Two South Florida newspapers garnered top honors in the Florida Press Club’s annual journalism competition Saturday.
The annual awards ceremony was held online this year and was the first state journalism competition to honor the state press corps’ coverage of the deadly pandemic in the state.
The Miami Herald was awarded the club’s Frances DeVore Award for Public Service for “Covid Cruises,” its coverage of how the deadly pandemic spread at sea, infecting thousands.
The Sun Sentinel’s “Teenage Time Bombs: A Generation in Danger” won the club’s Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting. That series detailed how a growing number of emotionally disturbed students sit in the state’s classrooms and many of them have access to guns.
For nearly 70 years, the Florida Press Club, originally called the Florida Women’s Press Club, has been honoring the best in Florida journalism. Honorees’ have expanded into digital-only publications, but what draws the judges’ eyes has remained consistent decade after decade: Engaging storytelling.
Illustration, Artist Illustration, Class A-C
1. Ed Hall, Folio Weekly
2. Ed Hall, Folio Weekly
Illustration, Editorial Cartooning, Class A-B
1. Steve Borggren, Anna Maria Island Sun
Illustration, Editorial Cartooning, Class C
1. Ryan Sohmer, Lar DeSouza, Embrace Magazine
2. Ed Hall, The Baker County Press
Layout, Feature Page Design, Class A-C
1. Joe DeLeon, Embrace Magazine
2. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Layout, Front Page Design, Class A-B
1. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Layout, Front Page Design, Class C
1. Lillian Mayor,South Florida Business Journal
2. Joe DeLeon, Embrace Magazine
Layout, Sports Page Design, Class A-C
1. Adam Rogers, Chris Siegel, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Adam Rogers, Nick Feely, Kat Duncan, The Villages Daily Sun
Online, Independent News Site, Class A-C
1. TalkMedia.com
2. HardisonInk.com
3. Headline Surfer
Online, Affiliated News Site, Class A-C
1. South Florida Business Journal
Online, Multimedia Package, Class A-C
1. John Torres, Florida Today
2. Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Photography, Breaking News, Class A-C
1. Jock Fistick,South Florida Business Journal
Photography, Feature Photo Essay, A-C
1. Kayla Campbell, Embrace Magazine
2. Jock Fistick,South Florida Business Journal
3. Rachel O’Hara, Jerry Lower, The Coastal Star
Photography, Features, Class A-B
1. Rachel Stuart, The Villages Daily Sun
2. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Photography, Features, Class C
1. Conan Segrest, Kayla Campbell, Embrace Magazine
2. Frederick Bellet, The Laker-Lutz News
3. Jock Fistick,South Florida Business Journal
Photography, General News, Class A-C
1. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Rachel Stuart, The Villages Daily Sun
3. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
Photography, Portrait/Personality, Class A-B
1. Cindy Skop, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Michael Johnson, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Photography, Portrait/Personality, Class C
1. Conan Segrest, Embrace Magazine
2. Jock Fistick,South Florida Business Journal
Photography, Sports Action, Class A-C
1. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Michael Johnson, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Tiffany Tompkins, Bradenton Herald
Photography, Sports Feature, Class A
1. Cindy Skop, The Villages Daily Sun
2. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Photography, Sports Feature, Class C
1. Romeo Guzman, BCUAthletics.com
2. Jerry Lower, The Coastal Star
Special Awards, Frances DeVore Award for Public Service, Class A-C
1. Taylor Dolven, Sarah Blaskey, Nicholas Nehamas, Miami Herald
2. Monivette Cordeiro, Jason Garcia, Jeff Weiner, Orlando Sentinel
3. Brittany Wallman, Megan O’Matz, Cindy Goodman , Aric Sun Sentinel
Special Awards, Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Class A
1. Megan O’Matz, Brittany Wallman, Cindy Goodman, Aric Chokey, Sun Sentinel
2. Tess Riski, Jay Weaver, Nicholas Nehamas, Miami Herald
3. David R. Corder, The Villages Daily Sun
Special Awards, Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Class B-C
1. Ryan Callihan, Jessica De Leon, Bradenton Herald
2. Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
3. Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star
Special Awards, “That is So … Florida, ” Class A-C
1. Craig Pittman, Tampa Bay Times
2. Romy Ellenbogen, Jack Brook, Miami Herald
3. Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Special Sections, Class A
1. Mark Gauert, Anderson Greene, Sun Sentinel “Explore Florida & the Caribbean”
2. Mark Gauert, Anderson Greene, Sun Sentinel, City & Shore PRIME
Special Sections, Class B-C
1. Staff, South Florida Business Journal
2. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
3. Lisa Neff, Joe Bird, Toni Lyon, Bonner Joy, The Islander
Writing, Art News, Class A-C
1. Andrew Caplan, Gainesville Sun
2. Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
3. Jan Engoren, Hap Erstein, Greg Stepanich, Sandra Schulman, The Coastal Star
Writing, Breaking News, Class A-B
1. Tony Holt, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Katie Kustura, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing, Breaking News, Class C
1. Ron Hayes, Jerry Lower, Tim Stepien, Rachel O’Hara, The Coastal Star
2. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
3. Adriana Delgado, Palm Beach Daily News
Writing, Business News, Class A
1. Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel
Writing, Business News, Class B
1. Jim Abbott, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. James A. Jones Jr., Bradenton Herald
3. Clayton Park, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing, Business News, Class C
1. Emon Reiser,South Florida Business Journal
2. Jessica Bryant,South Florida Business Journal
3. Matthew Arrojas,South Florida Business Journal
Writing, Commentary, Class A-B
1. Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel
Writing, Commentary, Class C
1. Mary Kate Leming, The Coastal Star
2. Donna Davis, Melissa-Marie Marks, Gary Tanner, Embrace Magazine
3. James Combs, Akers Media Group
Writing, Community News, Class A-B
1. Giuseppe Sabella, Bradenton Herald
2. Kristin Swain, Anna Maria Island Sun
3. Kristin Swain, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing, Community News, Class C
1. D’Ann White, Patch.com
2. John Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine
3. Mary Thurwachter, The Coastal Star
Writing, COVID-19, Class A
1. Taylor Dolven, Sarah Blaskey, Nicholas Nehamas, Alex Harris, Miami Herald
2. Andrew Boryga, Sun Sentinel
Writing, COVID-19, Class B
1. Nikki Ross, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Jessica De Leon, Bradenton Herald
3. Katie Kustura, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing, COVID-19, Class C
1. Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer
2. M. Cloutier, Palm Beach Daily News
3. Mary Hladky, The Coastal Star
Writing, Education News, Class A
1. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
2. Dayna Straehley, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing, Education News, Class B
1. Cassidy Alexander, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Giuseppe Sabella, Bradenton Herald
3. Andrew Caplan, Gainesville Sun
Writing, Education News, Class C
1. Brian Bandell,South Florida Business Journal
2. D’Ann White, Patch.com
3. Theresa Campbell, Akers Media Group
Writing, Environmental News, Class A
1. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
2. Michael Salerno, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing Environmental News, Class B
1. Giuseppe Sabella, Bradenton Herald
2. Andrew Caplan, Gainesville Sun
3. Rusty Chinnis, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing, Environmental News, Class C
1. Larry Keller, The Coastal Star
2. Lisa Neff, The Islander
Writing, General News, Class A
1. Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
2. Andrew Boryga, Sun Sentinel
3. Frank Ross, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing, General News, Class B
1. Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. James A. Jones Jr., Bradenton Herald
3. Mark Young, Bradenton Herald
Writing, General News, Class C
1. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
2. D’Ann White, Patch.com
D’Ann White, Patch.com
Writing, Government News, Class A
1. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
2. Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
Writing, Government News, Class B
1. Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Andrew Caplan, Gainesville Sun
3. Katie Kustura, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing, Government News, Class C
1. Steve Plunkett, The Coastal Star
2. Sara Giza, Embrace Magazine
3. George Andreassi, Vero News
Writing, Headline Writing, Class A-C
1. John Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine
2. Theresa Campbell, Akers Media Group
3. James Combs, Akers Media Group
Writing, Health Writing, Class A-C
1. Ciara Varone, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Joyce Reingold, The Coastal Star
Writing, Light Features, Class A
1. Andrew Boryga, Sun Sentinel
2. Kristen Fiore, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
Writing, Light Features, Class B
1. Kristin Swain, Anna Maria Island Sun
2. Kristin Swain, Anna Maria Island Sun
3. Rusty Chinnis, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing, Light Features, Class C
1. John Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine
2. James Combs, Akers Media Group
3. Ryan Yousefi, Miami New Times
Writing, Minority News, Class B
1. Ryan Callihan, Bradenton Herald
2. Cindy Swirko, Gainesville Sun
3. Jessica De Leon, Sara Nealeigh, Bradenton Herald
Writing, Minority News, Class C
1. John Sotomayor, Sara Giza, Embrace Magazine
2. James Combs, Akers Media Group
3. Jason Parsley, South Florida Gay News
Writing, Opinion Writing, Class A-B
1. Krys Fluker, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing, Public Safety, Class A-B
1. Jessica De Leon, Bradenton Herald
2. Tony Holt, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3. Jessica De Leon, Giuseppe Sabella, Bradenton Herald
Writing, Public Safety, Class C
1. Sara Giza, Embrace Magazine
2. Theresa Campbell, Akers Media Group
3. D’Ann White, Patch.com
Writing, Religion News, Class A-C
1. Ron Hayes, The Coastal Star
2. John Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine
3. Katie Kustura, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing, Serious Features, Class A-B
1. Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
2. Andrew Boryga, Sun Sentinel
3. James A. Jones Jr., Bradenton Herald
Writing, Serious Features, Class C
1. Michael Majchrowicz, Miami New Times
2. Steve Pafford, Sara Giza, Embrace Magazine
3. George Andreassi, Vero News
Writing, Sports Columns, Class A-B
1. Cody Hills, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Ken Willis, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing, Sports Columns, Class C
1. Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
2. Dan Ryan, BCUAthletics.com
3. Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
Writing, Sports Features, Class A-C
1. Zach Dean, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Cody Hills, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Brian Biggane, The Coastal Star
Writing, Sports Writing, Class A-B
1. Cody Hills, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Steve Straehley, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing, Sports Writing, Class C
1. Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer
2. Dan Ryan, BCUAthletics.com
Writing, Travel and Tourism, Class A
1. Michael Salerno, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Mark Gauert, Sun Sentinel, City & Shore Magazine
Writing, Travel and Tourism, Class C
1. Cheryl Blackerby, Palm Beach Daily News
2. Matthew Arrojas,South Florida Business Journal
3. James Combs, Akers Media Group