2025 Sunshine State Award winners

Awards were presented in a ceremony at NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 6, 2025. Send corrections to Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com

SPECIAL AWARDS

A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting

First Place: Audible & Western Sound – Trevor Aaronson & Eleanor Knight, Pulse: The Untold Story
Second Place: WFTS – Kylie McGivern, Randy Wright & Melanie Payne, Pay to Stay: Incarceration Fees Stifle Former Felons Series
Third Place: Ocala Gazette – Caroline Brauchler & Jennifer Hunt Murty, Deaths in Custody at the Marion County Jail

NABJ South Florida Diversity Award

First Place: Fortune & TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Lindsey Leake, Collection
Finalist: WUSF – Nancy Guan, Collection

Barbara A. Petersen Freedom of Information Award

First Place: Noticias Telemundo, NBC News – Anagilmara Vilchez & Mike Hixenbaugh, Dealing the Dead – Venezuelan migrant’s body was used for research without consent as her family grieved
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew, A Light in the Darkness
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Staff, From lieutenant to sheriff: A political deal hatched in secret

Journalist of the Year

First Place: Miami Herald – Jacqueline Charles, Coverage of Haiti’s ongoing humanitarian crisis
Finalist: Florida Politics – Gabrielle Russon, Collection
Finalist: WLRN News – Tim Padgett, Collection

Anchor of the Year

First Place: WUSF – Matthew Peddie, Matthew Peddie, Host of Florida Matters and Our Changing State
Finalist: WLRN News – Sherrilyn Cabrera, Sherrilyn Cabrera portfolio

Photojournalist of the Year

First Place: The Palm Beach Post – Greg Lovett, Collection
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Joe Cavaretta, Photographer of the Year portfolio

Outstanding New Journalist

First Place: The Miami Herald – Grethel Aguila, Collection
Finalist: Axios Tampa Bay – Yacob Reyes, Collection
Finalist: Ocala Gazette – Caroline Brauchler, Collection

Editor of the Year

First Place: WFTS – Matthew Apthorp, Collection

Social Justice Reporting

First Place: WFTS – Adam Walser, Matt McGlashen & Melanie Payne, The Death of Walt Lay… Hate Crime or Stand Your Ground?
Finalist: Miami Herald – Shirsho Dasgupta, Clara-Sophia Daly & Devon Milley, Juvenile Crime, Adult Time
Finalist: WFTS – Kylie McGivern, Randy Wright & Melanie Payne, Pay to Stay: Incarceration Fees Stifle Former Felons Series

PRINT & DIGITAL WRITING

Breaking News Reporting

First Place: Tallahassee Democrat – Staff, A Tallahassee Tornado Outbreak
Finalist: Naples Daily News and The News-Press – Staff, Hurricane Mitlon
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Staff, Hurricane Milton Tornadoes on Treasure Coast

Non-Deadline News Reporting – Local & Community

First Place: Miami Herald – Aaron Leibowitz & Madeline Everett, Miami-Dade halted weed prosecutions, but thousands were jailed anyway. Most were Black
Finalist: Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, Gulfport, like so many Tampa Bay communities, picks up Helene’s pieces
Finalist: Virgin Islands Daily News & Centro de Periodismo Investigativo of Puerto Rico – Freeman Rogers, Suzanne Carlson, Krista Campbell & Olivia Losbar, Sargassum Series

Non-Deadline News Reporting – State & National

First Place: The Marshall Project, WTSP 10 Tampa Bay & USA Today – Daphne Duret, Jennifer Titus & Libby Hendren, Spit Hoods Can Be Deadly. Police Keep Using Them Anyway.
Finalist: Grist – Ayurella Horn-Muller, The people who feed America are going hungry
Finalist: The Tributary – Nandhini Srinivasan, Red Lights, Green Cash

Serious Feature Reporting – Local & Community

First Place: Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, At a Florida psychiatric home of last resort, one woman works her “dream job”
Finalist: Daytona Beach News-Journal – Jim Abbott, A Rare Diagnosis
Finalist: Naples Daily News & The News-Press – Kate Cimini, SWFL shrimping: on the verge of collapse

Serious Feature Reporting – State & National

First Place: Rolling Stone – Michael Adno, A Fire in the River: Big Sugar and ‘Black Snow’ in the Everglades
Finalist: The Marshall Project, WTSP 10 Tampa Bay & USA Today – Daphne Duret, Jennifer Titus & Libby Hendren, Spit Hoods Can Be Deadly. Police Keep Using Them Anyway.
Finalist: The Palm Beach Post – Antigone Barton, One woman’s multi-state abortion journey

Light Feature Reporting – Local & Community

First Place: The Oxford American – Michael Adno, The Worm Charmers
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Shira Moolten & Angie DiMichele, Inside the world of Trump-touting MAGA music
Finalist: Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, Stanley, a very good boy, saves other dogs’ lives

