Finalists

SPJ Award Logo

2016 SPJ Sunshine State Awards Finalists

Finalists in each category are presented in alphabetical order by organization. First, second and third-place finishers will be announced July 9 at the Firefighters Memorial Museum in Miami.

To correct errors or omissions, please contact Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com.

Special Categories

James Batten Award for Public Service

  • Naples Daily News – Maria Perez, Immigration & Hispanic Issues
  • Tampa Bay Times – Michael LaForgia, Cara Fitzpatrick & Lisa Gartner, Failure Factories
  • Bill Retherford, Rich Conner & Jay Pennington, Six Words

Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting

  • Miami New Times – Tim Elfrink, Florida Farm Owners Assault Migrants While Police and Prosecutors Do Nothing
  • Tampa Bay Times – Leonora LaPeter Anton, Anthony Cormier & Michael Braga, Invisible. In danger.
  • The Palm Beach Post – Lawrence Mower, Pat Beall, Joe Capozzi & Katie LaGrone, Line of Fire

Diversity Award

  • 10News WTSP (CBS) – Emerald Morrow, A voice for those ignored
  • Sun Sentinel – Tonya Alanez, Tonya Alanez: Rolex Girls, Homeless Exodus, Bad Cop & Flakka, Flakka, Flakka
  • Tampa Bay Times – Sherry Day Phillips, Sherri Day on race

First Amendment Foundation Freedom of Information Award

  • Miami Herald – Carol Marbin Miller, Bitter Pill
  • Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Focus on Force
  • The Palm Beach Post – Jane Musgrave & Daphne Duret, Fight against censorship

Integrity Florida Award for Public Corruption Reporting

  • Miami Herald – Michael Vasquez, Emily Michot & Chris Alcantara, Higher-Ed Hustle
  • Tampa Bay Times – Steve Bousquest, Florida Department of Law Enforcement chief’s firing is investigated.
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN-Miami Herald News, License to Launder: Cash, Cops and the Cartels

Journalist of the Year

  • Miami Herald – Mimi Whitefield, Return to Cuba
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Josh Salman, Josh Salman — Journalist of the Year
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Billy Cox, Billy Cox Stories

Anchor of the Year

  • ABC Action News, WFTS-TV – Laura Harris, Laura Harris submission for Anchor of the Year
  • WFLA-TV – Rod Carter, A07
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Christine DiMattei, Christine DiMattei 


Newspapers

Breaking News Reporting (Large)

  • Sun Sentinel – Linda Trischitta, Grand jury indicts Broward sheriff’s deputy on manslaughter charge
  • Tampa Bay Times – Ben Montgomery, Craig Pittman & Zachary T. Sampson, Florida mailman lands gyrocopter of U.S. Capitol lawn.

Breaking News Reporting (Small)

  • Bradenton Herald – Jessica DeLeon, Richard Dymond, Kate Irby & Meghin Delaney, The Death of Janiya Thomas: Exposing What Went Wrong
  • Daytona Beach News-Journal – Staff, Late, Late Show
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Will Greenlee, Laurie Blandford & George Andreassi, Viesel Fire

Non-Deadline News Reporting (Large)

  • Sun Sentinel – Diane C. Lade, Andy Reid & John Maines, The Hidden Hungry
  • Tampa Bay Times – Alexandra Zayas, Kameel Stanley, Biking While Black
  • The Palm Beach Post – Staff, Corey Jones reporting

Non-Deadline News Reporting (Small)

  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Elizabeth Johnson, Andre Bryant by Elizabeth Johnaon
  • The Ledger – Clifford Parody, Rape Kits: To Test, or Not to Test
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Isadora Rangel & George Andreassi, Incredible Rise of Joe Negron

Feature Reporting (Large)

  • Associated Press – Jennifer Kay, Napalm Girl
  • Sun Sentinel – Diane C. Lade, Andy Reid & John Maines, The Hidden Hungry
  • The Florida Times-Union – Mark Woods, They aren’t “just” janitors

Feature Reporting (Small)

