Miami Herald takes the Florida Press Club’s top two prizes in annual contest

 The Miami Herald was honored with both of the Florida Press Club’s top awards Jan. 31, with the club’s Frances DeVore Award for Public Service going to a tale of how prosecutors’ gift of full immunity to a confessed murderer unraveled three murder cases.

Miami Herald reporters Brittany Wallman and Sarah Blaskey won the top prize, named after the club’s foundress, that comes with a $1,000 award.

The honor was one of many bestowed upon journalists from throughout the state as the club met in West Palm Beach to recognize top-notch illustrations, layout, news reporting, online work, photography and writing.

The Miami Herald’s story about a trio of wealthy brothers who exploited their status as luxury real estate brokers to drug and rape women across the country won the club’s Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth reporting.  Reporters Charles Rabin, Jay Weaver, Ana Claudia Chacin and Claire Healy spearheaded the staff effort that showed how decades of abuse started in the Miami area and permeated upper echelons of society throughout the country. The brothers are currently on trial on sex trafficking charges in New York City.

Florida Today columnist John Torres was also honored with the DeVore award in the B-C division for his coverage credited with reversing a murder conviction.

The event marked the 76th anniversary of the club’s founding as the Florida Women’s Press Club that got its start thanks to women journalists who were not eligible for membership in the existing press club.

Here’s a complete list of the journalism honored at Saturday’s event.

ILLUSTRATION

Artist Illustration

Class A-C

1. Stephanie Redding, South Florida Business Journal
2. Bonita Miyagi, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Editorial Cartooning

Class A-C

1. Bill Day, Cagle Cartoons

 

Infographic

Class A-C

 

1. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
3. 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 Heather Weinsheimer, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

 

Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine Michael Gaulin, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine Front Page Design Class A-B Stephanie Redding, South Florida Business Journal Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun Class C Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine Michael Gaulin, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

Sports Page Design

 

Class A-B

1. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Barry Talley, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class  C

 

1. Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Shawnee Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

ONLINE

 

Affiliated News Website

 

Class A-C

 

1. Staff, South Florida Business Journal
2. Cindy Peterson, Kyle Coppola, Doug Akers, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Independent Website

Class A-C

 

1. Joel Engelhardt, Carolyn DiPaolo, Elizabeth Capozzi, Stet News 
2. Tony Winton, John Pacenti, Key Biscayne Independent
3. Martin Lenkowsky, Talk Media

 

Multimedia Presentation

 

Class A-C

1. Bonita Miyagi, The Villages Daily Sun 
2. Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal
3. Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

 

Breaking News

 

Class A-C

1. Tiffany Tompkins, Bradenton Herald
2. Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
3. Kaila Jones, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers

 

Feature Essay

 

Class A-B

1. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
2. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
3. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

1. Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
2. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Carina Mask, OutFAU

 

Features

Class A-B

1. Sophia Lucente, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
3. Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

1. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

General News

Class A

1. Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Sophia Lucente, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Nadia Zomorodian, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Tiffany Tompkins, Bradenton Herald

 

Class C

 

1. Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
2. Tim Stepien, The Coastal Star
3. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Portrait/Personality

 

Class A-B

1. Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
2. Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Bill Mitchell, The VIllages Daily Sun

 

Class C

 

1. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette

 

Sports Action

 

Class A

1. Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
2. BIll Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Sophia Lucente, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B-C

1. Nadia Zomorodian, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
3. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Sports Feature

Class A

1. Rachel Govola, The Villages Daily Sun
2. BIll Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B-C

1. Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Gazette
2. Nicole Hamel, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine 

 

SPECIAL AWARDS

 

Frances DeVore Award for Public Service

 

Class A

 

1. Brittany Wallman, Sarah Blaskey, Miami Herald
2. Holly Baltz, Hannah Phillips, Jane Musgrave, Kristina Webb, The Palm Beach Post
3. David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila, Susan Merriam, Miami Herald

 

Class B-C

 

