Florida Press Club

Florida Daily Papers

Baker County Standard Boca Raton News Bradenton Herald Bradford County Telegraph Charlotte Sun-Herald. Citrus County Chronicle City Link (Fort Lauderdale) Daytona Beach News-Journal East County Observer Florida Keys Keynoter Florida Times Union Florida Today (Melbourne) Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel Fort Myers News-Press Fort Pierce Tribune Gainesville Sun Hernando Today Highlands Today Jacksonville Business Journal The Key West Citizen Lakeland Ledger Leesburg Daily Commercial Miami Herald Miami New Times Naples Daily News Ocala Star-Banner Orlando Business Journal. Orlando Sentinel Palm Beach Post Palms West Press Panama City News-Herald Pensacola News-Journal St. Augustine Record St. Petersburg Times Sarasota Herald Tribune South Florida Business Journal Stuart News Tallahassee Democrat Tallahassee News Tampa Bay Business Journal Tampa Tribune The Planet Vero Beach Press Journal

FLORIDA PRESS CLUB OFFICERS

President - George McGinn - Charlotte Sun

George McGinn, police reporter and photographer at the North Port edition of The Charlotte Sun, has 28 years of journalism experience as both a photographer and reporter.

McGinn started his career as a freelance photographer and writer for the Rockland Journal News in Nyack, N.Y. He also freelanced for the New York Post, New York Daily News, The Village Voice, and wrote magazine articles for Field and Stream and Tennis Match magazines.

McGinn left the industry in the 1980s and spent six years in law enforcement as an auxiliary police officer and then a full-time police officer. He also spent two years as a military policeman in the U.S. Army.

In 1997, McGinn moved to Sarasota, and started freelancing for Getty Images, the New York Post, the Bradenton Herald, E! Online, ASA Racing's Actionline Newspaper, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Knight Foundation, Canadian Television Network, and Oldies 108 Web site. His photography has appeared on encyclopedia.com, msn.com, and the Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service.

In 2003, McGinn took a job as the photo editor of the Venice Gondolier Sun. He transferred to the Charlotte Sun to work as a photographer for their North Port paper, and jumped into reporting, where he covered the city beat.

McGinn has won many awards from both the Florida Press Association and the Florida Press Club, including the FPC 2005 Francis DeVore Award for Public Service. He is also a 2005 Pulitzer finalist for his contribution as a photographer for the Charlotte Sun's coverage of Hurricane Charley.

Visit McGinn's Web site at www.sportsshooter.com/gmcginn.

Vice President (Contest Coordinator) - Jennifer D. Cason - Daytona Beach News-Journal

Jennifer D. Cason currently works with the Daytona Beach News-Journal. She began her career in journalism at Starkville Daily News as the education reporter/news editor. Following college graduation, she interned at Southern Progress Corporation in Birmingham, Ala., and then moved to the Tampa area where she worked with Hernando Today as special sections and news/graphics editor. She also freelanced for the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.

Cason earned her bachelor's degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism from Mississippi State University in 2002 and is actively pursuing her MBA.

Honorary Membership

Past President - Stephanie Slater

Stephanie Slater served as the Florida Press Club's president from October 2003 to October 2006. She now works as the public information officer of the Boynton Beach Police Department.

Prior to leaving, Slater was the police reporter for the Palm Beach Post, covering law enforcement agencies in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.

Prior to joining The Post, she spent two years on the police, fire rescue and courts beat at the Boca Raton News.

She credits the Florida Press Club with helping her land a job at the Post. It was at the club's 2002 convention in St. Augustine that she met Palm Beach Post Managing Editor Bill Rose.

Slater got her start in journalism at age 16, freelancing for The Journal News in Rockland County, N.Y. She graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University in May 2000 with a degree in print journalism.

Who Are We?

We are a volunteer, non-profit organization of writers, editors, photographers, graphic artists, researchers, librarians, and support technicians who work at Florida's many daily and weekly newspapers. The club's mission is to support its members through activities including regional journalism seminars, an annual Excellence in Journalism contest, a convention and awards banquet.

How Can You Join?

Send $20 along with your name, address, phone number,email address, and the name of your newspaper to Megan Shannon, 2231 Saw Palmetto Lane, Apt. 107, Orlando, FL 32828; or come to one of our seminars and take advantage of our special seminar rates. If you join during the year, you will not be required to pay dues at contest time. The following year, you will pay dues at the time of the contest.