  • Florida Weekly – Roger Williams, Seeing life the way the blind do
  • The Coastal Star – Randy Schultz, Mary Kate Leming, WHEN ‘THE MONSTER’ CAME OVER THE BRIDGE
  • The Ledger – Gary White, A Father’s Farewell

Series

  • Tampa Bay Times – Leonora LaPeter Anton, Anthony Cormier & Michael Braga, Invisible. In danger.
  • Tampa Bay Times – Michael LaForgia, Cara Fitzpatrick & Lisa Gartner, Failure Factories
  • The Palm Beach Post – Christine Stapleton, Pat Beall & Lawrence Mower, Addiction treatment: Inside the gold rush

Commentary & Criticism – General

  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Barbara Peters-Smith, Barbara Peters-Smith Commentary
  • Tampa Bay Times – John Romano, John Romano on Florida
  • The Palm Beach Post – Frank Cerabino, Frank Cerabino Columns

Commentary & Criticism – Arts

  • Miami New Times – Ryan Pfeffer, Ryan Pfeffer Collection
  • The Palm Beach Post – Leslie Streeter, Leslie Streeter Columns
  • John Tanasychuk, Restaurants comment and criticism – ARTS

Profile Reporting

  • The Coastal Star – Ron Hayes, Drag, Vet, Jaffe
  • The Florida Times-Union – Matt Soergel, Hero on the Bridge, Cheers of a Clown, A Life in Song
  • The News-Press – Thyrie Bland, Becoming Billy Gene

Data Reporting

  • Miami Herald – Staff, “Priced out: South Florida’s middle class struggles to keep pace with housing boom”
  • Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Focus on Force
  • Tampa Bay Times – Michael LaForgia, Cara Fitzpatrick & Lisa Gartner, Failure Factories

Editorial Writing

  • The Coastal Star – Mary Kate Leming, teen murder, public records, communications needs a boost
  • The Florida Times-Union – Mike Clark, City government misses major issues
  • The Palm Beach Post – Rick Christie, Stacey Singer & Howard Goodman, Shooting Editorials

Editorial Cartoon

  • King Features Syndicate – Ed Gamble, editorial cartoons
  • Ed Hall, Portfolio of Cartoons

Headline Writing

  • Sun Sentinel – Jeremy Lang, News headlines: Lang
  • Sun Sentinel – Steve McGrath, News headlines: McGrath
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Multiplatform Editing Desk, Body of work

Beat Reporting – Arts

  • Sun Sentinel – Jake Cline, Jake Cline, arts beat reporting portfolio
  • Sun Sentinel – Philip Valys, Philip Valys, arts beat writing portfolio
  • Tampa Bay Times – Jay Cridlin, Jay Cridlin on music

Beat Reporting – Business

  • Orlando Sentinel – Sandra Pedicini, Sandra Pedicini Business Reporting
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Josh Salman, Josh Salman Collection
  • South Florida Business Journal – Brian Bandell, Beat Reporting – Real Estate

Beat Reporting – Community

  • Bradenton Herald – Amaris Castillo, Community coverage: Anna Maria Island
  • The Palm Beach Post – Joe Capozzi, Joe Capozzi – Community
  • The Palm Beach Post – Tony Doris, Tony Doris

Beat Reporting – Consumer Issues

  • Florida Weekly – Roger Williams, Consumer issues – Roger Williams
  • Tampa Bay Times – William R. Levesque, William R. Levesque on aviation
  • The Palm Beach Post – Charles Elmore, Charles Elmore – Consumer

Beat Reporting – Crime & Courts

  • Miami Herald – Julie K. Brown & Emily Michot, See No Evil
  • Miami Herald – Jay Weaver & David Ovalle, Pipeline China
  • Sun Sentinel – Tonya Alanez, Cops, Crime, Sex, Drugs & Redemption after Deadly DUI

Beat Reporting – Education

  • Miami Herald – Michael Vasquez, Emily Michot & Chris Alcantara, HIgher-Ed Hustle
  • Orlando Sentinel – Leslie Postal, Leslie Postal Education Reporting
  • Tampa Bay Times – Marlene Sokol, Marlene Sokol on education