Light Feature Reporting – State & National

First Place: Associated Press – Terry Spencer, Collection
Finalist: Florida Today – D. Gallop, Reading List to Awaken Your Spirit
Finalist: WUFT News – Kristin Moorehead, Young people splurging more as “little treat” internet trend booms

Series

First Place: The Miami Herald – Carol Marbin Miller, Linda Robertson, Camellia Burris & Susan Merriam, Guilty of Grief
Finalist: Oviedo Community News, Central Florida Public Media, The Florida Trident & WGCU Public Media – Staff, The Race Against Time to Protect Florida’s Wildlife Corridor
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – David Fleshler, A Gambling Underworld

General Commentary & Criticism

First Place: Orlando Sentinel – Scott Maxwell, Scott Maxwell: Collection
Finalist: Daytona Beach News-Journal – John Dunbar, Collection
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Blake Fontenay, From lieutenant to sheriff: A political deal hatched in secret

Arts & Culture Commentary & Criticism

First Place: Florida Humanities – Robert Plunket, Arts and Culture Commentary – Architecture
Finalist: ArtburstMiami.com / Miami Herald – Michelle F. Solomon, Collection
Finalist: Florida Theater on Stage – Oline H. Cogdill, Collection of theater reviews

Sports Commentary

First Place: Miami Herald – Greg Cote, Greg Cote commentary collection
Finalist: Orlando Sentinel – Mike Bianchi, Collection
Finalist: The Palm Beach Post – Tom D’Angelo, Tom D’Angelo collection

Obituary Reporting

First Place: ByJoeCapozzi.com – Joe Capozzi, Remembering Willie Parson
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Howard Cohen, Julian Kreeger obit
Finalist: Winter Park Magazine – Mike Thomas, Phil Handy

Election Reporting – Local & Community

First Place: Miami Herald – Douglas Hanks, Trump Turns Miami-Dade Red collection
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Staff, Vote with Confidence
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Laurence Reisman, Who is backing downtown Vero Beach referendums?

Election Reporting – State & Federal

First Place: The Tributary – Nandhini Srinivasan, Red Lights, Green Cash
Finalist: Daytona Beach News Journal – Mark Harper, Army says Florida congressman earned medals amid stolen valor charges
Finalist: VoxPopuli – Andrea Charur, State Senate District 13 Collection

Election Reporting – State Amendments

First Place: USA Today Network – Florida – John Kennedy, DeSantis: Amendment Slayer

Election Reporting – Presidential

First Place: The Palm Beach Post – Antonio Fins, Antonio Fins collection

Data Reporting

First Place: Miami Herald – Aaron Leibowitz & Madeline Everett, Miami-Dade halted weed prosecutions, but thousands were jailed anyway. Most were Black
Finalist: Jacksonville Today – Megan Mallicoat, NUMBER OF THE WEEK | Big bucks in Duval School Board elections

Editorial Writing

First Place: The Virgin Islands Daily News – Lowe Davis, Can WAPA be saved?
Finalist: Miami Herald – Isadora Rangel, Shrinking MIddle
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Blake Fontenay, Laurence Reisman & Adam L. Neal, Appointed sheriff Keith Pearson is not ready for the full time job

Editorial Cartooning

No Awards

Small Town & Rural Reporting

First Place: Tallahassee Democrat – Ana Goñi-Lessan, Storms of Rural Life
Finalist: The Gazette – John Hayden, Police, Budget & Oversight

Human Interest Story

First Place: Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, After one disaster, a small-town mayor braces for another hurricane
Finalist: Florida Today – Sara Paulson, A Heart too Big
Finalist: The Palm Beach Post – Wayne Washington, Season to Share: Hate-filled assault blinded man. Now he needs help to regain independence

Blog Writing

First Place: WGCU – Tom Bayles, Water Quality Report
Finalist: Florida Weekly – C. Bruce, Collection
Finalist: Refresh Miami – Nancy Dahlberg, Tech & Startup News Collection

Special Publication or Section

First Place: Winter Park Magazine – Randy Noles, Living in Winter Park
Finalist: Orlando Business Journal – Staff, Business of the Arts publication

Trade or Special Interest Publication

No Awards

Beat Reporting – Arts & Culture

First Place: Miami Herald – Amanda Rosa, Collection
Finalist: ArtburstMiami / Miami Herald – Michelle F. Solomon, Collection
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Phillip Valys, Collection

Beat Reporting – Business & Consumer Affairs

First Place: South Florida Business Journal – Cortney Danielle Moore, Beat Reporting: Business & Consumer Affairs
Finalist: Florida Politics – Gabrielle Russon, A Death at Disney World
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Ashley Miznazi, Collection

