2013 Sunshine State Awards
FINALISTS
Finalists in each category are presented in alphabetical order by organization
To correct errors or omissions, please contact Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com
James Batten Award for Public Service
- Sun Sentinel – Sally Kestin & John Maines, Above the Law: Speeding Cops
- Tampa Bay Times – Alexandra Zayas, In God’s name
- The Palm Beach Post – Michael LaForgia, Kids in Peril
Diversity Award
- Tampa Bay Times – Eric Deggans, Eric Deggans: A collection
First Amendment Foundation Freedom of Information Award
- WESH-TV – Greg Fox, TextGate
Integrity Florida Award for Public Corruption Reporting
- Lakeland Ledger – Suzie Schottelkotte, Money in Mulberry
Journalist of the Year
- Miami New Times – Michael E. Miller, Death Trap
Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting
- Sun Sentinel – Sally Kestin & John Maines, Above the Law: Speeding Cops
Breaking News Reporting (Large)
- Orlando Sentinel – Arelis Hernandez, Bianca Prieto & Amy Pavuk, 4 dead, 1 hurt in killer’s rampage
- The Miami Herald – Staff of The Miami Herald, Face Eater
- The Palm Beach Post – Staff, Isaac had soaking surprise in store
Breaking News Reporting (Small)
- Miami New Times – Kyle Munzenrieder , Francisco Alvarado, Gus Garcia-Roberts & Tim Elfrink, Miami Zombie
- The Gainesville Sun – Jon Silman, Cindy Swirko, Joey Flechas & Chad Smith, Tropical Storm Debby
- The Gainesville Sun – Staff, Interstate 75 Wrecks
Non-Deadline News Reporting (Large)
- Sun Sentinel – Megan O’Matz, John Maines, Bad-Neighbor Banks: How Big Lenders Spread Blight
- Tampa Bay Times – Staff, Stand your ground
- The Palm Beach Post – Pat Beall, Medicaid funds flood of oxycodone to the poor
Non-Deadline News Reporting (Small)
- Florida Weekly Palm Beach Gardens & Jupiter – Athena Ponushis, Life Since Amanda
- Lakeland Ledger – Jeremy Maready & Lyle McBride, Polk’s Garbage Mess
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Melissa Holsman & Zaimarie De Guzman, Killer with no remorse
Feature Reporting (Large)
- Tampa Bay Times – Leonora LaPeter Anton, The agony of Gretchen M.
- The Miami Herald – Diana Moskovitz, Nubia Barahona – The Life of a Child
- The Palm Beach Post – Carlos Frias, One Shot
Feature Reporting (Small)
- Miami New Times – Tim Elfrink, Gun and the Scalpel
- New Times Broward-Palm Beach – Deirdra Funcheon, Balloon Boy 2012: Three Years After the Hoax, Falcon Heene Fronts a Metal Band
- The Gainesville Sun – Jon Silman, Teen with disease faces life of eating via a tube
Series
- Sun Sentinel – Megan O’Matz & John Maines, Bad-Neighbor Banks: How Big Lenders Spread Blight
- The Miami Herald – Audra D.S. Burch, Frances Robles & David Ovalle, The Trayvon Martin Story
- The Palm Beach Post – Pat Beall & Adam Playford, Flawed machines, endangered votes
General Commentary & Criticism
- Orlando Sentinel – Scott Maxwell, Scott Maxwell portfolio
- Tallahassee Democrat – Gerald Ensley, Collection
- The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Mac Thrower, Mac Thrower collection
Arts Commentary & Criticism
- Creative Loafing – Mark Leib, Collection
- Creative Loafing – Megan Voeller, Collection
- Sun Sentinel – John Tanasychuk, Dining
Editorial Writing
- Sarasota News Leader – Robert Hackney, Collection
- Tampa Bay Times – Tim Nickens, Voting
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Rich Campbell, Collection
Editorial Cartoon
- Baker County Press – Ed Hall, Portfolio of Cartoons
- Sun Sentinel – Chan Lowe, Editorial Cartoons by Chan Lowe
Presidential Election Coverage
- Lakeland Ledger – Ryan E. Little, Gary White, Jeremy Maready & Matthew Pleasant, The Homestretch
- Orlando Sentinel – Jim Stratton, Collection
- The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Derek Catron, Collection
State/Local Election Coverage
