The finalists for the Florida Press Club’s Excellence in Journalism Competition are in and we’re ready to celebrate being in the best state of journalism!
Great thanks to all who entered. The level of competition for the 75th anniversary of the Florida Press Club proves this enterprise is alive and kicking … some butt!
Don’t read anything into the order of names below! Please take a close look at your name and publication if it’s on the list and make sure it’s how you want it to appear on your award.
Email us at fpcpresident@gmail.com with any corrections.
First, second and third places are to be revealed at the annual gala, scheduled for Jan. 31. We will be gathering for food, fellowship and fun to celebrate this year’s achievements at The House in West Palm Beach, located at 7301 Georgia Ave, West Palm Beach.
More details to follow!
In the meantime, please join me in congratulating the finalists!
ILLUSTRATION
Artist Illustration
Class A-C
Stephanie Redding, South Florida Business Journal
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Bonita Miyagi, The Villages Daily Sun
Editorial Cartooning
Class A-C
Bill Day, Cagle Cartoons
Infographic
Class A-C
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
LAYOUT
Feature Page Design
Class A-B
Heather Weinsheimer, The Villages Daily Sun
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Front Page Design
Class A-B
Stephanie Redding, South Florida Business Journal
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Michael Gaulin, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Sports Page Design
Class A-B
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Barry Talley, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
ONLINE
Affiliated News Website
Class A-C
Cindy Peterson, Kyle Coppola, Doug Akers,
Lake & Sumter Style Daily News
Staff, South Florida Business Journal
Independent Website
Class A-C
Tony Winton, John Pacenti, Key Biscayne Independent
Martin Lenkowsky, Talk Media
Joel Engelhardt, Carolyn DiPaolo, Elizabeth Capozzi, Stet News
Multimedia Presentation
Class A-C
Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal
Bonita Miyagi, The Villages Daily Sun
PHOTOGRAPHY
Breaking News
Class A-C
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
Tiffany Tompkins, Bradenton Herald
Kaila Jones, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
Feature Photo Essay
Class A-B
George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Carina Mask, OutFAU
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
Features
Class A-B
Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
Sophia Lucente, The Villages Daily Sun
Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
Class C
Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
General News
Class A
Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
Sophia Lucente, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Nadia Zomorodian, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Tiffany Tompkins, The Bradenton Herald
Class C
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
Tim Stepien, The Coastal Star
Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Portrait/Personality
Class A-B
Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
Bill Mitchell, The VIllages Daily Sun
Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
Class C
Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
Sports Action
Class A
Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Sophia Lucente, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Nadia Zomorodian, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Sports Feature
Class A
Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B-C
Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
SPECIAL AWARDS
Frances DeVore Award for Public Service
Class A
Holly Baltz, Hannah Phillips, Jane Musgrave, Kristina Webb, The Palm Beach Post
David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila, Susan Merriam, Miami Herald
Brittany Wallman, Sarah Blaskey, Miami Herald
Class B-C
Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics
Josh Salman, Derek Gilliam, Suncoast Searchlight
John Torres, Florida Today
Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting
Class A
David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel
Staff, Miami Herald
Bonita Miyagi, Curt Hills, Adam Rogers, George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Josh Salman, Derek Gilliam, Suncoast Searchlight
Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
Nichole Manna, The Tributary
Class C
Charles Elmore, Mary Hladky, Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star
Staff, Akers Media
John Pacenti, Larry Barszewski, The Coastal Star
SPECIAL SECTIONS
Class A-B
Staff, Marine Industry, South Florida Business Journal
Staff, Palatka Daily News
Mark Gauert, Cassie Armstrong, Anderson Greene, Explore Florida & the Caribbean the Sun Sentinel
Class C
Mary Rasura, CJ Walden, Lewis De Berry, OutFAU
Staff, Extraordinary People, Akers Media Group
Akers Staff, various special sections, Akers Media Group
WRITING
Arts News
Class A-B
Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
Taylor Strickland, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B-C
Mary Hladky, The Coastal Star
Erik Kvarnberg, Janis Fontaine, Carolyn DiPaolo, Stet News
Sharon Geltner, The Coastal Star/Palm Beach ArtsPaper
Breaking News
Class A-B
Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun
Staff, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C
Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer
Jeff Hardison, HardisonInk.com
Larry Barszewski, Jane Musgrave, The Coastal Star
Business News
Class A
Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
Summer Jarro, The Villages Daily Sun
Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel
Class B
Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
Josh Salman, Kara Newhouse, Suncoast Searchlight
Class C
Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Jane Musgrave, The Coastal Star
John Pacenti, The Coastal Star