1. John Torres, Florida Today
2. Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics
3. Josh Salman, Derek Gilliam, Suncoast Searchlight

 

Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting

 

Class A

 

1. Staff, Miami Herald
2. David Fleshler, Sun Sentinel
3. Bonita Miyagi, Curt Hills, Adam Rogers, George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
2. Josh Salman, Derek Gilliam, Suncoast Searchlight
3. Nichole Manna, The Tributary

 

Class C

1. Staff, Akers Media
2. John Pacenti, Larry Barszewski, The Coastal Star
3. Charles Elmore, Mary Hladky, Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star

 

SPECIAL SECTIONS

 

Class A-B

 

1. Mark Gauert, Cassie Armstrong, Anderson Greene, Explore Florida & the Caribbean, the Sun Sentinel
2. Staff, Marine Industry, South Florida Business Journal 
3. Staff, Palatka Daily News

 

Class C

 

1. Staff, Extraordinary People, Akers Media Group
2. Akers Staff, various special sections, Akers Media Group
3. Mary Rasura, CJ Walden, Lewis De Berry, OutFAU

 

WRITING

Arts News

 

Class A-B

1. Taylor Strickland, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News

 

Class C

1. Sharon Geltner, The Coastal Star/Palm Beach ArtsPaper  
2. Mary Hladky, The Coastal Star
3. Erik Kvarnberg, Janis Fontaine, Carolyn DiPaolo, Stet News

 

Breaking News

 

Class A-B

1. Staff, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
2. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
3. James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

1. Larry Barszewski, Jane Musgrave, The Coastal Star
2. Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer
3. Jeff Hardison, HardisonInk.com

 

Business News

 

Class A

1. Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel
2. Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Summer Jarro, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Josh Salman, Kara Newhouse, Suncoast Searchlight
2. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
3. Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal

 

Class C

1. Jane Musgrave, The Coastal Star
2. John Pacenti, The Coastal Star
3. Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Commentary

 

Class A

1. Stephanie Hayes, Tampa Bay Times
2. Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel
3. Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel

 

Class B

1. Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
2. Brandon Oliver, Palatka Daily News
3. Mel Melendez, South Florida Business Journal

 

Class C

1. Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun
2. Jason Parsley, OutSFL
3. Larry Barszewski, The Coastal Star

 

Community News

 

Class A

1. James Coleman, The Palm Beach Post
2. Matt Klaver, Miami Herald
3. Brea Jones, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Sarah Cavacini, Palatka News
2. Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
3. Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal

 

Class C

1. Staff, Akers Media
2. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
3. John Pacenti, Tony Winton, Key Biscayne Independent

HONORABLE MENTION: Kevin Deutsch, Talk Media

 

Education News

 

Class A

1. Wayne Washington, The Palm Beach Post
2. Garrett Shiflet, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel

 

Class B

1. Alice Herman, Emily Le Coz, Suncoast Searchlight
2. Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News

 

Class C

1. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Kevin Deutsch, Coral Springs Talk
3. Gabriela Quintero, Mary Rasura, Clinton Engelberger, OutFAU

 

Election Coverage

 

Class A

1. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
2. Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald

 

Class B

1. Laurence Reisman, TC Palm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
2. Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
3. Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News

Class C

1. Jane Musgrave, Joel Engelhardt, Stet News 
2. Kevin Deutsch, Talk Media
3. Kevin Deutsch, Talk Media

 

Environmental Writing

 

Class A

1. Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
3. Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald

 

Class B

1. Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
2. Josh Salman, Suncoast Searchlight

 

Class C

 

1. Ben Montgomery, Florida Trident
2. John Pacenti, Tony Winton, Key Biscayne Independent
3. Anne Geggis, The Coastal Star

HONORABLE MENTION: Jane Musgrave, The Coastal Star

 

Food Writing

Class A-B

 

1. Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal
2. Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
3. Diana Biederman, The Palm Beach Post

 

Class C

 

1. Gina Horan, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Larry Hoffman, dineSarasota
3. Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

