The Florida Press Club proudly announces the finalists in its 2015 Excellence in Journalism Competition.
Congratulations to all… and thank you for your participation.
The places will be announced Nov. 7 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel! Watch this space for more details about our gala celebration of the work!
Illustration — Artist Illustration
Class A-B
Chelsea Kleven, The Villages Daily Sun
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Greg Williams, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C-D
Cheryl Bence, Orlando Business Journal
Donald Haberkorn, Collier Citizen
Hilda Vazquez, South Florida Business Journal
Illustration — Editorial Cartooning
Class A-D
Bill Day, SaintPetersBlog
Illustration — Infographic Presentation
Class A-B
Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C-D
Donald Haberkorn, Collier Citizen
Aleese Kopf, Palm Beach Daily News
Layout — Feature Page Design
Class A-B
Chelsea Kleven, The Villages Daily Sun
Chanel Martin, Times-Union
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Class C-D
Donald Haberkorn, Collier Citizen
Nadine Ouillette, Marco Eagle
Scott Simmons, The Coastal Star
Layout – Front Page Design
Class A-B
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Phil Diokno, Times-Union
Grace Stamper, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Stephanie Nusbaum, Panama City News Herald
Codi Gildberg, The Financial News and Daily Record
John Pitts and Julia Estrada, The Ledger
Class D
Susan E. Hoffman, Sun Coast Media
Hilda Vazquez, South Florida Business Journal
Nadine Ouillette, Marco Eagle
Layout – Sports Page Design
Class A-B
Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
Robert McGinty, Times-Union
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Class C-D
Codi Gildberg, The Financial News and Daily Record
Nadine Ouillette, Marco Eagle
Chris George, The Ledger
Online – Blog Affiliated
Class A-D
Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Tia Mitchell, Times-Union
Online – Blog — Independent
Class A-D
Chaz Stevens, MAOS Media
Sharon Baron, Coral Springs Talk
Peter Schorsch, SaintPetersBlog
Online – News Website
Class A-C
Staff, TCPalm.com
Staff, Times-Union
Class D
Peter Schorsch, FloridaPolitics.com
Staff, South Florida Business Journal
Staff, Orlando Business Journal
Online – Online Package
Class A
Michael Mayo, Mike Stocker and Rachel Schallom, Sun Sentinel
Staff, Sun Sentinel
Derek Hembd, Topher Sanders, Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Online – Online Package – Class B-D
Richard Bilbao and Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Staff, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Photography – Breaking News
Class A
Bob Mack, Times-Union
Gary Smits, Times-Union
Class B
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Sam Wolfe, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Class C-D
Heather Leiphart, , Panama City News Herald
Andrew Wardlow, Panama City News Herald
Photography — Feature Photo Essay
Class A
Bob Self, Times-Union
Will Dickey, Times-Union
Bob Mack, Times-Union
Class B
Amy J. Correnti, The Villages Daily Sun
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Staff, The Villages Daily Sun
Peter Travers, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Scott Wheeler, The Ledger
Patti Blake, Panama City News Herald
Class D
Marisa Bauer, Sun Coast Media Group
Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
Susan E. Hoffman, Marisa Bauer and Ashley Lavallee, Sun Coast Media Group
Photography – Features
Class A
Bob Self, Times-Union
Bruce Lipsky, Times-Union
Will Dickey, Times-Union
Class B
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Sam Wolfe, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Class C
Andrew Wardlow, Panama City News Herald
Scott Wheeler, The Ledger
Patti Blake, Panama City News Herald
Class D
James Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Photography General News
Class A-B
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Bob Self, Times-Union
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Class C
Andrew Wardlow, Panama City News Herald
Class D
Jerry Lower, The Coastal Star
Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Photography – Photo Illustration
Class A-D
Alex Slitz, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Will Dickey, Times-Union
Patti Blake, Panama City News Herald
Photography – Portrait Personality
Class A-B
Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Bob Self, Times-Union
Class C
Chris Devitto, Palatka Daily News
Heather Leiphart, Panama City News Herald
Class D
Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Photography – Sports Action
Class A-B
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C-D