- The Associated Press – Brendan Farrington, Collection
- The Miami Herald – Staff, Florida Early Voting
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Jonathan Mattise, George Andreassi & Scott Wyland, Collection
Election Commentary
- Creative Loafing – Mitch Perry, Collection
- Tampa Bay Times – Adam C. Smith, Collection
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Eve Samples, Collection
Beat Reporting – Arts
- Fort Myers Florida Weekly – Nancy Stetson, Collection
- Orlando Sentinel – Matthew Palm, Collection
- The News-Press – Charles Runnells, Collection
Beat Reporting – Business
- Orlando Sentinel – Jason Garcia, Jason Garcia portfolio
- South Florida Business Journal – Brian Bandell, Squandered bailout for U.S. Century Bank
- Tampa Bay Business Journal – Jane Meinhardt, Legal Beat
Beat Reporting – Children’s Issues
- Orlando Sentinel – Kate Santich, Kate Santich portfolio
Beat Reporting – Community
- Lakeland Ledger – Kevin Bouffard, Citrus — An Industry at a Crossroads
- The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Chris Graham, Chris Graham collection
- The Gainesville Sun – Morgan Watkins, Alachua County coverage from Morgan Watkins
Beat Reporting – Consumer Issues
- Lakeland Ledger – Elvina Nawaguna, Consumer News in Polk County
- Orlando Sentinel – Richard Burnett, Richard Burnett portfolio
- Tampa Bay Times – Laura Reiley, Collection
Beat Reporting – Crime/Courts
- Naples Daily News – Aisling Swift, Collection
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Keona Gardner, Collection
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Melissa Holsman, Collection
Beat Reporting – Education
- Orlando Sentinel – Lauren Roth, Failed charter pays principal more than $500K
- The Florida Times-Union – Topher Sanders, Topher Sanders
- The Miami Herald – Michael Vasquez, Education Beat Reporting
Beat Reporting – Environmental/Health/Science
- New Times Broward-Palm Beach – Chris Sweeney, Coral Capers
- Orlando Sentinel – Kevin Spear, Kevin Spear portfolio
- Tampa Bay Times – Craig Pittman, The Springs
Beat Reporting – Government/Politics
- Sun Sentinel – Brittany Wallman, Broward County beat coverage
- The News-Press – Thomas Himes, Collection
- The Palm Beach Post – John Kennedy, John Kennedy collection
Beat Reporting – Minority Issues
- Daily Business Review – Julie Kay, Vala Lopez, Diversity Suffers With Firms in Survival Mode
- Orlando Sentinel – Arelis Hernandez, Arelis Hernandez portfolio
- The News-Press – Cristela Guerra, Their desperate search
Beat Reporting – Religion
- Sun Sentinel – Lois Solomon, Collection
- The Tampa Tribune – Michelle Bearden, Collection
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Zaimarie De Guzman, Collection
Beat Reporting – Sports
- Orlando Sentinel – Mike Bianchi, Mike Bianchi portfolio
- The News-Press – Dan DeLuca, Collection
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Laurel Pfahler, Collection
Special Publication/Section
- Daily Business Review – Julie Kay & Vala Lopez, Diversity Suffers With Firms in Survival Mode
- The News-Press – Staff, JetBlue Park
- The Palm Beach Post – Bruce Moore, Eliot Kleinberg, Storm 2012
Investigative Reporting – Magazine
- Ocala Magazine – John Sotomayor, Stand Your Ground
- Ocala Magazine – John Sotomayor, Zombieland
- Sarasota Magazine – Tony D’Souza, Eyes Wide Shut
Feature Reporting – Magazine
- Boca Raton Magazine – Gaspar Gonzalez, Black Magic Woman
- Ocala Magazine – John Sotomayor, Stand Your Ground
- Playboy – Andy Dehnart, Reality on the High Seas
Profile Reporting
- Gulfstream Media Group – Jennifer Tormo, Nila Do, Boca Life Magazine – “Forgetting Breast Cancer”
- Sarasota Magazine – Adam Davies, Saranova and Me
- Sarasota Magazine – Johannes Werner, Poster Boy
Commentary & Criticism – Magazine