General News

 

Class A

1. Aaron Leibowitz, Miami Herald
2. Mike Diamond, The Palm Beach Post

 

Class B

1. Tiffany Razzano, Patch Tampa
2. Nichole Manna, The Tributary
3. Josh Salman, Kara Newhouse, Suncoast Searchlight

 

Class C

1. Joel Engelhardt, Stet News
2. Jane Musgrave, Stet News
3. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi

HONORABLE MENTION: Bob Norman, Francisco Alvarado, Susan Clark Armstrong, Florida Trident

 

Government News

 

Class A

1. Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Tess Riski, Joey Flechas, Miami Herald
3. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel

 

Class B

1. Nandhini Srinvasan, The Tributary
2. Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
3. Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald

 

Class C

 

1. Michael Barfield, Florida Trident
2. Joel Engelhardt, Stet News 
3. Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics
4. HONORABLE MENTION: Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com

 

Headline Writing

 

Class A

1. Barry Talley, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B-C

 

1. Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun

 

Health Writing

 

Class A

1. Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
2. Brea Jones, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
2. Brian Bandell, South Florida Business Journal
3. Ashley Portero, Ryan Lynch, Alexis Muellner, South Florida Business Journal

 

Class C

1. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Jan Engoren, The Coastal Star
3. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Light Features

 

Class A

1. Taylor Strickland, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
3. James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
2. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
3. Tiffany Razzano, Patch Tampa

 

Class C

1. Joe Capozzi, ByJoe Capozzi.com
2. Ron Hayes, The Coastal Star
3. Gina Horan, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Minority News

 

Class A-B

1. Valentina Palm, The Palm Beach Post
2. Michael Butler, Miami Herald
3. Brea Jones, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

1. Mary Rasura, OutFAU
2. Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Kathleen Kernicky, The Coastal Star

 

Newsletter

 

Class A-C

1. Staff, Stet News 
2. Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal

 

Opinion

 

Class A-C

 

1. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board
2. Cindy Lane, Anna Maria Island Sun

 

Public Safety News

 

Class A

1. Charles Rabin, Linda Robertson, Ana Claudia Chacin, Claire Healy, Miami Herald
2. David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila, Susan Merriam, Miami Herald
3. Hannah Phillips, The Palm Beach Post

 

Class B

1. Nichole Manna, The Tributary
2. Nichole Manna, The Tributary
3. Brandon Oliver, Palatka Daily News

 

Class C

1. John Pacenti, The Coastal Star
2. Bob Norman, Florida Trident
3. Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star

HONORABLE MENTION: John Pacenti, Tony Winton, Billy Jean Louis, Key Biscayne Independent

 

Religion News

Class A-B

1. James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Lois Solomon, Jessica Tzikas, Melina De Rose, Sun Sentinel
3. Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News

 

Class C

1. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Magazine

 

Serious Features

 

Class A

1. Holly Baltz, The Palm Beach Post
2. Max Klaver, Miami Herald
3. Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class B

1. Nichole Manna, The Tributary
2. Sarah Cavacini, Palatka Daily News
3. M.M. Cloutier, Palm Beach Daily News

HONORABLE MENTION: Brandon Oliver, Palatka Daily News

 

Class C

1. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
2. Roxanne Brown, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Tristram Korten, Florida Trident

HONORABLE MENTION: Cindy Peterson, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Sports Columns

 

Class A-B

1. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
3. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

1. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Sports Features

 

Class A-B

1. Steven Hieneman, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
3. Kyle Bumpers, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Class C

1. Faran Fagen, The Coastal Star
2. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
3. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Sports Writing

 

Class A

1. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
2. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Tom D’Angelo, The Palm Beach Post

 

Class B-C

1. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
2. Kyle Coppola, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine

 

Travel and Tourism Writing

Class A-C

 

1. Cortney Danielle Moore, South Florida Business Journal
2. James Dinan, The Villages Daily Sun
3. Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel