2024 Sunshine State Award winners (2024)

Awards were presented in a ceremony at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center, Hollywood, Fla., on Aug. 17, 2024…

SPECIAL AWARDS

James Batten Award for Public Service

Winner: The Palm Beach Post – Antigone Barton, Florida Shuffle: State’s failure to oversee addiction treatment leaves
patients in deadly danger
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Investigative Team, Condo Wars
Finalist: The Tributary – Nichole Manna, Deaths in the Duval County jail

Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting

Winner: CBS News Miami – Jim DeFede, Warehoused: The Life and Death of Tristin Murphy
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Douglas Soule, Elena Barrera, Voter Vindication
Finalist: WLRN News – Daniel Rivero, Joshua Ceballos, Jessica Bakeman & Sergio Bustos, Unguarded

NABJ South Florida Diversity Award

Winner: Miami Herald – Jacqueline Charles, Jacqueline Charles Collection
Finalist: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow, Hearing What’s Unheard

Barbara A. Petersen Freedom of Information Award

Winner: Miami Herald – Sarah Blaskey, Shakedown City
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Douglas Soule, The First Amendment Beat with Douglas Soule
Finalist: WLRN News – Daniel Rivero, Joshua Ceballos, Jessica Bakeman & Sergio Bustos, Unguarded

Journalist of the Year

Winner: WLRN News – Kate Payne, Kate Payne reporting portfolio
Finalist: Embrace Magazine – John Sotomayor, John Sotomayor Collection

Anchor of the Year

No Awards

Photojournalist of the Year

Winner: Tallahassee Democrat – Alicia Devine, In the Moment with Alicia Devine
Finalist: WFTS-TV – Matthew Apthorp, Matthew Apthorp: Photojournalist

Outstanding New Journalist

Winner: Tampa Bay Times – Olivia George, Olivia George Collection
Finalist: WUSF – Nancy Guan, Nancy Guan Collection
Finalist: WLRN News – Julia Cooper, Julia Cooper Reporting portfolio

Editor of the Year

Winner: Oviedo Community News – Megan Stokes, Megan Stokes Editor of the Year
Finalist: Embrace Magazine – John Sotomayor, John Sotomayor Collection
Finalist: WLRN News – Sergio Bustos, Sergio Bustos portfolio

Social Justice Reporting

Winner: Miami Herald – Ben Wieder, Shirsho Dasgupta, Sheridan Wall & Amelia Winger, The Foreclosure Franchise
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Laurence Reisman, Never give up
Finalist: WLRN News – Joshua Ceballos, Joshua Ceballos reporting portfolio

PRINT & DIGITAL WRITING

Breaking News Reporting

Winner: LkldNow – Kimberly C. Moore, Lakeland Mass Shooting and Fallout
Finalist: Florida Times-Union – Teresa Stepzinski, Jacksonville Dollar General shooting
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Jeff Burlew, Ana Goni-Lessan, Elena Barrera & Ryan Truchelut, Hurricane Idalia
Incoming

Non-Deadline News Reporting – Short Form

No Awards

Non-Deadline News Reporting – Long Form

Winner: The News-Press & Naples Daily News – Dan Glaun, Katie Baunach’s ex-husband killed her, prosecutors say.
The justice system let it happen
Finalist: Center for Public Integrity, Columbia Journalism Investigations & Futuro Media – Staff, Toxic Labor
Finalist: Florida Trend – Robyn A. Friedman, Towering Uncertainty

Serious Feature Reporting – Short Form

No Awards

Serious Feature Reporting – Long Form

Winner: Florida Trend – Robyn A. Friedman, Towering Uncertainty
Finalist: FORUM – The Magazine of Florida Humanities – Craig Pittman, Gatorland
Finalist: Sarasota Magazine – Isaac Eger, Once Upon a Time in Florida

Light Feature Reporting – Short Form

Winner: Orlando Sentinel – Amy Drew Thompson, At 73, Bruce Springsteen proves it all night at Amway Center
Finalist: Orlando Sentinel – Patrick Connolly, ‘It’s letting go’: Orlando watercolor artist creates ‘sea pours’ with
ocean’s help

