and added graphic design to her repertoire.
After an unassuming start at the San Diego Evening Tribune as a copy kid, filling paper trays and writing obituaries, she did stints as a news reporter, travel editor, copy editor and features page designer at the San Diego Union-Tribune. During her time at the newspaper, Martina won multiple writing and design awards, including three Awards of Excellence from the international Society of News Design and the Copley Ring of Truth for annual body of work.
Martina left the newsroom to start her own business as a freelancer, continuing her relationship with Union-Tribune as editor of the monthly Coastal magazine and a regular contributor to Sunday Arts, Night & Day and Home + Garden. In 2020 and 2023, she won the top prizes for arts stores from the San Diego Society of Professional Journalists and the San Diego Press Club.
Martina has also worked with the San Diego Food Bank, Coronado Historical Association, Emerald Keepers and Save Our Heritage Organisation.
Her long-standing connection with Coronado started in 2004 when she became advertising art director for Coronado Lifestyle magazine. She also contributed to Coronado Vibe and Crown City Magazine.
Martina is a San Diego native and graduate of San Diego State University. In her spare time, she likes to hike and pick up a good story to read.
Leslie Crawford grew up in Coronado as a Navy kid and later raised her two boys here as a Navy spouse. She has watched the city grow and change over the years. One thing that has never wavered is her appreciation and love for Coronado.
To share her joy in her hometown, she launched WelcomeToCoronado.com in 2006, a website for residents and visitors, highlighting Coronado’s unique lifestyle and history. The website was a labor of love for which Leslie created written and photographic content for 15 years. Leslie stepped into the world of print with the publication of “Coronado, Images of America” in 2011 and also became the co-founder and editor of Crown City Magazine until 2020. While at Crown City, she won writing awards two years in a row (2019 and 2020) from the San Diego Press Club.
Leslie loves to hear a good story, which has been the inspiration for founding Coronado 365. After spending a lifetime in Coronado, she has made many connections and is always meeting new and fascinating people.
As the mother of a son with autism, Leslie was an outspoken special needs advocate in Coronado schools. Through the years, she has been president of Coronado Middle School PTO, president of the Optimist Club of Coronado, Coronado Historical Association board member and president of Coronado Floral Association, chairing the Coronado Flower Show for many years.
A San Diego Master Gardener since 2010, Leslie was named a San Diego County Volunteer of the Year in 2021 for her work in the organization.
In her spare time, Leslie swims laps, walks on the beach, works in her garden with her dog and cat, and travels with her husband in their little RV.
