The Florida Press Club held its annual meeting Saturday, and awarded its top honor, the Frances DeVore Award for Public Service, to the Miami Herald for its series, “Innocents Lost,” which chronicled the story of children who died in the state’s care.
Other top honors in its 62nd Excellence in Journalism Competition went to the South Florida Sun Sentinel for its series, “In Sickness and in Health: A Couple’s Journey,” which won the Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting in the largest-newspaper category.
Times-Union Media, in Jacksonville, won 31 honors from the club, including the club’s Freedom of Information Award for its pursuit for government openness.
The 63-year-old club was founded as the Florida Women’s Press Club by Frances DeVore, a reporter at the Ocala Star-Banner, to fight inequities that kept women from career advancement in the news industry. Later, though, as “Women’s Pages” faded from section fronts, the club changed its name to the present-day, Florida Press Club. It now counts hundreds of Florida journalists among its ranks, at newspapers across the state.
Illustration — Artist Illustration
Class A-D
1 — Steve Nelson, Times-Union Media
2 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
3 — Jerry Petersen, Panama City News Herald
Illustration — Editorial Cartooning
1.Steve Borggren, Anna Maria Island Sun
2 — David Willson, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Steve Borggren, Anna Maria Island Sun
Honorable mention: Ed Hall, Freelance
Illustration — Artist Illustration
Class A-D
1 — Steve Nelson, Times-Union Media
2 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
3 — Jerry Petersen, Panama City News Herald
Illustration — Infographic Presentation
Class A-D
1 — Michael Servidio, Joey Johnston, Tampa Tribune
2 — Aleese Kopf, William Kelly, Karbel Multimedia, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Steve Nelson, Times-Union Media
Layout — Feature Page Design
Class A
1 — Steve Nelson, Times -Union Media
2 — Chanel Martin, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Scott Turick, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2 — Chelsea Kleven, The Villages Daily Sun
3 — Sue Pearson, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C
1 — Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
2 — Jerry Petersen, Panama City News Herald
Class D
1 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
2 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
3 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
Layout — Front Page Design
Class A
1 — Horace Brooks, Cindy DeJonge, Joel Taylor, Tampa Tribune
2 — Phil Diokno, Times-Union Media
3 — Miche Ratto, Broward Palm Beach New Times
Class B
1 — Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
2 — Alex Miller, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3 — Scott Turick, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C
1 — John Pitts and Julia Estrada, The Ledger
2 — Laura Cornett, Panama City News Herald
3 — Ray Glenn, Panama City News Herald
Class D
1 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Day News
2 — Jerry Lower, Scott Simmons, Mary Kate Leming, Coastal Star
3 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
Layout — Sports Page Design
Class A-B
1 — Marc Correnti, The Villages Daily Sun
2 — Bill Bootz, The Villages Daily Sun
3 — Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
1 — John Hansen, Panama City News Herald
2 — Laura Cornett, Panama City News Herald
3 — Chris George, The Ledger
Class D
1 — Donnie Haberkorn, Naples Daily News
Online — Blog Affiliated
1 — Dian Vujovich, Palm Beach Daily News
2 — Will Greenlee, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
3 — Jeff Wilen, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Online — Blog Independent
1 — Sharon Aron Baron, Talk Media
2 — Sharon Aron Baron, Talk Media
3 — Sharon Aron Baron, Talk Media
Online — News Site
1 — Staff, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
2 — Staff, Orlando Business Journal
3 — Tim Elfrink, Michael E. Miller, Trevor Bach, Kyle Munzenrieder, Miami New
Times
Online — Package
Class A
1 — Miche Ratto, Miami New Times
2 — Eliot Kleinberg, Mark Buzek, Jeff Sterling, Palm Beach Post
3 — Staff, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Eric Pfahler, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C-D
1 — Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
2 — Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Photography — Breaking News A-D
1 — Chris DeVitto, Palatka Daily News
2 — Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star Banner
3 — Xavier Mascarenas, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Honorable Mention — Bob Self, Times-Union Media
Photography — Feature Photo Essay
Class A
1 — Bruce Lipsky, Times Union Media
2 — Will Dickey, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Cal Gaines, The Villages Daily Sun
2 — Amy Correnti, The Villages Daily Sun
3 — George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C-D
1 — Susan E. Hoffman, Suncoast Media Group
Photography — Features
1 — Bob Self, Times Union-Media
2 — Bruce Lipsky, Times-Union Media
3 — Bob Mack, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Sam Wolfe, Scripps Treasure Coast Newpspapers
2 — Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Class C
1 — Chris DeVitto, Palatka Daily News
2 — Andrew Wardlow, Panama City News Herald
3 — Heather Leiphart, Panama City News Herald