Beat Reporting – Environment, Health & Science

  • Tampa Bay Times – Craig Pittman, Craig Pittman on environmental affairs
  • The Palm Beach Post – John Pacenti, John Pacenti
  • The Palm Beach Post – Kimberly Miller, Kimberly Miller

Beat Reporting – Food & Travel

  • Miami Herald – Mimi Whitefield, Cuba’s embrace of tourism
  • Tampa Bay Times – Laura Reiley, Laura Reiley on Food
  • The Palm Beach Post – Liz Balmaseda, Lis Balmaseda – Food

Beat Reporting – Government & Politics

  • Tampa Bay Times – Alex Leary, Alex Leary on Politics
  • The Palm Beach Post – Eliot Kleinberg, Eliot Kleinberg
  • The Palm Beach Post – John Kennedy, John Kennedy – Government

Beat Reporting – Hardship Issues

  • Daytona Beach News-Journal – Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, High Cost, High Crime
  • Miami Herald – Carol Marbin Miller, Bitter Pill
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Emily Le Coz, Emily Le Coz Homeless Stories

Beat Reporting – Minority Issues

  • Bradenton Herald – Claire Aronson, Making a difference for a minority community
  • Miami Herald – Mimi Whitefield, Waves of Change: The Cuban-American community reacts to a new reality
  • Christiana Lilly, Christiana Lilly’s work

Beat Reporting – Religion

  • Miami Herald – Mimi Whitefield & Jim Wyss, Pope Francis’ visit to Cuba

Beat Reporting – Sports

  • Tampa Bay Times – Kelly Parsons, Kelly Parsons on Sports
  • Tampa Bay Times – Marc Topkin, Marc Topkin on Baseball
  • The Palm Beach Post – Hal Habib, Hal Habib – Sports

Special Publication or Section

  • Creative Loafing – Staff, The Cuba Issue
  • Daytona Beach News-Journal – Staff, Freedom’s Call
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Carrie Seidman, The S Word by Carrie Seidman


Photography & Design

Breaking News Photography (Large)

  • Orlando Sentinel – Red Huber, Standoff Ends

Breaking News Photography (Small)

  • Daytona Beach News-Journal – David Tucker, Coke Zero Crash
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Leah Voss, A Meal and a Disaster Drill
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Eric Hasert, Guilty of Murder

Feature Photography

  • Orlando Business Journal – Jim Carchidi, Sea Life
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Rachel S. O’Hara, Mission to minister
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Sam Wolfe, Indian River Lagoon Glows Green with Bioluminescence

Photography Story

  • Florida Weekly – Evan Williams & Vandy Major, Faces of the Homeless
  • Gulfstream Media Group – Staff, The Paradise of the Palm Beaches
  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Rachel S. O’Hara, Mission to minister

Art/Photo Illustration

  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Ron Borresen, Art/Photo Illustration by Ron Borresen
  • Tampa Bay Times – Cameron Cottrill, Illustrations by Cameron Cottrill
  • The Florida Times-Union – Steve Nelson, Outside Adventures

Infographic

  • Sun Sentinel – David Schutz, Hidden Hungry: Are you in a food desert?
  • The Villages Daily Sun – Colin Smith, Bringing Visual Impairment into Focus / How Time Flies / Operation Holiday Magic

Front Page Design (Large)

  • Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Orlando Sentinel Front Pages
  • South Florida Sun Sentinel – Bill Passonno, Showtime
  • The Florida Times-Union – Phil Diokno, Front Page Jacksonville

Front Page Design (Small)

  • South Florida Business Journal – Jock Fistick, Front Page – Jock Fistick
  • The Ledger – John Pitts, The Ledger Front Page
  • The Villages Daily Sun – Adam Rogers, 9, 2015 / Sept. 20, 2015 / Sept. 27, 2015

 

Magazines

Public Service Reporting

  • Fort Lauderdale Magazine – April Simpson, The Stats and the Streets
  • Sarasota Magazine – Tony D’Souza, Going Nowhere

Investigative Reporting

  • Fort Lauderdale Magazine – Laura L Myers, The Deep End
  • Sarasota Magazine – Tony D’Souza, Going Nowhere
  • Sarasota Magazine – Tony D’Souza, “The Sky Is Falling!”