Beat Reporting – Community

First Place: Stet News – Joel Engelhardt, Juno Beach
Finalist: ByJoeCapozzi.com – Joe Capozzi, Collection
Finalist: Oviedo Community News – Eric Orvieto, Abe Aboraya, Oviedo Community News: Chickens, a Community Hero and a Sad Goodbye

Beat Reporting – Crime & Courts

First Place: The Miami Herald – David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila & Susan Merriam, Wrecked Justice
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Charles Rabin, Jay Weaver & Linda Robertson, Alexander brothers
Finalist: The Tributary – Nichole Manna, Duval jail collection

Beat Reporting – Education

First Place: Tallahassee Democrat – Alaijah Brown, Collection
Finalist: Jacksonville Today – Megan Mallicoat, Collection
Finalist: Miami Herald – Clara-Sophia Daly, Collection

Beat Reporting – Environment, Science & Technology

First Place: Grist – Ayurella Horn-Muller, Collection
Finalist: Florida Weekly – Mary Wozniak, Collection
Finalist: Naples Daily News & The News-Press – Amy Bennett Williams, Collection

Beat Reporting – Food & Travel

First Place: Grist – Ayurella Horn-Muller, Collection
Finalist: Edible South Florida – Sef Gonzalez, Marimar Toledo & Gretchen Schmidt, Collection
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Phillip Valys, Collection

Beat Reporting – Lifestyle & Trends

First Place: South Florida Business Journal – Cortney Danielle Moore, Collection
Finalist: Boca magazine – Christie Galeano-DeMott, Collection
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Lois Solomon, Collection

Beat Reporting – Government & Politics

First Place: Florida Trident – Michael Barfield, The Ziegler Scandal
Finalist: Florida Politics – Gabrielle Russon, Glen Gilzean spending scandal
Finalist: The Palm Beach Post – Mike Diamond, Mike Diamond collection

Beat Reporting – Health

First Place: The Miami Herald – Michelle Marchante, Steward Health bankruptcy
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Jay Weaver & Milena Malaver, Lamelas
Finalist: The Tributary – Nichole Manna, Duval jail collection

Beat Reporting – Housing & Real Estate

First Place: The Miami Herald – Andres Viglucci, Collection
Finalist: Miami Herald – Linda Robertson, Collection
Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Brian Bandell, Collection

Beat Reporting – Sports

First Place: The Palm Beach Post – Joe Schad, Collection
Finalist: Naples Daily News & The News-Press – Alex Martin, Collection
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Gerald Thomas, Collection

Beat Reporting – Underrepresented Communities

First Place: Tampa Bay Times – Olivia George, Collection
Finalist: Miami Herald – Raisa Habersham, Collection
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Ana Goñi-Lessan, Voices of the Voiceless

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

Breaking News Photography

First Place: The Miami Herald – Al Diaz, Convicted murderer leaps at father
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Mike Stocker, 3 firefighters, 12 passengers hurt after Brightline train collides with fire truck in Delray
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Kaila Jones & Crystal Vander Weit, Hurricane Milton Tornadoes on Treasure Coast

General News Photo

First Place: The Miami Herald – Matias J. Ocner, Venezuelan rally in Bayfront Park
Finalist: South Florida SunSentinel – Joe Cavaretta, Surfin Stanley
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Kaila Jones, FHP Trooper Fink collection

Feature Photography

First Place: The Miami Herald – Al Diaz, Snow day at the Ermita de la Caridad
Finalist: Naples Daily News & The News-Press – Jonah Hinebaugh, Comet passes Naples
Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Jock Fistick, Feature Photography

Portrait/Personality

First Place: The Miami Herald – Matias J. Ocner, Disabled student gets his license
Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Jock Fistick, Portrait/Personality Photography
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Carl Juste, Black veterans meet daily at McDonalds

Photography Story

First Place: The Miami Herald – Matias J. Ocner & David Santiago, Panthers win their first Stanley Cup
Finalist: Florida Humanities – David Meek, The Streets of Paradise
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Crystal Vander Weit, Port Salerno fisherman

Sports Photography

First Place: The Miami Herald – Al Diaz, Georgia fan selfies with Miami coach after team’s defeat
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Alicia Devine, Joy in Pain
Finalist: The News-Press & Naples Daily News – Andrew West, Out at home

Art/Photo Illustration

First Place: Miami New Times – Kristin Bjornsen, Collection
Finalist: Distraction Magazine – Staff, Collection
Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Stephanie Redding, Collection

Infographics & Data Visualization

First Place: South Florida Business Journal – Stephanie Redding, Infographics & Data Visualization (Stephanie Redding)
Finalist: Distraction Magazine – Lizzie Kristal, Seasonal Fruits Graph

Newspaper Front Page Design

First Place: South Florida Business Journal – Stephanie Redding, Front Page Design (Stephanie Redding)

Magazine Cover Design

First Place: Distraction Magazine – Staff, Winter 2024 Issue Covers
Finalist: Edible South Florida – Beth Rhodes, Andrea Hernandez & Kiki Valdes, Magazine Covers

Magazine Inside Design

First Place: Winter Park Magazine – Carolyn Edmunds, Assorted Covers
Finalist: Distraction Magazine – Staff, Collection
Finalist: Florida Humanities – David Meek, FORUM, the magazine of Florida Humanities

Magazine Single Issue

First Place: Distraction Magazine – Staff, Fall 2024 Issue
Finalist: Edible Northeast Florida – Lauren Titus, Michelle Smith & Cat Kahnle, The Soil Issue
Finalist: Florida Humanities – Pam Daniel & David Meek, Sense of Place

TELEVISION & VIDEO

TV Or Video Newscast

First Place: WESH – Keith Aversa, Micah Richardson, WESH 2 News at 11: Milton’s Aftermath
Finalist: Spectrum News 13 – Staff, Metal Detectors in Schools
Finalist: WPBF 25 News – WPBF 25 News, Milton Aftermath

Investigative Reporting – Single Report

First Place: WKMG News 6 – Robert Breuer, Mystery Mail Investigation
Finalist: Spectrum News 13 – Asher Wildman, School District Leaders Mum On AI Gun Detection Program
Finalist: WPBF 25 News – Terri Parker, The Pill Mill Kingpin Accuses His Lawyer of Stealing Millions

Investigative Reporting – Series

First Place: WTSP 10 Tampa Bay, The Marshall Project & USA Today – Jennifer Titus, Libby Hendren & Daphne Duret, Uncovering spit hood dangers: Police keep using them
Finalist: WFTS – Adam Walser, Matt McGlashen & Randy Wright, Illusion of Safety: Defective Safety Equipment in Used Cars

Spot News Reporting

First Place: WPBF 25 News – WPBF 25 News, Attempted Trump Assassination
Finalist: Caplin News – Mario Ojeda, Carlos Ortiz & Jazmine Santillana, Migrantes venezolanos en Colombia afectados por recortes de USAID

Breaking News

First Place: Spectrum News 13 – Staff, Farmworker Bus Crash
Finalist: Spectrum News 13 – Staff, Downtown Orlando Mass Shooting
Finalist: Univision Orlando – Danelia Buitrago, Andreina Rosal, Gianncarlo Cifuentes & Carlos Vazquez Otero, Katherine Guerrero Carjacked Kidnapped & Murdered

General Assignment Report

First Place: WKMG News 6 – Mike Holfeld & Robert Breuer, Skimmer Crackdown

Continuing Coverage or Series

First Place: WTSP 10 Tampa Bay, The Marshall Project & USA Today – Jennifer Titus, Libby Hendren & Daphne Duret, Uncovering spit hood dangers: Police keep using them
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Saundra Weathers & Eugene Buenaventura, Black Maternal Health week
Finalist: Univision Orlando – Henry Palomo, Andreina Rosal, Gianncarlo Cifuentes & Carlos Vazquez Otero, Grief and Outrage After Farmworkers’ Deaths

Special Reporting

First Place: WUCF-TV – Krystel Knowles & Ben Kassab, Crisis to Conservation: Florida Coastal Resiliency
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Cait McVey, Cait McVey: Environmental Reporting
Finalist: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow & Carter Schumacher, When Good Grades Don’t Guarantee Graduation

Government, Politics & Election Reporting

First Place: WUCF-TV – Krystel Knowles, Spirited Door-to-Door Canvassing: Singing, Smiles, and Surprises!

Environment, Science & Technology Reporting

No Awards

Health Reporting

First Place: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow, Carter Schumacher & Libby Hendren, Delivering Dylan
Finalist: ABC Action News – WFTS – Lauren St. Germain & Allison Shaw, Young Florida mom receives experimental vaccine

Light Feature Reporting

First Place: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Cait McVey & Eugene Buenaventura, Sloppy Joel and Friends
Finalist: WPBF – Angela Rozier & Carlo Pellegrino, Delmar Farm Helps Foster Children

Serious Feature Reporting

First Place: WSVN-TV – Staff, Letter of a Lifetime: 105-year-old WWII Veteran Reflects
Finalist: WJAX-TV / WFOX-TV – Tenikka Smith Hughes & Steve Berrios, Combatting Chronic Absenteeism in Duval Schools
Finalist: WPLG – Christina Boomer Vazquez, Mario Alonso & Ozzy Guerra, OIS: Family Seeks Justice