Light Feature Reporting – Long Form

Winner: Winter Park Magazine – Bob Kealing, Seeing Stars
Finalist: Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, The Wind Phone
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Howard Cohen, Jimmy Buffett and Key West

Series

Winner: Center for Public Integrity, Columbia Journalism Investigations & Futuro Media – Janelle Retka, Samantha
McCabe, Jiahui Huang & María Inés Zamudio, Toxic Labor
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Shira Moolten, Outside the Fence: Lead emissions at South Florida airports
series
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Ana Claudia Chacin, Michelle Marchante, Nicholas Nehamas & Jay Weaver, Jackson
suspends adult heart transplants

General Commentary & Criticism

Winner: VoxPopuli – Norine Dworkin, What happens when Mayor John Rees violates the city charter?
Finalist: Orlando Sentinel – Scott Maxwell, Scott Maxwell Commentary Collection
Finalist: Out South Florida – Jason Parsley, Pride; Tragedy & HIV

Arts & Culture Commentary & Criticism

Winner: Orlando Sentinel – Matthew J. Palm, Matthw J. Palm Collection
Finalist: Miami New Times, Artburst – Douglas Markowitz, Douglas Markowitz Collection
Finalist: The Coastal Star / Palm Beach ArtsPaper – Sharon Geltner, Sharon Geltner Collection

Sports Commentary

Winner: Florida Times-Union – Gene Frenette, Gene Frenette sports commentary
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Dave Hyde, Dave Hyde Columns
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Ehsan Kassim, The Columns of Ehsan Kassim

Profile Reporting

Winner: The Miami Herald – Linda Robertson, Linda Robertson on Joe Carollo
Finalist: Miami Herald – Aaron Leibowitz, Biting, berating, racist language: Basabe has faced many claims of bad
behavior
Finalist: Winter Park Magazine – Greg Dawson, Hard News

Obituary Reporting

Winner: Winter Park Magazine – Michael McLeod, Laurence J. Ruggieo
Finalist: The Miami Herald – Howard Cohen, Jeannett Slesnick obit
Finalist: The Palm Beach Post – Valentina Palm, Remembering Michelle Damone: ‘Firecracker’ fought cancer, led
Acreage with a lively touch

Election Reporting

Winner: Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Zac Anderson, The Rise and Fall of Ron DeSantis for President
Finalist: Sarasota Herald-Tribune – Zac Anderson, DeSantis Accountability Reporting

Data Reporting

Winner: Tampa Bay Times – Ian Hodgson, Florida schools got hundreds of book complaints — mostly from 2 people
Finalist: Orlando Sentinel – Cristóbal Reyes, A question of evidence: Did deposed Orange-Osceola state attorney
deserve blame for failed drug trafficking cases?
Finalist: The News-Press & Naples Daily News – Kate Cimini, Over 250 cases of sex abuse reported in Florida
schools; under 60 Title IX complaints filed

Editorial Writing

Winner: Miami Herald – Isadora Rangel, Miami Dysfunction
Finalist: Miami Herald – Amy Driscoll, Isadora Rangel, Luisa Yanez & Nancy Ancrum, Altered State

Editorial Cartooning

Winner: Palm Beach Daily News – David Willson, Palm Beach Daily News Editorial Cartoons
Finalist: ACAMS Today – Karla Monterrosa-Yancey, Ed Beemer & Grant Brownrigg, SARsNStrips

Hyperlocal Reporting

• Winner: Florida Politics – Mike Wright, Mike Wright collection
• Finalist: Key Biscayne Independent – John Pacenti & Tony Winton, Fraud at EmeraldBay Condominum
• Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Ananya Tiwari & Cheryl Smith, Fuel Farm

Human Interest Story

• Winner: FORUM – the Magazine of Florida Humanities – Robert Plunket, The Way of the Trailer
• Finalist: Embrace Magazine – John Sotomayor, Heroism Overpowers Hate
• Finalist: Tampa Bay Times – Lane DeGregory, Beneath the bridge …

Blog Writing

• Winner: Refresh Miami – Riley Kaminer, Riley Kaminer’s Coverage of Miami’s Tech/Startup Scene
• Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Tom Bayles, Tom Bayles’ Water Quality Report

Special Publication or Section

• Winner: FORUM – The Magazine of Florida Humanities – Pam Daniel, David Meek, A Taste of Florida
• Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Brian Bandell, Erik Bojnansky, Eman Elshahawy & Ashley Portero, Special
Section – Marine Industry
• Finalist: Winter Park Magazine – “Randy Noles, Living in Winter Park

Trade or Special Interest Publication

• Winner: Embrace Magazine – John Sotomayor & Staff, Embrace Magazine Hero Issue
• Finalist: The South Florida Sun Sentinel & Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Explore Florida & the Caribbean
• Finalist: Winter Park Magazine – Randy Noles, ArtsLife

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

Breaking News Photography

Winner: The Palm Beach Post – Greg Lovett, Hurricane Idalia aftermath
Finalist: Miami Herald – Jose A. Iglesias, Mexican actor gets five years for fatal punch
Finalist: Virgin Islands Daily News – Kit MacAvoy, St. Thomas residents hold vigil for homicide victim

Feature Photography

Winner: Miami Herald – Pedro Portal, Miami pediatrician is working to keep kids healthy
Finalist: Aventura Magazine – Luca Martinez, Deep Focus
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Amy Beth Bennett, Boca Raton condo marks a milestone, is first to receive Palm
Beach County building recertification since the Surfside collapse

Portrait/Personality

Winner: Florida Times-Union – Corey Perrine, Corey Perrine portraits
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Alicia Devine, Damon Miller: A Black Life on the Blue Line

Photography Story

Winner: Miami Herald – Carl Juste, Black 30 and Under
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Crystal Vander Weit, Widow Finds New Love in Florida Ocean
Finalist: TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers – Crystal Vander Weit, Living with Long COVID

Sports Photography

Winner: Tallahassee Democrat – Alicia Devine, Hurdling meets FSU Football
Finalist: Miami Herald – Matias J. Ocner, Japan wins the 2023 World Baseball Classic
Finalist: Miami Herald – Al Diaz, Dolphins’ Raheem Mostert leaps over Panthers’ CJ Henderson

Art/Photo Illustration

Winner: FORUM – the Magazine of Florida Humanities – Regan Dunnick, Way of the Trailer
Finalist: FORUM – The Magazine of Florida Humanities – Joel Haynes, A Taste of Florida
Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Jake Stevens, Art/Photo Illustration

Infographics & Data Visualization

Winner: WLRN News – Jenny Staletovich, Laura Kurtzberg & Patrick Farrell, Bright Lit Place
Finalist: South Florida Business Journal – Jake Stevens, Infographics & Data Visualization

Newspaper Front Page Design

Winner: South Florida Business Journal – Jake Stevens, Front Page Design – Jake Stevens
Finalist: Florida Courier – Angela Van Emmerik, Florida Courier, Sharing Black Life Statewide

Magazine Cover Design

Winner: Edible South Florida – Levi Ellenby, Andrea Hernandez & Russell Beans, Edible South Florida 2023 Covers
Finalist: Embrace Magazine – Jamie Mark, Josh Clark, Rheya Tanner & Wendy Mak, Embrace Magazine Cover
Collection
Finalist: Winter Park Magazine – Carolyn Edmonds, Covers

Magazine Inside Design

Winner: Lynn University – Michael Crary, Scott LeBlanc & Emily Nagle, LYNKD Magazine Best Inside Design
Finalist: Aventura Magazine – Ashley Meyer, Down on the Farm
Finalist: Distraction – Staff, Distraction’s Recent Designs

Magazine Issue

Winner: Lynn University – Michael Crary, Scott LeBlanc, Emily Nagle & Cesar Santalo, LYNKD Magazine
Finalist: Embrace Magazine – John Sotomayor and staff, Embrace Magazine Hero Issue
Finalist: Embrace Magazine – John Sotomayor and staff, Embrace Magazine Travel Issue

TELEVISION & VIDEO

TV or Video Newscast

Winner: 10 Tampa Bay – Amanda Cordero, Natalie Ferrari & Bobby Deskins, Hurricane Idalia Preparations

Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Staff, Your Morning News

Finalist: WVEN-TV – Staff, Noticias Univision Orlando 6PMInvestigative Reporting – Single Report

Winner: WVEA – Mariángeles Muňoz, School Bullying Ponce de Leon Elementary
Finalist: WPTV – Dave Bohman and Jim Sitton, Port St. Lucie Properties