- Sarasota Magazine – Frank Galati, War By Other Means
- Sarasota Magazine – Robert Plunket, From Rudolph to Halston
- Sun Sentinel – Mark Gauert, Here & Now: With the Editor & Publisher
Trade/Special Interest Publication
- 850 – The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida – Linda Kleindienst, Larry Davidson, Saige Roberts & Scott Holstein, 850 – The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida
- Horizons – Horizons Staff, Nova Southeastern University’s Horizons
- Sun Sentinel – Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine
Cover Design
- Sarasota Magazine – Gigi Ortwein, Sarasota Magazine covers, April, November and December 2012
- Sun Sentinel – Anderson Greene, Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine
- The News-Press – Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, Kinfay Moroti & Tammy Ayer, Grandeur (January 2012); Grandeur (November 2012); Grandeur (December 2012)
Inside Design
- Boca Raton Magazine – Lori Pierino, Kathleen Ross, Call of the Wild / Here’s The Beef / Black Magic Woman
- Sun Sentinel – Anderson Greene, Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine
- The Boca Raton Observer – Scott Deal, Art Director, Look Better Naked
Best Single Issue
- Tallahassee Magazine – Rosanne Dunkelberger, Larry Davidson & Staff, Tallahassee Magazine – May/June 2012
- The Boca Raton Observer – Linda Behmoiras, Felicia Levine & Scott Deal, The Boca Raton Observer-January 2012-Health & Fitness Issue
- The News-Press – Pamela Hayford, Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, Amanda Inscore & Wendy Fullerton, Southwest Florida Parent & Child October 2012
Breaking News Photography (Large)
- Orlando Sentinel – George Skene, Falling bear
Breaking News Photography (Small)
- The Gainesville Sun – Brad McClenny, Tropical Storm Debby in Cedar Key
- The Gainesville Sun – Doug Finger, Multi-car crash on I-75 sends two to hospital
- The News-Press – Kinfay Moroti, Traffic stop turns deadly
Feature Photography
- Orlando Sentinel – Red Huber, Eagle and prey
- The Florida Times-Union – Bob Self, Art Walk Faces
- The Florida Times-Union – Bob Self, Morning Rower
Photography Story
- The Gainesville Sun – Doug Finger, Mack’s killer gets 1st degree murder
- The Gainesville Sun – Erica Brough, Rural Florida Community
- Treasure Coast Newspapers – Eric Hasert, Stuart Air Show
Art/Photo Illustration
- Creative Loafing – Andrew Spear, The Seven People You’ll Meet at the Convention
- Orlando Sentinel – Rich Pope, Rich Pope portfolio
- Sun Sentinel – Tammy Wheatley, 27 Things to Love About FLIFF
Infographic
- Sun Sentinel – Cindy Jones-Hulfachor, Sally Kestin & John Maines, Cop blazes through Broward County
- The Gainesville Sun – Staff, Tragedy on I-75
- The News-Press – Michael Donlan, Scott Sleeper, Fracking in Florida; Mighty Mo’s final resting place
Front Page Design (Large)
- Creative Loafing – Todd Bates, The Style Issue, Cat Fight, Lucky 13
- Miami New Times – Miche Ratto, Collection
- Tampa Bay Business Journal – Pam Huff & Chris Wilkerson, Tampa Bay Business Journal
Front Page Design (Small)
- Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Orlando Sentinel front page
- Sun Sentinel – Lillian Mayor, 17,668
- The Miami Herald – Robert Cohn, Sports Front Page Design
Best Newscast
- WFTS-TV – ABC Action News Staff , Kristin Moore & Felicia Burton, Tropical Storm Debby, ABC Action News At 5PM
- WFTV-TV – Kim Bottom & Staff, WFTV Entry – 11pm Newscast 11/27/12
Investigative Reporting
- WBBH-TV – Lauren Bernaldo, Matthew Apthorp, Andy Pierrotti, Voter Investigation
- WFTS-TV – Michael George & Randy Wright, Private Information Made Public
- WTSP-TV – Mike Deeson, Tony D’Astoli & Paul Thorson, FINR Abuse
Spot News Reporting
- WBBH-TV NBC-2 News – Nina Moini, Nina Moini Spot News Reporting