Sports Reporting

First Place: WGCU Public Media – Amanda Inscore Whittamore, 2024 US Open Pickleball Championships

Weather Reporting

First Place: WPLG – Christina Boomer Vazquez & Tim McFarland, Hurricane Helene Storm Surge
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Staff, Tracking Hurricane Helene
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Staff, Tracking Hurricane Milton

Non-Newscast Program

First Place: WESH – Michelle Imperato, Jacob Wiklund, Marcie Golgoski & Nancy Alvarez, WESH 2 Chronicle: Life After Pulse
Finalist: First Coast News – Staff, The Untold Truth
Finalist: Spectrum News 13 – Staff, Justice For All: Grave Betrayal

Video – Short Form

First Place: WGCU Public Media – Amanda Inscore Whittamore, Andrea Melendez & Tom James, Paying the Price for Living in Paradise
Finalist: The News-Press & Naples Daily News – Andrew West, Tornado from Hurricane Milton 2
Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Susan Gard, The Fisherwoman of Sanibel Island, Florida | Esperanza Woodring | Untold Stories Shorts

Video – Long Form

First Place: The News-Press & Naples Daily News – Andrew West, The mangrove tree
Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Janine Zeitlin, Tom James & Susan Gard, Black Pioneers on Sanibel Island, Florida | Untold Stories Shorts

RADIO & AUDIO

Radio or Audio Newscast

First Place: WUSF – Cathy Carter, All Things Considered, Oct. 9, 2024
Finalist: WMNF News – Seán Kinane, Chris Young & Kiley Petracek, The Scoop – WMNF News

Podcast

First Place: South Florida Sun Sentinel – David Schutz & Sean Pitts, Felonious Florida: In the Darkness
Finalist: Entropy Media – Abdon Pallasch, Bob Herguth, Dalton Main & Anjay Nagpal, Underbelly: The Rebel Kind Ep 2: A Little Off Base
Finalist: WMNF News – Nadine Smith, Wide Awake America

General Coverage

First Place: WUSF – Stephanie Colombini, Jessica Meszaros & Kerry Sheridan, Hurricane Helene
Finalist: WMNF News – Ben Montgomery, Meghan Bowman, Seán Kinane & Chris Young, WMNF’s live broadcast during Hurricane Milton

Investigative Reporting

No Awards

Government, Politics & Election Reporting

First Place: Central Florida Public Media – Lillian Hernández Caraballo, Joe Byrnes & Joe Mario Pedersen, Vote 2024 Compilation
Finalist: WFSU Public Media – Lynn Hatter, Florida bans selling or manufacturing lab-grown meat
Finalist: WUSF – Matthew Peddie, Gracyn Doctor, Steve Newborn & Cathy Carter, Vote 2024 Coverage

Serious Feature Reporting

First Place: WUSF – Gabriella Paul, Tampa Bay renters call out ‘unlivable conditions’ under corporate landlords
Finalist: Entropy Media – Abdon Pallasch, Bob Herguth, Dalton Main & Anjay Nagpal, Underbelly: The Rebel Kind Ep 2: A Little Off Base
Finalist: WUSF – Nancy Guan, Hurricanes left Tampa Bay’s immigrant community reeling. Here’s how some are recovering

Light Feature Reporting

First Place: WUSF – Steve Newborn, In search of bull sharks, where manatees roam
Finalist: WUSF – Kayla Kissel, From felt to finish: Florida man owns one of the only handmade hat shops in the state
Finalist: WUSF – Kerry Sheridan, As memories fade, music sustains at a choir pairing Key Chorale singers with community elders

Public Affairs

First Place: WUSF – Matthew Peddie & Gracyn Doctor, The case for and against partisan school board elections
Finalist: Central Florida Public Media – Engage, Florida Classic’s Legacy, History, and Role in Central Florida Culture
Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Mike Kiniry, How the role of U.S. President has evolved from what the founders intended into what it is today

Environment, Science & Technology Reporting

First Place: WUSF – Jessica Meszaros, Climate Change Collection: Jessica Meszaros
Finalist: Central Florida Public Media – Molly Duerig, As pollution plagues Florida lakes, state spends millions to manage invasive plants

Health Reporting

First Place: Central Florida Public Media – Joe Mario Pedersen, In 10 years of ‘arming’ kids, bionic prosthetics have come a long way
Finalist: WUSF – Stephanie Colombini, Health New Florida collection

Continuing Coverage or Series

First Place: WUSF – Gabriella Paul, Corporate Buyouts
Finalist: Central Florida Public Media – Central Florida Public Media Content Team, Central Florida Seen & Heard: Rising Water

Education Reporting

First Place: WUSF – Nancy Guan, Nancy Guan collection

Arts Reporting

First Place: WUSF – Cathy Carter, Cathy Carter collection
Finalist: WMNF News – Chris Young, Tampa Theatre celebrates local Black filmmakers on Juneteenth