Scott Wheeler, The Ledger
Chris Devitto, Palatka Daily News
Photography – Sports Feature
Class A-D
Craig Rubadoux, Florida Today
Bob Self, Times-Union
Jim Carchidi, Orlando Business Journal
Special Awards — Frances Devore
Class A-D
Pat Beall, The Palm Beach Post
Lawrence Mower, Pat Beall, Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
Staff, The Villages Daily Sun
Freedom of Information Award
Class A-D
Gina Edwards, Watchdog City
Special Awards — Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting
Class A
Tim Elfrink, New Times Miami
Lawrence Mower, Pat Beall, Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
Eileen Kelley, Times-Union
Class B
George Andreassi, Matt Dixon and Arnie Rosenberg, Treasure Coast Newspapers Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Staff, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C-D
Gary White, The Ledger
Randy Schultz and Mary Kate Leming, The Coastal Star
Zack McDonald, Panama City News Herald
Special Awards — That is so … Florida
Class A
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
David Ovalle, Miami Herald
Andrew Pantazi, Times-Union
Class B-D
Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Zack McDonald, Panama City News Herald
Cindy Swirko, Gainesville Sun
Special Sections
Class A
Staff, Sun Sentinel
Lou Ann Frala, Eliot Kleinberg, Charles Elmore, Matt Morgan, The Palm Beach Post
Staff, City & Shore Magazine, Sun Sentinel
Class B
Staff, The Villages Daily Sun
Staff, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C
Staff, Palatka Daily News
Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
Class D
Staff, Orlando Business Journal
Writing — Arts News Reporting
Class A-B
Marisa Gottesman, Sun Sentinel
Michael E. Miller, New Times Miami
Michael Fortuna, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
Jan Sjostrom, Palm Beach Daily News
Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
Class D
MaryAnn DeSantis, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Greg Stepanich, The Coastal Star
Lucy Lazarony, The Coastal Star
Writing – Breaking News
Class A
Derek Gilliam and Gary Smits, Times-Union
Eileen Kelley, Times-Union
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class B
Staff, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C
Jessica De Leon, Amaris Castillo, Bradenton Herald
Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
Aleese Kopf, Palm Beach Daily News
Class D
Abraham Aboraya and Richard Bilbao, Orlando Business Journal
Kristine Gill and Bill Green, Marco Eagle
Henry Frederick, HeadlineSurfer.com
Business Writing
Class A-B
George Andreassi, Matt Dixon and Arnie Rosenberg, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Charles Elmore, The Palm Beach Post
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class C
Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
Valerie Garman, Panama City News Herald
John Henderson and Valerie Garman, Panama City News Herald
Class D
Emon Reiser, South Florida Business Journal
Matthew Richardson, Orlando Business Journal
Brian Bandell, South Florida Business Journal
Writing — Commentary
Class A
Chuck Strouse, Miami New Times
Tia Mitchell, Times-Union
Mark Woods, Times-Union
Class B
Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Christy Feinberg, Sun Newspapers
Eve Samples, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C
Brian Thompson, St. Augustine Record
Marty Clear, Bradenton Herald
Gerald Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat
Class D
Audrey Blackwell, Venice Gondolier Sun
Thom Smith, The Coastal Star
Tom Swick, Fort Lauderdale Magazine
Al Lewis, South Florida Business Journal
Writing – Community News
Class A-D
Jason Parsley, South Florida Gay News
Jay Schlichter, Collier Citizen
Kyle Swenson, New Times Broward
Writing — Education Writing
Class A-D
Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
Dustin Wyatt, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Denise Amos, Times-Union
Writing — Environmental Writing
Class A
Trevor Bach and Dianna Wray, New Times Miami
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class B
Dinah Voyles Pulver, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Scott Wyland, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Class C
Tom Palmer, The Ledger
Class D
Anjali Fluker, Orlando Business Journal
Willie Howard, The Coastal Star
Writing — General News
Class A
Eileen Kelley, Times-Union
John Pacenti, The Palm Beach Post
Larry Hannan, Times-Union
Class B
Drexler James, The Villages Daily Sun
Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Katie Sartoris, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Kate Irby, Bradenton Herald
Brandon D. Oliver, Palatka Daily News
Gary White, The Ledger
Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
Class D
Aisling Swift and Bill Green, Marco Eagle
Dan Moffett, The Coastal Star
Steve Bauer, Sun Coast Media
Writing — Government News
Class A
Joe Capozzi, The Palm Beach Post
Clifford Davis, Times-Union
Eliot Kleinberg, The Palm Beach Post
Class B
Chris Graham and Skyler Swisher, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Tony Holt, the Daytona Beach News-Journal
Katie Sartoris, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
David Chapman and Marilyn Young, The Financial News and Daily Record
John Henderson, Panama City News Herald
Valerie Garman, Panama City News Herald
Class D
Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
Dan Moffett, The Coastal Star
Steve Bauer, Sun Coast Media
Writing — Headline Writing
Class A-B
Chet Fussman, Times-Union
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Class C-D
Chris George, The Ledger
Bill Green, Marco Eagle
Susan E. Hoffman, Sun Coast Media
Writing – Health Writing
Class A-B
Eddy Duryea, The Villages Daily Sun
Charles Elmore, The Palm Beach Post
Skyler Swisher, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C-D
Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
James Combs, Akers Media Group
Jason Parsley, South Florida Gay News
- Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
Writing — Light Feature Writing
Class A
Steve Nelson, Times-Union
Matt Soergel, Times-Union
Kyle Swenson, New Times Broward
Class B
Christy Feinberg, Sun Newspapers
Chris Gerbasi, The Villages Daily News
Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Class C
Asia Aikins, Palatka Daily News
M.M. Cloutier, Palm Beach Daily News
Trisha Murphy, Palatka Daily News
Class D
Megan Ribbens, Orlando Business Journal
Lance Shearer and Bill Green, Marco Eagle
Mary Thurwachter, The Coastal Star
Writing — Minority Reporting
Class A
Andrew Pantazi, Times-Union
Matt Soergel, Times-Union
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class B-C
Claire Aronson, Bradenton Herald
Amaris Castillo and Richard Dymond, Bradenton Herald
Julie Kay, Daily Business Review
Class D
Jason Parsley, South Florida Gay News
Ron Hayes, The Coastal Star
Susan E. Hoffman, Sun Coast Media
Writing — Opinion Writing
Class A-D
Susan E. Hoffman, Sun Coast Media
Bill Thompson, The Ledger
Opinion Staff, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Writing — Public Safety Reporting
Class A
Eileen Kelley, Times-Union
Michael E. Miller, New Times Miami
Andrew Pantazi, Times-Union
Class B
Melissa E. Holsman, Treasure Coast Newspapers
Tony Holt, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Katie Sartoris, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Michele Dargan, Palm Beach Daily News
Aleese Kopf, Palm Beach Daily News
Cindy Swirko, Gainesville Sun
Class D
Susan E. Hoffman, Sun Coast Media
Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star
Dan Moffett, The Coastal Star
Writing – Religion Writing
Class A-D
Andrew Pantazi
Ann Claire Shilton and Bill Green, Marco Eagle
Pat Steele, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing – Serious Feature Writing
Class A
Trevor Bach, Miami New Times
Eileen Kelley, Times-Union
Eliot Kleinberg, The Palm Beach Post
Class B
Eddy Duryea, The Villages Daily Sun
Josh Salman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
Brittany Van Heyningen, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
M.M Cloutier, Palm Beach Daily News
Carole Hawkins, The Financial News and Daily Record
Mark Young, Bradenton Herald
Class D
Abraham Aboraya, Orlando Business Journal
MaryAnn DeSantis, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine
Patrick Riley and Elysa Delcorto, The Banner
Writing — Sports Column
Class A-D
Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
Gene Frenette, Times-Union
Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Writing – Sports Feature Writing
Class A
Justin Barney, Times-Union
Don Coble, Times-Union
Vito Stellino, Times-Union
Class B
Matt Cote, The Villages Daily Sun
Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
Steve Trivett, The Villages Daily Sun
Class C
Alan Dell, Bradenton Herald
Roy Fuoco, The Ledger
Dustin Kent, Panama City News Herald
Class D
Steve Bauer, Sun Coast Media
Richard Bilbao, Orlando Business Journal
Henry Frederick, HeadlineSurfer.com
Writing — Sports Writing
Class A
Don Coble, Times-Union
Clayton Freeman, Times-Union
Gary Smits, Times-Union
Class B-D
Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
Dustin Kent, Panama City News Herald
Steve Trivett, The Villages Daily Sun
Writing — Travel and Tourism
Class A-B
Michael Salerno, The Villages Daily Sun
Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
Class C-D
Richard Bilbao, Orlando Business Journal
MaryAnn DeSantis, Lake & Sumter Style Magazine