- WFTS-TV – Kristin Moore, Jacqueline Ingles & Scott Wilson, I-75 Pileup
- WFTV-TV – Staff, DeLand Publix Plane Crash
Government Coverage
- WFTS-TV – Michael George & Randy Wright, Private Information Made Public
- WPTV-TV – Dan Krauth, Lynn Walsh & Jim Sitton, Millions Spent on Vacant South Florida Government Property
- WTSP-TV – Mike Deeson, Tony D’Astoli & Paul Thorson, Vern Buchanan: Congressional Questions
Continuing Coverage
- WFTS-TV – ABC Action News Staff, Tropical Storm Debby
- WFTS-TV – Jackie Callaway & Matt McGlashen, Charity Scam
- WFTV-TV – WFTV Staff, Trayvon Martin Coverage
Election Coverage
- WESH-TV – Greg Fox, “Commitment 2012”
- WFTS-TV – Staff, Republican National Convention
Feature Reporting
- WESH-TV – Greg Fox, Scooter Man
- WFTS-TV – Alison Morrow, Blind Man’s Dog Hit
- WFTS-TV – Deiah Riley, Eugene Perry & Jennifer McVan, Melissa Dohme
Public Affairs
- WFTS-TV – Brendan McLaughlin, John Fulton & John Pendygraft, If I Die Young
- WFTS-TV – Lissette Campos, Jennifer McVan, Elizabeth Gold & Rich Pegram, Taking Action Against Domestic Violence
- WUSF-TV – Sarah Pusateri, Jennifer Molina, Uniform Betrayal: Rape in the Military
Anchor of the Year
- Bay News 9 – Veronica Cintron
- WFTS-TV – Jamison Uhler
- WWSB-TV – John McQuiston
Best Newscast
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Marva Hinton & The WLRN-Miami Herald News team, Day After the 2012 Election in South Florida
- WUSF-FM – Carson Cooper, Best Newscast – 09/11/2012
- WUSF-FM – Susan Giles Wantuck, Best Newscast – 11/06/2012
General Coverage
- WFSU-FM – Jessica Palombo, Tropical Storm Debby Coverage
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Ashley Lopez, WLRN-Miami Herald News & The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, The Florida Ballot Amendments
- WUSF-FM – WUSF Staff, Republican National Convention compilation
Investigative Reporting
- WFSU-FM – Lynn Hatter, Family Speaks Out After Fla. State Mental Hospital Nurse Charged With Neglect
- WLRN-Miami Herald News & The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting – Sarah Gonzalez, John O’Connor, Mc Nelly Torres & Lynn Waddell, 13th Grade (Remedial Education in Florida)
- WUSF-FM – Steve Newborn, Post Office Supervisor Says Suspicious Spill Ruined His Health
Government Coverage
- WFSU-FM – Sascha Cordner, Legislator looks to increase penalties for high-speed chases that result in deaths
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Gina Jordan, The Woman Behind Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Rick Stone, How Bad Things Happen To Good Bills
Election Coverage
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN-Miami Herald News Staff & The Florida Roundup, WLRN-Miami Herald News Election Coverage Samples
Feature Reporting
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Christine DiMattei, Remembering Jaco Pastorius
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Sammy Mack, Islandia: South Florida’s Own Little Atlantis
- WUSF-FM – Bobbie O’Brien, Vets Adapative Sports: “This Is Not Your Father’s VA Anymore”
Public Affairs
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Phil Latzman, Elaine Chen, Alicia Zuckerman & Danny Rivero, The Florida Roundup: Post Election Special
- WUSF-FM – WUSF Staff, The Closing and Privatizing of Florida’s Prisons
Affiliated Blog
- South Florida Business Journal – Paul Brinkmann, Fraud in South Florida
- Sun Sentinel – Anthony Man & Brittany Wallman, Broward Politics
- Tampa Bay Times – Staff, The Buzz
Independent Blog
- Shadow of the Stadium – Noah Pransky
News Web Site
- Florida Center for Investigative Reporting – Staff
- Tampa Bay Times – Staff, Tampabay.com
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – The WLRN-Miami Herald News team, WLRN.org
Online Package