Feature Story

  • Fort Lauderdale Magazine – Erik Petersen, The Old Tires and the Sea
  • Gulfstream Media Group – Ben Wolford, Jason Nuttle & Staff, The Souls of the Sea
  • John Sotomayor, Down the Drain

Profile Story

  • Gulfstream Media Group – Alyssa Morlacci & Jason Nuttle, Standing Strong With Nick
  • Sarasota Magazine – Kim Hackett, The Warrior
  • Super Lawyers Magazine – Carlos Harrison,Beth Taylor, Benjamin Crump. Justice.’

Commentary & Criticism

  • Fort Lauderdale Magazine – Erik Petersen, Erik Petersen commentary
  • Sarasota Magazine – Pam Daniel, Tallahassee vs. the People
  • Winter Park Magazine – Michael McLeod, “What’s a Poet Laureate Worth These Days?”

Trade or Special Interest Publication

  • Nova Southeastern University Horizons – Oline H. Cogdill, Horizons magazine
  • Rowland Publishing – Linda Kleindienst & Jennifer Ekrut, Coming Attractions Feb/March 2015; New Jobs Report April/May 2015
  • The Triton – Staff, The Triton Feb. 2015

Cover Design

  • City & Shore Magazine – Mark Gauert & Anderson Greene, City & Shore Magazine
  • Fort Lauderdale Magazine – Jonathan Perkinson, Fort Lauderdale Magazine covers
  • Sarasota Magazine – Staff, Sarasota Magazine: Summer 2015, October 2015, November 2015

Inside Design

  • City & Shore Magazine – Mark Gauert, Anderson Greene & Elyse Ranart, City & Shore Magazine
  • Gulfstream Media Group – Craig Cottrell & Staff, Bon Voyage, At Home in Paradise, The Water Warriors
  • Sarasota Magazine – Staff, Sarasota Magazine: Hooked on Boating, Places in Her Heart, Season Preview

Best Single Issue

  • City & Shore Magazine – Mark Gauert, Anderson Greene & Elyse Ranart, City & Shore Magazine, The Luxury Issue
  • Fort Lauderdale Magazine – Staff, 42339
  • Winter Park Magazine – Randy Noles, Winter Park Magazine, Winter 2016


Television

Best Newscast

No Award

Investigative Reporting

  • WPBF 25 News – Terri Parker, Pricey Palm Trees – The Real Story Behind Florida DOT’s “Bold Vision” Landscaping
  • WPBF 25 News – Terri Parker, The “Real” Cost of Raises Riviera Beach City Commissioners Just Gave Themselves
  • WPLG-TV – Sasha Andrade & Brian Ely, The Threat We Pay For

Spot News Reporting

  • WFTS-TV ABC Action News – Sarah Rosario & Taylor Vinson, South Tampa Flooding & cleanup
  • Derek Kemp & Michael Colaianni, Fort Myers Swat Team Raid
  • Derek Kemp & Dave Elias, Virginia Live Shot Shooting

Government & Politics Reporting

  • WTSP-TV – Mike Deeson, Paul Thorson, Amy Marinec & Melissa Rancourt, Fire Department Under Fire

Continuing Coverage

  • WESH-TV – Greg Fox & Staff, “Condos In Crisis”
  • WFLA-TV – Rod Carter, T05
  • WTSP-TV – Mike Deeson, Paul Thorson, Amy Marince & Melissa Rancourt, Stealing from Orphans

Feature Reporting

  • 10News WTSP (CBS) – Emerald Morrow & Gene Yagle, Life Without Mom
  • WFLA-TV – Rod Carter, T06
  • WFTS-TV ABC Action News – Sarah Rosario & Matt McGlashen, 4th grader helps homeless friend

Public Affairs

  • Telemundo/NBC Universal – Marisa Venegas/Telemundo, Judith Greenberg/MSNBC, Michelle Smawley/MSNBC & Andrew Becker/Center for Investigative Reporting, Batalla en la Frontera (Battle on the Border)
  • WBBH-TV – Lauren Stillwell, Todd Ofenbeck & Scott Reilly, NBC2 First Alert: Keeping You Safe
  • Bill Retherford, Rich Conner & Jay Pennington, Six Words

