The Sun Sentinel and Florida Times-Union win top honors in annual journalism competition

Anne Geggis 2022

Two stories that have left an imprint on their communities took top honors Saturday as the Florida Press Club recognized the winners of its 2022 Excellence in Journalism Competition.

The Sun Sentinel’s series “Crying out for Help,” earned the Club’s Frances DeVore Award for Community that comes with a $1,000 prize.

The series chronicled how the paper discovered that thousands of calls to Broward County’s emergency dispatch went unanswered, sometimes with devastating results. Public concern about the situation led to raises of up to $29,000 a year for some dispatchers, according to the paper.

The winner of the Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting went to the Florida Times-Union for its coverage of federal indictments in the attempted sale of Jacksonville’s public utility. The paper detailed how the utility’s executives pressured the board into seeking offers so that those same executives could profit from the sale.

For nearly 70 years, the Florida Press Club has been honoring the best in Florida journalism from layout to photography to writing.  It was originally called the Florida Women’s Press Club, as no other clubs allowed women to compete when it was started. Honorees have expanded to include men and digital-only publications.

The work honored Saturday was published between June 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021.

Other honorees Saturday night at the club’s annual gala in Daytona Beach were:

Illustration – Artist Illustration, Class A

  1. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Illustration – Artist Illustration, Class B-C

  1. Alexander Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine
  2. Jake Stevens, South Florida Business Journal

 

Illustration – Editorial Cartooning, Class A-C

  1. Bryan Steel, Simon Steel, Embrace Magazine 
  2. Joe Bird, The Islander
  3. Steve Borggren, Anna Maria Island Sun

 

 

Illustration – Infographic, Class A-C

  1. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Jake Stevens, South Florida Business Journal
  3. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Layout – Feature Page Design, Class A–C

 

  1. Jamie  Mark, Rheya Tanner, Josh  Clark, Wendy  Mak, Embrace Magazine
  2. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Scott Simmons, Jerry Lower, Tracy Allerton, The Coastal Star  

 

Layout – Front Page Design, Class A

  1. Adam Rogers, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Colin Smith, The Villages Daily Sun

Layout – Front Page Design, Class B-C

  1. Jamie  Mark, Rheya Tanner, Josh Clark, Wendy Mak, Embrace Magazine
  2. Jake Stevens, South Florida Business Journal
  3. Julie Palmer, South Florida Gay News

Layout – Sports Page Design, Class A-C

  1. Jamie Mark, Josh Clark, Embrace Magazine  
  2. Chris Siegel, The Villages Daily Sun

Online – Affiliated News Site A-C

  1. Staff, Bradenton Herald
  2. Staff, South Florida Business Journal

Online – Independent News Site A-C

  1. Pierre Tristam, Flagler Live
  2. Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer
  3. Jeff Hardison, HardisonInk.com

Online – Multimedia Presentation, Class A-C

 

  1. Sarah Blaskey, Ben Conarck, Aaron Leibowitz, Sohail  al-jamea, Miami Herald
  2. Andrew Pantazi, The Tributary

Photography – Breaking News, Class A-C

  1. India Pantin, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Rachel Stuart, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Marc R. Masferrer, Bradenton Journal

Photography – Feature Photo Essay, Class A-C

  1. Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
  2. Fred Bellet, Suncoast News
  3. Conan Segrest, Embrace Magazine

Photography – Features, Class A

  1. India Pantin, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Rachel Stuart, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Rachel Stuart, The Villages Daily Sun

Photography – Features, Class B-C

  1. Robert Geller,  Embrace Magazine
  2. Jock Fistick, South Florida Business Journal
  3. JD Casto, Embrace Magazine

Photography – General News, Class A

  1. Rachel Stuart, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. India Pantin, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Arianna Bennett, The Villages Daily Sun

Photography, General News, Class B

  1. Tiffany Tompkins, Bradenton Herald
  2. Tiffany Tompkins, Bradenton Herald

Photography – General News, Class C

  1. Maarten De Boer, Anne-Marie Williams, Embrace Magazine
  2. Florencia Clement de Grandprey, Embrace Magazine
  3. Ryan Paice, The Islander

Photography – Portrait/Personality, Class A

  1. Rachel Stuart, The VIllages Daily Sun
  2. Rachel Stuart, The VIllages Daily Sun
  3. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun

 

Photography – Portrait/Personality, Class B-C

  1. Jazlyn Viera, Romey Ro, Benjamin McCulloch, Embrace Magazine
  2. Tim Stepien, The Coastal Star 
  3. Florencia Clement de Grandprey, Embrace Magazine

Photography Sports Action, Class A-C

  1. Michael Johnson, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. George Horsford, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Bill Mitchell, The Villages Daily Sun

Photography – Sports Feature, Class A-C

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

Special Awards, Frances DeVore Award for Public Service, Class A-C

1.  Eileen Kelley, Lisa Huriash, Brittany Wallman, Spencer Norris, Sun-Sentinel

2. Sarah Blaskey, Ben Conarck, Aaron Leibowitz, Nicholas Nehamas,

Miami Herald

3. David Corder, Keith Pearlman, Curt Hills, The Villages Daily Sun

Special Awards, Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Class A

1. David Bauerlein, Nate Monroe, Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union

2. Eileen Kelley, Lisa J. Huriash, Brittany Wallman, Spencer Norris, Sun Sentinel

3. Staff, The Villages Daily Sun

Special Awards, Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Class B-C

  1. Staff, The Coastal Star
  2. Giuseppe Sabella, Jessica De Leon, Bradenton Herald
  3. George Andreassi, St. Lucie Voice and Vero News

Honorable mention: Pierre Tristam, Flagler Live

Special Awards, That is so … Florida, Class A-C

  1. Jessica De Leon, Bradenton Herald
  2. Brian Biggane, The Coastal Star

Special Sections, Class A

  1. Staff, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Staff, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Mark Gauert, Cassie Armstrong, Anderson Greene, the Sun Sentinel and the Orlando Sentinel

Special Sections, Class B-C

  1. Staff, South Florida Business Journal
  2. Mel Meléndez, Jeff Zbar, South Florida Business Journal
  3. Staff, The Coastal Star

Writing – Arts News, Class A-C

  1. Max B. Marcus, Sara Giza, Rachel Covello, Embrace Magazine

Writing -Breaking News, Class A-C

  1. Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
  2. Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer
  3. Nate Monroe, David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union

Writing – Business News, Class A-B

  1. Ron Hurtibise, Sun Sentinel
  2. Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. James A. Jones, Bradenton Herald

Writing – Business News, Class C

  1. Eman Elshahawy, South Florida Business Journal
  2. Joel Engelhardt, OnGardens.org
  3. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News

Writing – Commentary, Class A-B

  1. Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
  2. Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union
  3. Nate Monroe, Florida Times-Union

Honorable Mention: Mark Lane, Daytona Beach News-Journal

Writing – Commentary, Class C

  1. Marc Masferrer, The Bradenton Journal
  2. Pierre Tristam, Flagler Live
  3. Mary Kate Leming, The Coastal Star

Writing – Community News, Class A-B

  1. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
  2. Andrea Davis, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Community News,  Class C

  1. Sharon Aron Baron, Talk Media
  2. Joel Engelhardt, OnGardens.org
  3. Kevin Deutsch, Talk Media

Writing – COVID-19, Features Reporting, Class A-C

  1. Mimi Whitefield, Linda Robertson, Miami Herald
  2. Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star
  3. Mark Woods, Nada Hassanein, David Bauerlein, Florida Times-Union

Writing – COVID-19 News Reporting, Class A-C

  1. Joe Capozzi, The Coastal Star
  2. Curt Hills, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Education Writing, Class A 

  1. Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel
  2. Garrett Shiflet, The Villages Daily Sun 
  3. Emily Bloch, Florida Times-Union 

Writing – Education Writing, Class B-C

  1. Pierre Tristam, Flagler Live
  2. Roxanne Brown, Akers Media Group
  3. Janis Fontaine, The Coastal Star 

Writing – Environmental Writing, Class A

  1. Michael Salerno, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Environmental Writing, Class B

  1. Ryan Ballogg, Bradenton Herald
  2. Cindy Swirko, Gainesville Sun
  3. Ryan Callihan, Bradenton Herald

Writing – Environmental Writing, Class C

  1. Kristin Swain, Anna Maria Island Sun
  2. Lisa Neff, The Islander
  3. Megan Stokes, Oviedo Community News

Writing – General News, Class A

  1. Antonio Fins, The Palm Beach Post
  2. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
  3. Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – General News, Class B

  1. Tiffany Razzano, Patch.com
  2. Ryan Callihan, Bradenton Herald

Writing – General News, Class C

  1. Darrell Hofheinz, Palm Beach Daily News
  2. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
  3. John Sotomayor, Melissa-Marie Marks, Embrace Magazine

Writing – Government News, Class A

  1. Curt Hills, Keith Pearlman, David Corder, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Curt Hills, Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Leah Schwarting, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Government News, Class B-C

  1. Andrew Caplan, Gainesville Sun
  2. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com

Writing – Headline Writing, Class A-C

  1. Barry Talley, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. James Combs, Akers Media Group
  3. Roxanne Brown, Akers Media Group

Honorable mention: John Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine

Writing – Health Writing, Class A-C

  1. Melissa-Marie Marks, Embrace Magazine,
  2. Charles Elmore, Mary Hladky, The Coastal Star

Writing – Light Features, Class A

  1. Emily Bloch, Florida Times-Union
  2. Mark Gauert, The South Florida Sun Sentinel
  3. Leah Shewmaker, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Light Features, Class B-C

  1. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
  2. Ron Hayes, The Coastal Star
  3. James Combs, Akers Media Group

Honorable mention: Larry Hoffman, Dine Sarasota

Writing – Minority News, Class A

  1. Mimi Whitefield, Miami Herald
  2. Susannah Bryan, Sun Sentinel
  3. Emily Bloch, Florida Times-Union

Writing – Minority News, Class B-C

  1. Cindy Swirko, The Gainesville Sun
  2. John Sotomayor, Melissa-Marie Marks, Embrace Magazine
  3. Andrew Pantazi, The Tributary

Writing – Newsletter, Class A

  1. Lois Solomon, Gretchen Day-Bryant, David Schutz, Sun-Sentinel
  2. Antonio Fins, USA Today Florida Network

Writing – Newsletter, Class B-C

  1. Avraham Forrest, Kim Swan, South Florida Gay News
  2. Ashley Portero, South Florida Business Journal
  3. Andrew Pantazi, The Tributary

Writing – Opinion Writing, Class A-C

  1. John Sotomayor, Embrace Magazine
  2. James Combs, Akers Media Group

Writing – Public Safety Writing, Class A

  1. Curt Hills, Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Keith Pearlman, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Veronica Wernicke, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Public Safety Writing, Class B-C

  1. Joe Capozzi, The Coastal Star
  2. Rich Pollack, The Coastal Star
  3. James Combs, Akers Media Group

Writing – Religion News, Class A-C

  1. Roxanne Brown, Akers Media Group
  2. Janis Fontaine, The Coastal Star
  3. Roxanne Brown, Akers Media Group

Writing -Serious Features, Class A

  1. Linda Robertson, Miami Herald
  2. Mark Woods, Florida Times-Union
  3. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing -Serious Features, Class B-C

  1. Joe Capozzi, byJoeCapozzi.com
  2. Kane Kaiman, The Islander
  3. Tiffany Razzano, The Patch

Writing – Sports Columns, Class A

  1. Cody Hills, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Drew Chaltry, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Sports Columns, Class B-C

  1. Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
  2. Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News
  3. Mark Blumenthal, Palatka Daily News

Writing – Sports Features, Class A

  1. Juston Lewis, Florida Times-Union
  2. Drew Chaltry, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Sports Features, Class B-C

  1. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
  2. James Combs, Akers Media Group
  3. James Combs, Akers Media Group

Writing – Sports Writing, Class A

  1. Cody Hills, The Villages Daily Sun
  2. Ryan Weiss, The Villages Daily Sun
  3. Jeff Shain, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing – Sports Writing, Class B-C

  1. Brandon Wolf, Wyatt Ronan, Embrace Magazine
  2. Henry Frederick Headline Surfer

Writing Travel and Tourism Writing, Class A

  1. Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine, the Sun Sentinel
  2. Michael Salerno, The Villages Daily Sun

Writing Travel and Tourism Writing, Class B-C

  1. Joe Capozzi, ByJoeCapozzi.com
  2. Fred W. Wright Jr, Rachel Covello, Sara Giza, Embrace Magazine
  3. Jan Norris, The Coastal Star