- Orlando Sentinel – Staff, In The Shadow of Race
- The News-Press – Staff, JetBlue Park: Ready for the Red Sox
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN-Miami Herald News Team, Remembering Hurricane Andrew stories
User-Generated Content
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – Terence Cantarella & WLRN Miami Herald News team, The Canoe Project
- WLRN-Miami Herald News – The WLRN-Miami Herald News team, Tweet Us A Story: You Can Co-Author A Story With Junot Diaz
2013 Florida College Press Association Awards
WINNERS
College Journalist of the Year
Ryan Cortes – University Press
College Newspaper – Weekly
1. University Press – Staff, University Press
2. The Current – Elizabeth Tomaselli, Jeralyn Darling, Tracy Crow & Staff
3. The Minaret – Joshua Napier, Chelsea Daubar, Jessica Keesee & Daniel Reimold, S02 College Newspaper- Weekly
College Newspaper – Non-Weekly
1. Central Florida Future – 2012 Central Florida Future Staff, Central Florida Future
2. iPulse – iPulse Staff, Obama Meets Romney at Lynn
College Magazine
1. The Minaret – Michael Trobiano, Joshua Napier, Chelsea Daubar & Jessica Keesee, S04 College Magazine
College Media Website
1. University of Miami – Virginia Ansaldi, Patricia Borns Borns, Qin Chen & Megan Terrilli, The Audacity of Beauty
2. University of Miami – Marcos Alonso, Patricia Borns, Josh Meltzer & Megan Terrilli, Revolution Revisited
3. University Press – Staff, Upressonline
News Story – Weekly
1. University Press – Karla Bowsher & James Shackelford, Who’s in charge here?
2. The Current – Malena Carollo, One ASPEC member dies in wreck, two others injured
3. The Current – Elizabeth Tomaselli, New ECOS president to veto senate approved budget
News Story – Non-Weekly
1. Central Florida Future – Sarah Aslam, Student’s app violates policy
2. Central Florida Future – Andy Zunz, Fans fret over unfilled seats
3. The Gargoyle – Ryan Buffa, Preacher or protester? Tatter brings religious message to Flagler students
News Photo
1. Barry Buccaneer – AJ Gonzalez, Walkers continue their journey to end domestic violence
Feature Story – Weekly
1. The Current – Malena Carollo, EC student travels home to Venezuela; votes in election
2. The Minaret – Stef Crocco, S11 Feature Story – Weekly
3. Eagle News – Kalhan Rosenblatt, The Hijab Challenge
Feature Story – Non-Weekly
1. The Gargoyle – Sarah Williamson, Muslim student responds to ignorance, reacts with tolerance
Feature Photo
1. The Gargoyle – Sarah Williamson, Together again: Colombian refugees resettle in Jacksonville
2. University Press – Michelle Friswell, Mike Jarvis
Sports Story – Weekly
1. University Press – Ryan Cortes, Schnellenberger unhinged — and having the time of his life
2. The Current – Malena Carollo, Jenks serving up English after Eckerd athletic career
Sports Photo
1. University Press – Ryan Murphy, Graham Wilbert
Sports Column
1. University Press – Ryan Cortes, Commentary: FAU introduces new AD Pat Chun to thundering approval
Front Page Design – Weekly
1. University Press – Phaedra Blaize & Emily Galea, University Press Front Page Design
Front Page Design – Non-Weekly
1. iPulse – iPulse Staff, Honoring Our Own
Feature Design – Weekly
1. The Current – Carver Lee, Eckerd on politics
Feature Design – Non-Weekly
1. iPulse – iPulse Staff, Student’s Election Infection
2. Barry Buccaneer – Susan Dorta, Notable alumni share tips for landing a job after graduation
Editorial/Opinion Column
1. The Current – Will Skinner, Student shares his experience at Occupy Tampa
2. Central Florida Future – Kaley LaQuea, Hitt’s raise sends wrong message
3. The Current – Max Martinez, The Mets need a few more players
Finalists in each category are presented in alphabetical order by organization
To correct errors or omissions, please contact Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com