Investigative Reporting – Series

Winner: WFTS/ABC Action News – Adam Walser, Matt McGlashen, Randy Wright & Melanie Payne, Failure to Protect
Finalist: WFTS-TV – Katie LaGrone & Matthew Apthorp, The Impact Check
Finalist: WPTV – Dave Bohman & Jim Sitton, Liened into Debt

Spot News Reporting

Winner: WJAX-TV/WFOX-TV – Tenikka Smith Hughes, FAA System Outage
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Chloe Sparks, River Camps Fires

Breaking News

Winner: Orlando Sentinel – Rich Pope & Matthew J. Palm, Orlando Museum of Art: Timeline of a scandal
Finalist: 10 Tampa Bay – Amanda Cordero, Natalie Ferrari, Malique Rankin & Shannon Clowe, Tornadoes Touch Down
in Tampa Bay
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Staff, Pine Hills Deadly Shooting

General Assignment Report

Winner: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Cait McVey & Amanda Salvucci, NAACP Travel Advisory: Don’t Give up on Florida
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Jake Holter, Michael Johnson Fraud
Finalist: WVEA – Mariángeles Muňoz, School Bullying Hillsborough School District

Continuing Coverage or Series

Winner: WFTS/ABC Action News – Adam Walser, Melanie Payne & Randy Wright, The Price of Protection– Traci
Hudson
Finalist: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow, Saving Sacred Ground
Finalist: WVEA-TV – Staff, State Law SB 1718

Special Reporting

Winner: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow, Battle Over Black History
Finalist: WESH 2 News – Staff, Saving Our Streets
Finalist: WINK News – Andryanna Sheppard & Erik Randlov, Homeowners Insurance collection

Government, Politics & Election Reporting

Winner: WUCF-TV PBS ORLANDO – Krystel Knowles, Felon Voters Facing Voting Uncertainty
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Jack Hull, Mayor Rohan’s Conduct
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Tom Lewis, Short Circuiting the 14th Judicial Circuit

Environment, Science & Technology Reporting

Winner: WFSU Public Media – Rob Diaz de Villegas, How to protect Florida coasts from storm surge
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Cait McVey & Amanda Salvucci, Florida Strong: Regrowing Sanibel
Finalist: WUCF-TV PBS ORLANDO – Krystel Knowles, Malaria Spreads Throughout Florida

Health Reporting

Winner: WUCF – Krystel Knowles, Mosquito-Borne Illnesses
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Kimber Collins, Hospital to return to DeFuniak Springs
Finalist: WUCF-TV PBS ORLANDO – Krystel Knowles, Is It My Body My Choice? Post Roe v. Wade

Light Feature Reporting

Winner: WSVN – Darcelle Hall & Anthony Pineda, 7 Spotlight: Sophia Lacroix
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Erin Murray & Timothy F. Kania, Journi 4 Two

Serious Feature Reporting

Winner: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow & Gene Yagle, Chandra’s Gambl
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Cait McVey & Amanda Salvucci, Florida Strong: Regrowing Sanibel
Finalist: WPBF 25 – Angela Rozier & Carlo Pellegrino, Amazon Driver Survives Eastern Rattlesnake Bite

Sports Reporting

Winner: WTSP-TV – Emerald Morrow, Trop Troubles
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Sam Granville, HS Football Altercation
Finalist: WPEC – Robert Garon, 2024 Daytona 500

Weather Reporting

Winner: WVEN-TV – Staff, Hurricane Idalia
Finalist: Spectrum Bay News 9 – Staff, Hurricane Idalia Landfall
Finalist: WMBB-TV – Staff, April Severe Weather

Non-Newscast Program

Winner: Noticias Telemundo – José Luis Osuna, Victoria Albanesi, Ronny Rojas & Damia Bonmati, The business of
truckers smuggling migrants into the U.S.
Finalist: Spectrum News 13 – Tammie Fields, Tony Rojek & Joh Ficurilli, Black History Month: Exploring Florida’s
History
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Staff, Unwelcome to Florida