DIGITAL

News Website – Independent

First Place: The Marjorie – Hannah Brown, Becca Burton & Anna Hamilton, The Marjorie
Finalist: Stet News – Joel Engelhardt, Carolyn DiPaolo & Liz Capozzi, org

News Website – Affiliated

First Place: WUSF – Carl Lisciandrello, Rick Mayer, Gabriella Pinos & Daylina Miller, ORG
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo – Staff, Noticias Telemundo Digital
Finalist: WLRN News – WLRN News Staff, WLRN News on digital

Multimedia Feature

First Place: The Marshall Project, WTSP 10 Tampa Bay & USA Today – Daphne Duret, Jennifer Titus & Libby Hendren, Spit Hoods Can Be Deadly. Police Keep Using Them Anyway.
Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Eileen Kelley & Andrea Melendez, Alva is beautiful and bucolic and it’s being eyed by developers
Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Tom Bayles & Amanda Inscore Whittamore, Southwest Florida’s growing zones shift north as planet warms; so do half of rest of U.S.

Online Package

First Place: Univision Noticias Digital – Patricia Clarembaux, Federica Narancio, Esther Poveda & Javier Figueroa, Exposed: Latino farmworkers risk their health working under threat of pesticide exposure
Finalist: Florida Bulldog & Entropy Media – Abdon Pallasch, Bob Herguth, Dalton Main & Dan Christensen, The long hidden Florida connection to Ireland’s enduring peace
Finalist: Spectrum News 13 – Anthony Leone, Exclusive: Polaris Dawn astronaut calls mission ‘ride of the lifetime’

Infographics & Data Visualization

First Place: Univision Noticias Digital – Javier Figueroa, Amaya Verde & Patricia Vélez, How Does the Government Distribute your Taxes?

New Media Engagement

No Awards

Digital Newsletter

First Place: WLRN News – Alyssa Ramos, The A/C
Finalist: Stet News – Joel Engelhardt, Carolyn DiPaolo & Liz Capozzi, org
Finalist: The Islander – Kim Swan, The Islander – A Wilton Manors Newsletter

SPANISH LANGUAGE

Mejor trabajo de investigación en televisión/radio

First Place: WVEN-TV – Danelia Buitrago & Camilo Diaz, Behind the magic
Finalist: Caplin News – Jerónimo Mura, Washington, D.C.: ¿El Distrito del crimen?
Finalist: WTMO Telemundo 31 Orlando – Arnulfo Peralta & Raul Díaz, Inmigrantes, su voz antes de las elecciones presidenciales

Mejor trabajo de investigación en prensa escrita/digital

First Place: Univision Noticias Digital – Isaías Alvarado & Roser Toll, El indignante caso de las pollerías de California que usaban a menores migrantes para deshuesar
Finalist: Centro de Periodismo Investigativo – Laura González-Alverio, Crisis de vivienda en Florida: el rostro boricua de los desahucios
Finalist: Univision Noticias Digital – Isaías Alvarado & Roser Toll, Por estas razones los carteles usan las redes sociales para vender pastillas con fentanilo en EEUU

Mejor reportaje especial (features) en televisión/radio/video/podcast

First Place: Univision WLTV 23 Miami – Doricer Alvarado & Cesar Charles, Las Torturas de Maduro
Finalist: ViX / Noticias Univision 24/7 – Staff, Mentes Artificiales: La Nueva Era Tecnológica
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Danelia Buitrago & Camilo Diaz, The Hidden Treasure

Mejor reportaje especial en prensa escrita/medio digital

First Place: Noticias Telemundo, NBC News – Anagilmara Vilchez & Mike Hixenbaugh, Una joven inmigrante venezolana fue asesinada en Texas y una escuela médica hizo dinero con partes de su cuerpo
Finalist: Artburst Miami / El Nuevo Herald – Ana María Carrano, Jesús Hdez-Güero, las metáforas del poder en una ‘época incorrecta’

Mejor cobertura de noticias de última hora (breaking news) en televisión/radio/digital

First Place: Univision Noticias Digital – Carlos Chirinos, Mariana Rambaldi & Staff, Collection Political Coverage
Finalist: Caplin News – Victoria Clariá, Messi en Miami: Redefiniendo el juego
Finalist: Factchequeado.com – Laura Zommer, Ana Maria Carrano & Staff, Cobertura de desinformaciones en elecciones presidenciales en Estados Unidos 2025

Periodista del año en televisión/radio

First Place: WTMO Telemundo 31 Orlando – Arnulfo Peralta, Colletion
Finalist: TelevisaUnivision – Jorge Cancino, Collection Jorge Cancino
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Danelia Buitrago, Danelia Buitrago: Informar, Inspirar, Impactar