Commentary
Class A
Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel
Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
Stephanie Hayes, Tampa Bay Times
Class B
Brandon Oliver, Palatka Daily News
Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Mel Melendez, South Florida Business Journa
Class C
Jason Parsley, OutSFL
Larry Barszewski, The Coastal Star
Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Community News
Class A
Max Klaver, Miami Herald
Brea Jones, The Villages Daily Sun
James Coleman, The Palm Beach Post
Class B
Sarah Cavacini, Palatka News
Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
Class C
Kevin Deutsch, Talk Media
Staff, Akers Media
Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
John Pacenti, Tony Winton, Key Biscayne Independent
Education News
Class A
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
Wayne Washington, The Palm Beach Post
Garrett Shiflet, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
Alice Herman, Emily Le Coz, Suncoast Searchlight
Class C
Gabriela Quintero, Mary Rasura, Clinton Engelberger, OutFAU
Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Kevin Deutsch, Coral Springs Talk
Election Coverage
Class A
Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
Class B
Laurence Reisman, TC Palm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
Class C
Kevin Deutsch, Talk Media
Jane Musgrave, Joel Engelhardt, Stet News
Environmental Writing
Class A
Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class B
Josh Salman, Suncoast Searchlight
Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
Class C
Jane Musgrave, The Coastal Star
Ben Montgomery, Florida Trident
John Pacenti, Tony Winton, Key Biscayne Independent
Anne Geggis, The Coastal Star
Food Writing
Class A-B
Diana Biederman, The Palm Beach Post
Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal
Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
Class C
Larry Hoffman, dineSarasota
Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Gina Horan, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
General News
Class A
Mike Diamond, The Palm Beach Post
Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald
Class B
Nichole Manna, The Tributary
Tiffany Razzano, Patch
Josh Salman, Kara Newhouse, Suncoast Searchlight
Class C
Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi
Bob Norman, Francisco Alvarado, Susan Clark Armstrong, Florida Trident
Joel Engelhardt, Stet News
Jane Musgrave, Stet News
Government News
Class A
Tess Riski, Joey Flechas, Miami Herald
Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
Nandhini Srinvasan, The Tributary
Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
Class C
Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics
Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi
Michael Barfield, Florida Trident
Joel Engelhardt, Stet News
Headline Writing
Class A
Barry Talley, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B-C
Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Cindy Peterson, Lake Sumter & Style Magazine
Health Writing
Class A-B
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
Brea Jones, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Brian Bandell, South Florida Business Journal
Ashley Portero, Ryan Lynch, Alexis Muellner, South Florida Business Journal
Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
Class C
Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Jan Engoren, The Coastal Star
Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Light Features
Class A
Taylor Strickland, The Villages Daily Sun
Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
Tiffany Razzano, Patch
Class C
Gina Horan, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Joe Capozzi, ByJoe Capozzi
Ron Hayes, The Coastal Star
Minority News
Class A-B
Valentina Palm, The Palm Beach Post
Michael Butler, Miami Herald
Brea Jones, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Mary Rasura, OutFAU
Cindy Peterson, LakeandSumterStyle.com
Kathleen Kernicky, The Coastal Star
Newsletter
Class A-C
Staff, Stet News
Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
Opinion
Class A-C
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board
Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Public Safety News
Class A
Hannah Phillips, The Palm Beach Post
Charles Rabin, Linda Robertson, Ana Claudia Chacin, Claire Healy, Miami Herald
David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila, Susan Merriam, Miami Herald
Class B
Nichole Manna, The Tributary
Brandon Oliver, Palatka Daily News
Class C
Bob Norman, Florida Trident
Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star
John Pacenti, Tony Winton, Billy Jean Louis, Key Biscayne Independent
John Pacenti, The Coastal Star
Religion News
Class A-B
Lois Solomon, Jessica Tzikas, Melina De Rose, Sun Sentinel
Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Magazine
Serious Features
Class A
Max Klaver, Miami Herald
Holly Baltz, The Palm Beach Post
Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B
Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
M.M. Cloutier, Palm Beach Daily News
Nichole Manna, The Tributary
Class C
Tristram Korten, Florida Trident
Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Sports Columns
Class A-B
Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B-C
Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Sports Features
Class A-B
Kyle Bumpers, The Villages Daily Sun
Steven Hieneman, The Villages Daily Sun
Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
Class C
Faran Fagen, The Coastal Star
Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Sports Writing
Class A
Tom D’Angelo, The Palm Beach Post
Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
Class B-C
Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Travel and Tourism Writing
Class A-C
Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal
James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun
Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel