Jun. 24, 2025

Sunshine State finalists 2025

The 2025 Sunshine State Awards have now been judged by dozens of out-of-state professional journalists.

Winners will be announced – and everyone listed below will get a certificate – at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale. Ticket sales, hotel block info, and other details to follow shortly. Here are all the details. Want to be a sponsor? Email Christiana Lilly.

Finalists in each category are presented below in alphabetical order by organization. Not all categories have three finalists. If only one finalist is shown in a category, that’s the first-place winner.

Here are they are…

SPECIAL AWARDS

A-Mark Foundation Award for Investigative Reporting

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

NABJ South Florida Diversity Award

Fortune & TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Lindsey Leake, Collection
WUSF – Nancy Guan, Collection

Barbara A. Petersen Freedom of Information Award

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
Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew, A Light in the Darkness
TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Staff, From lieutenant to sheriff: A political deal hatched in secret

Journalist of the Year

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

Anchor of the Year

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

Photojournalist of the Year

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

Outstanding New Journalist

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

Editor of the Year

WFTS – Matthew Apthorp, Collection

Social Justice Reporting

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

PRINT & DIGITAL WRITING

Breaking News Reporting

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

Non-Deadline News Reporting – Local & Community

Miami Herald – Aaron Leibowitz & Madeline Everett, Miami-Dade halted weed prosecutions, but thousands were jailed anyway. Most were Black
Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, Gulfport, like so many Tampa Bay communities, picks up Helene’s pieces
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

Grist – Ayurella Horn-Muller, The people who feed America are going hungry
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.
The Tributary – Nandhini Srinivasan, Red Lights, Green Cash

Serious Feature Reporting – Local & Community

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

Serious Feature Reporting – State & National

Rolling Stone – Michael Adno, A Fire in the River: Big Sugar and ‘Black Snow’ in the Everglades
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.
The Palm Beach Post – Antigone Barton, One woman’s multi-state abortion journey

Light Feature Reporting – Local & Community

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

Light Feature Reporting – State & National

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

Series

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

General Commentary & Criticism

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

Arts & Culture Commentary & Criticism

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

Sports Commentary

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

Obituary Reporting

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

Election Reporting – Local & Community

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

Election Reporting – State & Federal

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

Election Reporting – State Amendments

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

Election Reporting – Presidential

The Palm Beach Post – Antonio Fins, Antonio Fins collection

Data Reporting

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

Editorial Writing

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

Editorial Cartooning

No awards

Small Town & Rural Reporting

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

Human Interest Story

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

Blog Writing

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

Special Publication or Section

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

Trade or Special Interest Publication

No awards

Beat Reporting – Arts & Culture

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

Beat Reporting – Business & Consumer Affairs

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

Beat Reporting – Community

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

Beat Reporting – Crime & Courts

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

Beat Reporting – Education

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

Beat Reporting – Environment, Science & Technology

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

Beat Reporting – Food & Travel

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

Beat Reporting – Lifestyle & Trends

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

Beat Reporting – Government & Politics

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

Beat Reporting – Health

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

Beat Reporting – Housing & Real Estate

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

Beat Reporting – Sports

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

Beat Reporting – Underrepresented Communities

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

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

Breaking News Photography

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

General News Photo

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

Feature Photography

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

Portrait/Personality

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

Photography Story

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

Sports Photography

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

Art/Photo Illustration

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

Infographics & Data Visualization

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

Newspaper Front Page Design

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

Magazine Cover Design

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

Magazine Inside Design

Distraction Magazine – Staff, Collection
Florida Humanities – David Meek, FORUM, the magazine of Florida Humanities
Winter Park Magazine – Carolyn Edumnds, Assorted Covers

Magazine Single Issue

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

TELEVISION & VIDEO

TV Or Video Newscast

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

Investigative Reporting – Single Report

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

Investigative Reporting – Series

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

Spot News Reporting

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

Breaking News

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

General Assignment Report

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

Continuing Coverage or Series

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

Special Reporting

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

Government, Politics & Election Reporting

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

Environment, Science & Technology Reporting

No awards

Health Reporting

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

Light Feature Reporting

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

Serious Feature Reporting

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

Sports Reporting

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

Weather Reporting

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

Non-Newscast Program

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

Video – Short Form

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

Video – Long Form

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

RADIO & AUDIO

Radio or Audio Newscast

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

Podcast

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

General Coverage

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

Investigative Reporting

No awards

Government, Politics & Election Reporting

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

Serious Feature Reporting

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

Light Feature Reporting

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

Public Affairs

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

Environment, Science & Technology Reporting

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

Health Reporting

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

Continuing Coverage or Series

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

Education Reporting

WUSF – Nancy Guan, Nancy Guan collection

Arts Reporting

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

DIGITAL

News Website – Independent

Stet News – Joel Engelhardt, Carolyn DiPaolo & Liz Capozzi, StetNews.org
The Marjorie – Hannah Brown, Becca Burton & Anna Hamilton, The Marjorie

News Website – Affiliated

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

Multimedia Feature

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.
WGCU Public Media – Eileen Kelley & Andrea Melendez, Alva is beautiful and bucolic and it’s being eyed by developers
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

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

Infographics & Data Visualization

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

New Media Engagement

No awards

Digital Newsletter

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

SPANISH LANGUAGE

Mejor trabajo de investigación en televisión/radio

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

Mejor trabajo de investigación en prensa escrita/digital

Centro de Periodismo Investigativo – Laura González-Alverio, Crisis de vivienda en Florida: el rostro boricua de los desahucios
Univision Noticias Digital – Isaías Alvarado & Roser Toll, El indignante caso de las pollerías de California que usaban a menores migrantes para deshuesar
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

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

Mejor reportaje especial en prensa escrita/medio digital

Artburst Miami / El Nuevo Herald – Ana María Carrano, Jesús Hdez-Güero, las metáforas del poder en una ‘época incorrecta’
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

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

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

Periodista del año en televisión/radio

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

Periodista del año en prensa escrita/digital

Noticias Telemundo – Anagilmara Vilchez, Anagilmara Vilchez Collection
Noticias Telemundo – Ronny Rojas, Ronny Rojas Collection
Univision Noticias Digital – Mariana Rambaldi, Collection Mariana Rambaldi

Mejor infografía y/o visualización de dato

Univision Noticias Digital – Amaya Verde, Mariana Rambaldi, Javier Figueroa & Carlos Chirinos, Guía definitiva: los siete estados que definirán las elecciones presidenciales de EEUU
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
Univision Noticias Digital – Javier Figueroa, Amaya Verde & Patricia Vélez, ¿A dónde van tus impuestos?

Mejor cobertura de desastres naturales en televisión/radio/video

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

Mejor cobertura de desastres naturales en prensa escrita/digital

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

Mejor trabajo estudiantil (todo tipo de medios)

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

COLLEGE

College Journalist of the Year

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

College Photojournalist of the Year

Mako Media Network – Brielle Aguayo, Collection

Adviser of the Year

Mako Media Network – Christiane Delboni, Mako Media Adviser

Student Publication

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

Special Issue

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

Student Broadcast Outlet

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

Website

Atrium Magazine – Diego Perdomo & Zarin Ismail, Atrium Magazine website
The Miami Hurricane – Staff, The Miami Hurricane Website

Investigative Reporting

Fresh Take Florida – Vivienne Serret & Garrett Shanley, UF President’s Woes
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
The Miami Hurricane – Patrick McCaslin, Financial Aid Fiasco

Breaking News Story

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

News Photo

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

Review

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

Serious Feature

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

Lifestyle Feature

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

Human Interest Feature

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
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
UMTV PrimeTime – Simone Werner, Julia Hecht, Joe Anillo & Jordyn Cerullo, The Lucky Few

Narrative Feature

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

Sports News Story

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

Sports Feature Story

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

Sports Photo

The Miami Hurricane – Emily Rice, Dunkin

Opinion Column

OutFAU – Mary Rasura, The Body Issue

Front Page Design

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

Inside Page Design

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

Video

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

Podcast

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

Multimedia Feature

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

LGBTQ+ Coverage

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
Fresh Take Florida – Amanda Friedman, Florida banning changes of gender on driver’s licenses sparks confusion, backlash
OutFAU – Mary Rasura, FAU Dismantles its DEI

Race & Underrepresented Communities Coverage

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

General News Story

Atrium Magazine – Lauren Whiddon, The watch of the Lynx
Flagler College Gargoyle – Alexis Bensoussan, Impacting the Local and Loved Limelight Theatre
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

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