Periodista del año en prensa escrita/digital

First Place: Noticias Telemundo – Ronny Rojas, Ronny Rojas Collection
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo – Anagilmara Vilchez, Anagilmara Vilchez Collection
Finalist: Univision Noticias Digital – Mariana Rambaldi, Collection Mariana Rambaldi

Mejor infografía y/o visualización de dato

First Place: Univision Noticias Digital – Amaya Verde & Javier Figueroa, Así se duplicó el precio de las casas en 10 años: esto es lo que ocurrió en tu estado
Finalist: Univision Noticias Digital – Amaya Verde, Mariana Rambaldi, Javier Figueroa & Carlos Chirinos, Guía definitiva: los siete estados que definirán las elecciones presidenciales de EEUU
Finalist: Univision Noticias Digital – Javier Figueroa, Amaya Verde & Patricia Vélez, ¿A dónde van tus impuestos?

Mejor cobertura de desastres naturales en televisión/radio/video

First Place: WTMO Telemundo 31 Orlando – Arnulfo Peralta, Colletion Huracan Milton por Florida
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Danelia Buitrago, The aftermath of hurricane Milton

Mejor cobertura de desastres naturales en prensa escrita/digital

First Place: El Nuevo Herald – Sonia Osorio, Serie: Huracanes Mortales: Bacteria Comecarne, Inundaciones y Plaga de Termitas en Florida
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo – Staff, Cobertura de los huracanes Helene y Milton

Mejor trabajo estudiantil (todo tipo de medios)

First Place: Caplin News – Florida International University – Kerelyne Escobar, Bajo la lupa: Expertos cuestionan el valor nutritivo de WIC
Finalist: Caplin News – Florida International University – Jeronimo Mura, Washington, D.C.: ¿El Distrito del crimen?
Finalist: Caplin News – Carlos Ortiz, Jazmine Santillana & Mario Ojeda, Migrantes venezolanos en Colombia afectados por recortes de USAID

COLLEGE

College Journalist of the Year

First Place: Caplin News – Samantha Gutierrez, Collection
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Vivienne Serret, Collection
Finalist: Inside Swoop – University of North Florida – Reese Leatherman, Collection

College Photojournalist of the Year

First Place: Mako Media Network – Brielle Aguayo, Collection

College Adviser of the Year

First Place: Mako Media Network – Christiane Delboni, Mako Media Adviser

Student Publication

First Place: Distraction Magazine – Staff, Fall Semester Issues
Finalist: Atrium Magazine – Staff, Atrium Magazine Winter 2024 Issue
Finalist: Mako Media Network – Bryce Johnson & Brielle Aguayo, The Current Newspaper

Special Issue

First Place: The Miami Hurricane – Staff, Election Edition
Finalist: OutFAU – Mary Rasura, CJ Walden & Lewis De Berry, The Body Issue
Finalist: Voice of the Wildcats – Staff, UniverCity Magazine

Student Broadcast Outlet

First Place: UMTV – UMTV Staff, UMTV: Student Broadcast Outlet
Finalist: Mako Media Network – Madison Kasper, Mia Alvarado, Jocelyn Saccucci & Nicole Shaker, Mako TV Collection

Website

First Place: The Miami Hurricane – Staff, The Miami Hurricane Website
Finalist: Atrium Magazine – Diego Perdomo & Zarin Ismail, Atrium Magazine website

Investigative Reporting

First Place: Fresh Take Florida – Vivienne Serret & Garrett Shanley, UF President’s Woes
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Lee Ann Anderson & Kai Johnsen, Democrats fielded candidates for every legislative seat; some live hundreds of miles from districts where they’re running
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Patrick McCaslin, Financial Aid Fiasco

Breaking News Story

First Place: Fresh Take Florida – Sophia Bailly, On presidential campaign ropes, Florida governor recounts conservative victories in legislative address
Finalist: The Oracle – Julia Saad, USF paramedics check on Hunger Striker during sit-in protest
Finalist: WMNF News – Tyler Oldano, In Tampa, First Lady Jill Biden rallies veterans

News Photo

First Place: Atrium Magazine – Kat Tran, The scales that guard the springs
Finalist: The Oracle – Justin Seecharan, Photo of USF hunger striker before paramedics
Finalist: The Oracle – Lily Fox, Hurricane Milton flooding at USF

Review

First Place: The Miami Hurricane – Gabriel Mena, Jay Wheeler brings unbridled passion to Miami
Finalist: OutFAU – Mary Rasura, Owl Manor Delivers

Serious Feature

First Place: Atrium Magazine – Sarah Henry, Mascot for cruelty
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Vivienne Serret, Undercover Messianic Jewish activist sought to entrap Muslim professors at UF
Finalist: OutFAU – Mary Rasura, Silenced IDEAs

Lifestyle Feature

First Place: Atrium Magazine – Alissa Gary, Do you want to try some pickles?
Finalist: Distraction Magazine – Amber Mason, Androgynous Revolution

Human Interest Feature

First Place: Caplin News – Florida International University – Natalie La Roche Pietri, Two Palestinian brothers lost everything in Gaza. A nonprofit brought them to the U.S. to heal
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Lauren Brensel, Tampa man refusing to leave sailboat in Hurricane Milton once arrested over claim he tried to set woman on fire
Finalist: UMTV PrimeTime – Simone Werner, Julia Hecht, Joe Anillo & Jordyn Cerullo, The Lucky Few

Narrative Feature

First Place: Atrium Magazine – Siena Duncan, The life and death of a Florida abortion clinic
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Lauren Brensel, When private pilots falter, air controllers are saviors of skies
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Lauren Ferrer, Tieu Tunes: 3D-printing a musical bridge across continents

Sports News Story

First Place: Tomahawk Nation – Jordan Silversmith, 0-2 hindsight: A timeline of how glaring issues with FSU football got overlooked
Finalist: The Minaret – Shane Petagna, Pete Alonso Gives Back to Tampa With His Battle for the Bay
Finalist: The Oracle – Noah Vinsky, How USF football played after a hurricane: ‘There’s no playbook’

Sports Feature Story

First Place: Atrium Magazine – Alissa Gary, Taming the beast
Finalist: Caplin News – Carlton Gilespie, This Brit discovered the Miami Marlins. Now his podcast reaches across the ocean.
Finalist: FSView & Florida Flambeau – Isabella Ensign, Kinsey Akers, Andrew Cheyne & Kani Schram, Seminoles shine at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Sports Photo

First Place: The Miami Hurricane – Emily Rice, Dunkin

Opinion Column

First Place: OutFAU – Mary Rasura, The Body Issue

Front Page Design

First Place: The Minaret – Cassandra L. Carithers, President Dahlberg- A new era
Finalist: Atrium Magazine – Delia Rose Sauer & Matthew Cupelli, Atrium Magazine Winter 2024 Cover
Finalist: OutFAU – Lewis De Berry, The Body Issue

Inside Page Design

First Place: OutFAU – Lewis De Berry, The Body Issue – Inside Spread
Finalist: Distraction Magazine – Lizzie Kristal, Welcome to The Jungle
Finalist: The Minaret – Cassandra L. Carithers & Naisha Lalwani, Voters guide to registration

Video

First Place: NTD News – Natasha Holt, Wild Ponies Raise Funds for Local Fire Department in Chincoteague, Virginia
Finalist: NTD News – Natasha Holt, Researchers Prepare for Hurricane Season Effects on Endangered Sea Turtles
Finalist: UMTV – Daniel Toll, Disabled Jiu-Jitsu Athlete Keeps Fighting

Podcast

First Place: Caplin News – Dawn Boothe, Luz Gonzalez, Stefanny Tenia & Paola Sirignano, Deadly Cost: The Burden of Driving Drunk (includes audio story)
Finalist: The Beacon Today – Daniella Pacheco & Rachel Kanagy, Hometown hero shares his story

Multimedia Feature

First Place: The Epoch Times & NTD News – Natasha Holt, Sea Turtles: A Florida Treasure Collection

LGBTQ+ Coverage

First Place: OutFAU – Mary Rasura, FAU Dismantles its DEI
Finalist: Caplin News – Florida International University – Maria Teresa Lopez Rodriguez, Carlos Fernando Tinoco Guzman & Jazmine Santillana, Los desafíos que enfrentan la comunidad LGBTQ+ en El Salvador
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Amanda Friedman, Florida banning changes of gender on driver’s licenses sparks confusion, backlash

Race & Underrepresented Communities Coverage

First Place: Flagler College Gargoyle – Kaia Wright, Breathing Life Into the Dead
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Lauren Ferrer & Jenny Jacoby, ‘Where are the Black people?’
Finalist: The Minaret – Faith Montalvo, UTampa’s Hidden Nursing Mother’s Rooms

General News Story

First Place: Atrium Magazine – Lauren Whiddon, The watch of the Lynx
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – Alexis Bensoussan, Impacting the Local and Loved Limelight Theatre
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Kylie Williams, ‘Nowhere else to go’: Florida seniors struggle to recover from back-to-back hurricanes

HIGH SCHOOL

High School Journalist of the Year

First Place: CCNN Live – Christopher Columbus High School – Carlos Soto-Angulo, Collection
Finalist: WSRH News – Seminole Ridge Community High School – Reagan Bresnahan, Collection

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