 

Radio

Best Newscast

No Award

General Coverage

  • WGCU News – Jessica Meszaros, Florida: Humans And The Environment
  • WJCT-FM – Lindsey Kilbride, For Me, Life Stopped’: About 1,300 Murders Go Unsolved In Jacksonville
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Wilson Sayre, Sammy Mack & Daniel Chang, Falling Into The Gap: Florida’s Health Care Coverage Gap

Investigative Reporting

  • Florida Center for Investigative Reporting – Tristram Korten, In Florida, Officials Ban Term ‘Climate Change’
  • WFSU-FM – Lynn Hatter, Apalachicola Bay: An Estuary in Decline

Government & Politics Reporting

  • WFSU-FM – Sascha Cordner, Lawmakers Working To Revamp State’s Guardianship Laws To Help Elderly
  • WFSU-FM – Sascha Cordner, Mother Of Slain Teen Says She’ll Continue Fight Against Florida Gun Bills
  • WFSU-FM – Nick Evans, SCOTUS Rules In Favor Of Marriage, Opponents And Supporters Say This Isn’t The End

Feature Reporting

  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Wilson Sayre, Julia Duba, Kenny Malone & Alicia Zuckerman, Two Stories From The End Of The Road
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Sammy Mack, Wilson Sayre, Julia Duba & Nancy Klingener, Hurricane Wilma
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Nancy Klingener, When Key West Was Cuban

Public Affairs

  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Tom Hudson, Wilson Sayre & WLRN News Staff, The Sunshine Economy: On The Edge Of Adulthood
  • WUSF Public Media – Mary Shedden, Abe Aboraya, Nadege Green & Lottie Watts, Health News Florida: HIV In Florida
  • WUFT-FM – Clara Garcia & Nicole Segnini, Minority Museums

 

Online

Blog

  • Orlando Sentinel – Paul Brinkmann, Brinkmann on Business
  • The New Tropic – Staff, The New Tropic
  • The Palm Beach Post – Matt Porter, Canes Watch

News Web Site

  • Orlando Sentinel – Staff, com
  • Tampa Bay Times – Times staff, com
  • The Palm Beach Post – Staff, com

Online Breaking News

  • The Minaret / University of Tampa – Selene San Felice, Pro-Rape Group to Hold Meeting in Curtis Hixon Park on Saturday
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Will Greenlee & Laurie Blandford, Viesel Fire
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Staff, Hurricane Erika

Multimedia Feature

  • Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Focus on Force
  • Treasure Coast Newspapers – Lisa Broadt, Sand Wars
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN-Miami Herald News, The Migration Maze

Package

  • Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Billy Cox, Thomas Bender, Jennifer Borresen & Dak Le, Chasing the Ghost
  • Tampa Bay Times – Leonora LaPeter Anton, Anthony Cormier & Michael Braga, Invisible, In danger.
  • Tampa Bay Times – Michael LaForgia, Cara Fitzpatrick, Lisa Gartner & Nathaniel Lash, Failure Factories

User-Generated Content

  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN News Staff, Zip Odes

Infographic

  • Florida Center for Investigative Reporting – Trevor Aaronson, Karsten Ivey& Belinda Ivey, Visualized: Police Militarization in Florida
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Alexander Gonzalez, Photos: Old South In Tallahassee, Before Political Standoffs

Video

  • Sun Sentinel – Barbara Corbellini Duarte, Barbara Corbellini Duarte, portfolio
  • Tampa Bay Times – John Pendygraft, Invisible. In danger
  • Tampa Bay Times – James Borchuck, Florida mailman lands gyrocopter on the U.S. Capitol lawn

Blog Writing

  • Miami New Times – Kyle Munzenreider, Kyle Munzenreider Collection
  • The Palm Beach Post – George Bennett & John Kennedy, Post on Politics
  • WLRN-Miami Herald News – Tim Padgett, Tim Padgett’s Opinion

Blog Writing – In Depth

No Award

Social Media Package – Times staff, Tropical Storm Erica

  • Telemundo 51 – Staff, 30 AÑOS, 30 HISTORIAS
  • The Palm Beach Post – Dan Scapusio & Samantha Ragland, Palm Beach Post Social Packages\


Spanish Language

Periodista del Año – Print/Digital/Online

No Award

Periodista del Año – Television/Radio

  • Telemundo 51 – Myriam Masihy, TELEMUNDO 51 RESPONDE
  • Telemundo 51 – Adriana Mocciola, SERIES DE INVESTIGACION

Mejor Reportaje de Investigación – Print/Digital/Online

  • el Nuevo Herald – Enrique Flor & Brenda Medina, Violencia doméstica en el sur de la Florida
  • el Nuevo Herald – Nora Gámez Torres, Los cubanoamericanos detrás del cambio (Serie)
  • Marianela Toledo, Ocho años después de su graduación, una estudiante aun espera su diploma

Mejor Reportaje de Investigación – Television/Radio

  • Telemundo/NBC Universal – Marisa Venegas/Telemundo, Judith Greenberg/MSNBC, Michelle Smawley/MSNBC & Andrew Becker/Center for Investigative Reporting, Batalla en la Frontera (Battle on the Border)
  • WLTV-Univision 23 – Erika Carrillo & Armando Pico, Malgasto Municipal Investigación
  • WLTV-Univision 23 – Erika Carrillo & Armando Pico, Uber Desafía al Condado Miami-Dade

Mejor Cubrimiento Noticias de Última Hora (Breaking News) – Print/Digital/Online

  • el Nuevo Herald – Antonio Delgado, La crisis de Venezuela
  • Univision – José Ángel Gonzalo, Damià S. Bonmatí, Eulimar Nuñez & Melvin Félix, Una semana histórica en la Corte Suprema

Mejor Cubrimiento Noticias de Última Hora (Breaking News) – Print/Digital/Online

No Award

Mejor Reportaje Especial (Features) – Print/Digital/Online

No Award

Mejor Reportaje Especial (Features) – Television/Radio

  • Telemundo 51 – Adriana Mocciola, Ana Cuervo, Gaston Toledo & Patricio Muñoz, MONJAS DE CLAUSURA
  • WLTV-Univision 23 – Maria Fernanda Lopez & Javier Uria, Ruinas del Narcotráfico
  • Sandra Peebles & David Gonzalez, Epidemic Encubierta

Mejor Trabajo Estudiantil – All Media

  • University of Florida – Noticias WUFT team, “Noticias WUFT,” Oct. 17, 2015

 

Students

College Journalist of the Year

  • FSView & Florida Flambeau – Perry Kostidakis, Perry Kostidakis
  • South Florida Gay News – Jillian Melero, Jillian Melero, 2015 Body of Work
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Emma Cotton, Emma Cotton

Best Student Publication (High Frequency)

  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Staff, The Miami Hurricane

Best Student Publication (Low Frequency)

  • Florida A&M University – Staff, Journey Magazine

Best Student Publication (Low Frequency)

  • FSView & Florida Flambeau – Staff, FSView & Florida Flambeay
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Staff, Vol 6 Issue 11; Vol 7 Issue 4

Best Website (High Frequency)

  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Staff, The Miami Hurricane
  • Flagler College – Staff, Flagler College Gargoyle
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University – Staff, com

Best News Story (High Frequency)

  • University of Florida/WUFT – Ariella Phillips & Andrea Cornejo, First Day Of Bear Hunt Brings Kills, Concerns
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Jennifer Tintner, Hidden Village Apartment Complex Floods, Traps Residents
  • WUFT-TV – Megan Bell, Paynes Prairie at Risk

Best News Story (Low Frequency)

  • South Florida Gay News – Jillian Melero, Will Marriage Equality in Florida Render Domestic Partnership Obsolete
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Sydney Cavero & Teresa Young, New Zealand authorities continue to search for junior Ally WIllen
  • WUFT-TV – Megan Trepper Bell, Teacher of the Year

Best News Photo (High Frequency)

  • iPulse / Lynn University – Jesse Weissman, Casino Royale Comes To Lynn (Top Left)
  • iPulse / Lynn University – Estefanía Perez, Buddhist Monks Leaving Lynn (Bottom Right)
  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Erum Kidwai, Candlelight vigil laments tragedies in Paris, Beirut

Best Profile (High Frequency)

  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Erika Glass, Alexander Gonzalez & William Riggin, The Shalala Years: Looking back at Shalala’s tenure
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Dahlia Ghabour, Henna Artist Gives Cancer Patients Crowns Of Beauty
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Heather Reinblatt, The Hidden Toll For Some of Gainesville’s 911 Operators
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Emma Cotton, Shifting culture away from assault

Best Review (High Frequency)

  • iPulse / Lynn University – Aisling McEntegart, Life On Both Sides of the Atlantic
  • iPulse / Lynn University – Brooke Rudisill & Kevin Studer, The Longest Cry for “The Longest Ride”
  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Madelyn Paquette, ‘Disgraced’ highlights religious tension, yet core cast falls flat

Best Review (Low Frequency)

  • Florida A&M University – Karlyn Sykes & Geoffrey Evans, Art Algorithms: The Future of Mixed Media Arts
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Riley Huff, Modern Paranoia makes for great punk rock
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Riley Huff, “Every Student an Artist” exhibit at Cobb

Best Sports Story (High Frequency)

  • The Independent Florida Alligator / University of Florida – Jordan McPherson, Despite SEC title game loss, McElwain still exceeded expectations in Year 1
  • The Independent Florida Alligator / University of Florida – Jordan McPherson, From Student-Athlete to Student: A UF volleyball player’s story
  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Mark Singer, Miami Hurricanes upset Duke 30-27 in last-second stunner

Best Sports Story (Low Frequency)

  • Flagler College – Will Sandman, The career-ender: For baseball players, labrum tears still one of most debilitating
  • University Press / Florida Atlantic University – Staff, Day in the Life
  • University Press / Florida Atlantic University – Ryan Lynch, Baseball leads to more home runs

Best Sports Photo (High Frequency)

No Award

Best Sports Photo (Low Frequency)

No Award

Best Opinion Column

  • The Current / Eckerd College – Araesia King, Disconnect between Eckerd and St. Pete apparent
  • The FAMUAN / Florida A&M University – Reggie Mizell, President Mangum to Launch Official Newspaper
  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Andrew Allen, Jerry Falwell Jr., Donald Drumpf ring death knell of conservative American evangelicalism

Best Page Design (High Frequency)

  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Emma Deardorff, Game over, Golden 

Best Page Design (Low Frequency)

  • Florida A&M University – Brion Eason, Journey: The Art Issue
  • FSView & Florida Flambeau – Devin Lowery, Six for Six: FSU-Miami commemorative poster
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Hannah Hamontree, Quarter-pipe skates into Kappa

Best Video (High Frequency)

  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Ari Mont, “Smoke-Free Campus” policy may be detrimental to UM students
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Dahlia Ghabour, Are You Afraid to Be Muslim in America?
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Eric Bandin, Nicole Gomez, Gainesville’s Repurpose Project Spreads Reuse Mission

Best Video (Low Frequency)

  • Palm Beach Atlantic University – com Staff, Anonymous social media not very anonymous
  • Palm Beach Atlantic University – Katie Forsythe & Staff, How strong is the youth vote?
  • The Current / Eckerd College – Staff, The Current Minute ep. 4

Best Coverage of LGBT Issues

  • South Florida Gay News – Jillian Melero, Transgender Day of Remembrance 2015
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Heather Reinblatt, Local Transgender People Struggle for Acceptance
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Ashley Lombardo, UF’s Trans Resource Network Assists Students Through Institutional Collaboration

Best Coverage of Race and Minorities

  • FSView & Florida Flambeau – Emily Clemons & David Walker, A look in the mirror
  • The Miami Hurricane / University of Miami – Lyssa Goldberg & Isabella Cueto, Remedying race relations: Campus weighs in on inclusivity, diversity
  • University of Florida/WUFT – Dahlia Ghabour, Are You Afraid to be Muslim in America?

 

To correct errors or omissions, please contact Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com.