Class D
1 — Susan E. Hoffman, Suncoast Media Group
2 — Maggie Field, Anna Maria Island Sun
3 — Maggie Field, Anna Maria Island Sun
Photography — General News
Class A
1 — Luke Johnson, Tampa Tribune
2 — Will Dickey, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Alex Boerner, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
2 — Alex Slitz, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
3 — Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Class C
1 — Scott Wheeler, The Ledger
2 — Meghan McCarthy, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Andrew Wardlow, Panama City News Herald
Class D
1 — Cindy Lane Anna Maria Island Sun
2 — Maggie Field, Anna Maria Island Sun
3 — Mike Field, Anna Maria Island Sun
Photography — Photo Illustration
Class A-D
1 — Will Dickey, Times-Union Media
2 — Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Photography — Portrait/Personality
Class A
1 — Bob Self, Times-Union Media
2 — Will Dickey, Times-Union Media
3 — Bob Self, Times-Union Media
Class B-D
1 — Andrew Wardlow, Panama City News Herald
2 — Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Photography — Sports Action
Class A
1 — Bob Mack, Times-Union Media
2 — Bob Mack, Times-Union Media
3 — Bob Self, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
2 — Eric Hasert, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
3 — Peter Travers, The Villages Daily Sun
Photography — Sports Feature
Class A
1 — Bob Mack, Times-Union Media
2 — Will Dickey, Times-Union Media
Class B
1. Peter Travers, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Molly Bartels, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C-D
1. Scott Wheeler, The Ledger
2. Patti Blake, Panama City News Herald
Writing — Breaking News
1 — Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
2 — Aleese Kopf, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Thomas Vaught, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing — Business
Class A
1 — Charles Elmore, Palm Beach Post
2 — Charles Elmore, Stacey Singer, Palm Beach Post
3 — Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
Class B
1 – Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
2 — Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
3 — Charles Schelle, Bradenton Herald
Class C
1 — Dian Vujovich, Palm Beach Daily News
2 — Asia Aikins, Palatka Daily News
3 — Valerie Garman, Panama City News Herald
Class D
1 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
2 — Richard Bilbao, Orlando Business Journal
3 — Anjali Fluker, Orlando Business Journal
Writing — Community News
1 — Jack Short, Boca Beacon
2 — Julie Murphy, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3 — Steve Bauer, Suncoast Media Group
Writing — Commentary
Class A
1 — Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
2 — Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune
Class B
1 — Scott Kent, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2 — Eve Samples, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
3 — Christy Feinberg, Sun Newspapers
Class C
1 — Gerald Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat
2 — David Willson, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Brian Thompson, St. Augustine Record
Class D
1 — Thom Smith, Coastal Star
2 — Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
3 — Ron Hayes, Coastal Star
Writing — Education
Class A-D
1 — Annie Martin, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2 — Dave Breitenstein, News-Press
3 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
Writing — Environmental News
Class A-C
1 — David Villano, Miami New Times
2 — Tom Palmer, The Ledger
3 — Scott Wyland, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class D
1 — Cheryl Blackerby, Coastal Star
2 — Jack Short, Boca Beacon
3 — Jack Short, Boca Beacon
Writing — General News
Class A
1 –Topher Sanders, Times-Union Media
2 — Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
3 — Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
Class B
1– Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
2 — Eileen Zaffiro-Kean, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3 — Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Class C
1 — Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
2 — Aleese Kopf, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Michele Dargan, Palm Beach Daily News
Class D
1 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
2 — Henry Frederick, HeadlineSurfer.com
3 — Jack Short, Boca Beacon
Writing — Government News
Class A
1 — David Bauerlein, Eileen Kelley, Times-Union Media
2 — Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
3 — Joel Engelhardt, Palm Beach Post
Class B
1 — George Andreassi, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
2 — Andrew Gant, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3 — Mark Harper, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C
1 — David Chapman, The Financial News and Daily Record
2 — William Kelly, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Max Marbut, The Financial News and Daily Record
Class D
1 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
2 — John Sotomayor, Akers Media Group
3 — Steve Bauer, Suncoast Media Group
Writing — Headline Writing
1 — Staff, Orlando Business Journal
2 — Steve Nelson, Times-Union Media
3 — Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing — Health Writing
Class A-C
1 — Beth Reese Cravey, Times-Union Media
2 — Jacqueline Bostick, Panama City News Herald
Class D
1 — James Combs, Akers Media Group
2 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
3 — John Sotomayor, Akers Media Group
Writing — Light Feature Writing
Class A
1 — Kyle Swenson, Miami New TImes
2 — Matt Soergel, Times-Union Media
3 — Steve Nelson, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Janine Zeitlin, News-Press
2 — Sabrina Rocco, Bradenton Herald
3 — Zaimarie De Guzman, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C
1 — Asia Aikins, Palatka Daily News
Class D
1 — Ron Hayes, Coastal Star
2 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
3 — Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing — Minority Reporting
Class A-C
1 — Kyle Swenson, Miami New Times
2 — Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
3 — Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class D
1 — Nicole Wiesenthal, South Florida Gay News
2 — Henry Frederick, HeadlineSurfer.com
3 — Kelly Farrell, Jay Schlichter, Naples Daily News
Writing — Opinion Writing
Class A-C
1 — Elizabeth Clarke, Palm Beach Daily News
2 — Scott Kent, Daytona Beach News-Journal
3 — Betty Nelander, Palm Beach Daily News
Class D
1 — Cindy Barth, Orlando Business Journal
2 — Mike Field, Anna Maria Island Sun
3 — Mike Field, Anna Maria Island Sun
Writing — Public Safety Reporting
Class A
1 — Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
2 — Topher Sanders, Times-Union Media
3 — Jim Schoettler, Times-Union Media
Class B
1 — Tony Holt, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2 — Chris Gerbasi, The Villages Daily Sun
3 — Katie Kustura, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C
1 — Stephanie Allen, The Ledger
2 — Michele Dargan, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
Class D
1 — Jane Smith, Coastal Star
2 — Steve Bauer, Suncoast Media Group
3 — Susan E. Hoffman, Suncoast Media Group
Writing — Religion
Class A-B
1 — Dave Breitenstein, News-Press
2 — Andrew Pantazi, Times-Union Media
3 — Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune
Class B
1 — Richard Dymond, Bradenton Herald
2 — Zaimarie De Guzman, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C-D
1 — Christiana Lilly, South Florida Gay News
2 — Tracy Miguel-Navarro, Elysa Delcorto, Naples Daily News
3 — Audrey Blackwell, Venice Gondolier Sun
Writing — Serious Feature Writing
Class A
1 — Diane C. Lade, Sun Sentinel
2 — Eliot Kleinberg, Palm Beach Post
3 — Michelle Bearden, Tampa Tribune
Class B
1 — Janine Zeitlin, News-Press
2 — Gary Corsair, Akers Media Group
3 — Brittany Van Heyningen, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
1 — Gary White, The Ledger
2 — Jacqueline Bostick, Panama City News Herald
3 — Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
Class D
1 — Susan E. Hoffman, Suncoast Media Group
2 — James Combs, Akers Media Group
3 — Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
Writing — Sports Column Class A-D
1 — Gene Frenette, Times-Union Media
2 — Pat McCann, Panama City News Herald
3 — Alan Dell, Bradenton Herald
Writing — Sports Feature Writing
Class A
1 — Joey Johnston, Tampa Tribune
2 — Michael E. Miller, Miami New Times
3 — Dave Breitenstein, News-Press
Class B-D
1 — Zaimarie De Guzman, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
2 — Steve Bauer, Suncoast Media Group
3 — Dennis Jacob, Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
Writing — Sports Writing Class A-D
1 — John Lembo, Bradenton Herald
2 — Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
3 — Justin Barney, Times-Union Media
Writing — Travel Writing
Class A-B
1 — Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
2 — Christy Feinberg, Sun Newspapers
3 — Charles Schelle, Bradenton Herald
Class C
1 — Cheryl Blackerby, Palm Beach Daily News
Class D
1 — Brandi Broxson, Naples Daily News
2 — Brandi Broxson, Naples Daily News
3 — Richard Bilboa, Orlando Business Journal
Honorable mention: Mary Ann DiSantis, Style Magazine
Special Sections
Class A-B
1 — Brittany Van Heyningen, Cal Gaines and Thomas Marcetti, The Villages Daily
Sun
2 — Lou Ann Frala, Eliot Kleinberg, Barbara Marshall, Mark Buzek, Palm Beach
Post
3 — Alan Bellittera, Roy Cummings, Joey Johnston, Ira Kaufman, Staff, Tampa
Tribune
Class C-D
1 — Anjali Fluker, Orlando Business Journal
2 — Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
3 — Codi Gildberg, Bobby King, Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily
Record
Freedom of Information Award
1 — Staff, Times-Union Media
2 — Gina Edwards, Naples City Desk, WatchdogCity.com
3 — Dan Christensen and Anthony Summers, Broward Bulldog
Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting
Class A
1 — Diane C. Lade, Sun Sentinel
2 — Dave Breitenstein, News-Press
3 — Pat Beall, Palm Beach Post
Class B
1 — Brittany Van Heyningen, The Villages Daily Sun
2 — Charles Schelle, Bradenton Herald
3 — Dinah Voyles Pulver, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C
1 — Michele Dargan, Palm Beach Daily News
2 — David Chapman, Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
3 — Stephanie Allen, The Ledger
Class D
1 — Cheryl Blackerby, Tim O’Meilia, Mary Kate Leming, Jerry Lower, Coastal
Star
2 — Jay Schlichter, Naples Daily News
3 — John Sotomayor, Akers Media Group
Frances Devore Award for Public Service
1 — Carol Marbin Miller, Audra D.S. Burch, Lazaro Gamio, Miami Herald
2 — Will Hobson and Michael LaForgia, Tampa Bay Times
3 — Tim Elfrink, Miami New Times