Video – Short Form

Winner: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Carline Jean, Sean Pitts & Ben Crandell, Fort Lauderdale’s famed Day of the
Dead festival returns on Saturday — here’s why it almost didn’t happen
Finalist: South Florida Sun Sentinel – Mike Stocker, Sean Pitts & Ben Crandell, Got your rats ready, Panthers fans?
Here’s why we throw ‘em (and the local guy who started it all)

Video – Long Form

Winner: The Washington Post – Drea Cornejo & Jayne Orenstein, The women racing to stop America’s maternal
mortality crisis
Finalist: ABC Action News – Kylie McGivern, Randy Wright & Melanie Payne, Twice Forgotten: Grandmother’s neglect
leads to children’s deaths
Finalist: The Washington Post – Drea Cornejo, How Florida’s abortion ban is leaving one family in agony

RADIO & AUDIO

Radio or Audio Newscast

• Winner: WLRN News – Staff, Newscast: Hurricane Idalia prep, Suarez drops out, Haitian Creole in Lake Worth school
• Finalist: WJCT News 89.9 – Michelle Corum & Steven Ponson, Morning Edition Newscast 10-27-2023
• Finalist: WUSF – Craig Kopp, Morning Edition May 17, 2023

Podcast

Winner: WLRN News – Jenny Staletovich, Rowan Moore Gerety, Merritt Jacob & Patrick Farrell, Bright Lit Place
Finalist: Naples Daily News, The News-Press & WGCU Public Media – Staff, The Last Ride
Finalist: WUSF – Matthew Peddie, Dinorah Prevost & Scott Wachtler, Our Changing State

General Coverage

Winner: WFSU Public Media – Regan McCarthy, An unhoused Tallahassee woman lifted the hearts of hundreds. Betty
Scott is remembered
Finalist: WFSU Public Media – Adrian Andrews, Florida State wraps up homecoming week in style
Finalist: WUSF – Cathy Carter & Meghan Bowman, New College of Florida Collection

Investigative Reporting

No Awards

Government, Politics & Election Reporting

Winner: WUSF – Cathy Carter & Kerry Sheridan, Sarasota County School Board Collection

Serious Feature Reporting

Winner: Central Florida Public Media – Lillian Hernández Caraballo, A woman’s story reflects the rise of
homelessness in Central Florida
Finalist: WUSF – Stephanie Colombini, As Florida Bills Distress Transgender Community, One Teen Flees For A Better
Life
Finalist: WUSF – Gabriella Paul, Is It Worth Fighting An Eviction? One Tampa Renter Says It Left Her Worse Off

Serious Feature Reporting

Winner: WUSF – Cathy Carter, Disney’s Live Action ‘Little Mermaid’ Makes Splash With Young Black Girls
Finalist: WLRN News – Alyssa Ramos, Alyssa Ramos feature reporting portfolio

Public Affairs

Winner: WLRN News & LAist – Staff, WLRN, LAist simulcast conversation on DeSantis-Newsom debate
Finalist: WUSF – Matthew Peddie & Steve Newborn, Southwest Florida’s Babco*ck Ranch Offers Lessons In Resilience
And Sustainability

Environment, Science & Technology Reporting

Winner: WUSF – Jessica Meszaros, Jessica Meszaros Collection
Finalist: WGCU Public Media – Tom Bayles, Tom Bayles Collection
Finalist: WUSF – Steve Newborn, Steve Newborn Collection

Health Reporting

Winner: WUSF – Health News Florida – Stephanie Colombini, Stephanie Colombini Collection
Finalist: Central Florida Public Media – Joe Mario Pedersen, Fighting for care in Florida
Finalist: WFSU Public Media – Regan McCarthy, Florida’s abortion laws protect a pregnant person’s life, but not for
mental health

Continuing Coverage or Series

Winner: WUSF – Stephanie Colombini, Growing Up With Guns
Finalist: Central Florida Public Media – Central Florida Public Media Staff, Central Florida Seen & Heard: Immigration
Divide
Finalist: WUSF – Gabriella Paul, Three-Day Notice: Tampa Bay’s Growing Eviction Crisis

Education Reporting

Winner: WUSF – Kerry Sheridan, Kerry Sheridan Collection
Finalist: Central Florida Public Media – Danielle Prieur, Education Collection

Arts Reporting

Winner: WUSF – Cathy Carter, Cathy Carter Collection

DIGITAL

News Website (Small Newsroom)

Winner: Noticias Telemundo – Staff, Noticias Telemundo website
Finalist: The Tributary – Andrew Pantazi, Nichole Manna & Charlie McGee, The Tributary
Finalist: WUSF – Carl Lisciandrello, Gabriella Pinos & Rick Mayer, WUSF.ORG

News Website (Large Newsroom)

Winner: Book Trib – Aurora Dominguez, BookTrib Collection (Interviews and Reviews)
Finalist: Lifestyle Media Group – Aurora Dominguez, Travel Stories (Lifestyle Media Group and South Florida Business
and Wealth)

Multimedia Feature

Winner: Noticias Telemundo – Staff, An accident changed her life. Undocumented and uninsured, her only option left
was to return to Mexico
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo / NBC News – Anagilmara Vilchez, José Luis Osuna, Victoria Albanesi & Bruno García,
She’ll be the first Afro Latina on a U.S. quarter. Here’s Celia Cruz, remembered
Finalist: WFSU Public Media – Alexander Campbell & Freddie Hall, Spotlight | Matthew “briteso” Forrest

Online Package

Winner: WUFT – Staff, The Price of Plenty
Finalist: Spectrum News – Anthony Leone, Twin sonic booms heard after NASA launches Psyche mission
Finalist: Tallahassee Democrat – Alicia Devine & Kim Luciani, Black Lives in the Blue Line

Infographics & Data Visualization

Winner: The Real Deal – Katherine Kallergis & Adam Farence, MAP: Where certain foreign buyers will be banned from
buying South Florida real estate
Finalist: Univision News Digital – Amaya Verde, Javier Figueroa, The Oldest Senate in History: Two-Thirds of its
Members Surpass Retirement Age
Finalist: Univision News Digital – Javier Figueroa, Amaya Verde & Mariana Rambaldi, Guide to the Trials Against
Trump: his Cases as President, Businessman, or Citizen

New Media Engagement

Winner: WMBB-TV – Staff, 13NOW

E-newsletter

Winner: The Real Deal – Katherine Kallergis, The Weekly Dirt
Finalist: Axios & Noticias Telemundo – Marina E. Franco (Noticias Telemundo), Astrid Galván and Russell Contreras
(Axios), Axios Latino Collection
Finalist: Stet News – Joel Engelhardt, Carolyn DiPaolo & Pat Beall, Stet News

SPANISH LANGUAGE

Mejor trabajo de investigación en televisión/radio

Winner: Univision Tampa – Filippo Ferretti, La otra cara de la inmigracion
Finalist: WTMO-TV – Valezka Gil-Wester, Raúl Díaz, Emilio Ramos & Luis Millán, ¿Qué pasa con el récord de un
inquilino que fue desalojado en Florida?

Mejor trabajo de investigación en prensa escrita/digital

Winner: Noticias Telemundo – Staff, Camioneros: el negocio mortal de los tráilers con migrantes

Mejor reportaje especial (features) en televisión/radio/video/podcast

Winner: Univision News Digital – Landybel Pérez & Roser Toll, ¿Cómo hace EEUU para encontrar a los padres de los
niños que separó en la frontera?
Finalist: Despierta América / Univisión – Astrid Rivera, 78 pueblos y una bandera; honrando la muerte a traves del
arte
Finalist: Univisión / Despierta América – Astrid Rivera, De profesor a “agricultor de sonrisas”: se gana la vida
disfrazado de un personaje de ‘Coco’

Mejor reportaje especial en prensa escrita/medio digital

Winner: Univision News Digital – Staff, Ley Migratoria SB 1718 en Florida: Cinco historias sobre cómo ha cambiado la
vida de familias con inmigrantes indocumentados
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo – Ronny Rojas, Staff, Un accidente le cambió la vida. Indocumentada y sin seguro
médico, su única opción fue regresar a México
Finalist: Univision News Digital – Patricia Clarembaux & Javier Figueroa, “No sé cómo vivir sin ti”: Un año de dolor y
lucha política contra las armas en Uvalde

Mejor cobertura de noticias de última hora (breaking news) en televisión/radio/digital

Winner: Noticias Telemundo – Ronny Rojas, Damia Bonmati, Bruno Garcia & Marta Planells, Hallan muerta a la
soldado latina Ana Basaldua
Finalist: Univision News Digital – Patricia Vélez, Serie de Patricia Vélez sobre la pelea por el techo de la deuda en el
Congreso
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Staff, Pine Hills Deadly Shooting

Periodista del año en televisión/radio

Winner: Noticias Telemundo – Damià Bonmatí, Damia Bonmati Collection
Finalist: WTMO-TV – Valezka Gil, Valezka Gil – Investigaciones que afectan a mi comunidad

Periodista del año en prensa escrita/digital

Winner: Univision Noticias Digital – Isaías Alvarado, Colección Isaías Alvarado
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo – Ronny Rojas, Ronny Rojas Collection
Finalist: Noticias Telemundo – Anagilmara Vilchez, Anagilmara Vilchez Collection

Mejor infografía y/o visualización de dato

Winner: Univision News Digital – Javier Figueroa, Amaya Verde & Mariana Rambaldi, Guía de los juicios contra Trump:
sus casos como presidente, empresario o ciudadano
Finalist: Univision News Digital – Amaya Verde & Javier Figueroa, En mapas e imágenes: dónde y cómo Israel ha
golpeado a Gaza
Finalist: Univision News Digital – Amaya Verde & Javier Figueroa, El Senado más viejo de la historia: dos tercios de
sus miembros superan la edad de jubilación

Mejor infografía y/o visualización de dato

Winner: WTMO Telemundo 31 Orlando – Arnulfo Peralta Solis, Un año del Huracán Ian
Finalist: WVEN-TV – Staff, Hurricane Idalia

Mejor cobertura de desastres naturales en prensa escrita/digital

No Awards

Mejor trabajo estudiantil (todo tipo de medios)

Winner: Caplin News – Jeronimo Mura & Pamela Correa, Bateyes Dominicanos: ¿Cómo es el lugar donde se produce
el azúcar prohibido por EE.UU. y por qué es un fenómeno en crecimiento?
Finalist: Caplin News – Alejandro Sanchez, Ruta sur: 3 historias de migrantes africanos en Uruguay (incluye video)
Finalist: Florida International University – yery Lorena Alvarez, Hay avances prometedores en las pruebas clínicas
contra el cáncer, pero la comunidad hispana se queda atrás

COLLEGE

College Journalist of the Year

Winner: UNF School of Communication – Inside Jacksonville – Carter Mudgett, Inside Jacksonville-Compilation
Finalist: OutFAU – Mary Rasura, Mary Rasura, Collection
Finalist: UNF School of Communication – Inside Swoop – Maddie Leonard, Inside Swoop in 90-Inside Swoop Scoop

College Photojournalist of the Year

Winner: The Independent Florida Alligator, WUFT News, Atrium Magazine & WRUF – Valentina Sarmiento, Daron
Dean, John Freeman, Claire Grunewald & Staff, Valentina Sarmiento College Photo Collection

Adviser of the Year

Winner: UMTV – Boriana Treadwell, UMTV Adviser: Boriana Treadwell
Finalist: FIU Student Media – The Roar & PantherNOW – Alfred Soto, Advisor of the Year

Student Publication

Winner: Atrium Magazine – University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications – Staff, Atrium Magazine
Winter 2023
Finalist: The Current Newspaper – Nova Southeastern University – Bryce Johnson, Nicole Shaker & Brielle Aguayo,
The Current Newspaper
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Staff, The Miami Hurricane Newspaper

Student Broadcast Outlet

Winner: UMTV – UMTV Staff, UMTV: Student Broadcast Outlet
Finalist: Caplin News – Staff, 2023 FIU News Clips
Finalist: UNF School of Communication – Inside Swoop – Ken Thomas & Staff, Inside Swoop Scoop & Inside Swoop in

Website

Winner: Atrium Magazine – Staff, Website
Finalist: Caplin News – Staff, Caplin News
Finalist: Mako News – Nova Southeastern University – Ana Sofia Aguiar Azambuja, Mako News Website

In-Depth Reporting

Winner: WUFT – Staff, The Price of Plenty
Finalist: Caplin News – Samuel Larreal, Amelia Orjuela Da Silva & Kylie Hannigan, Great escape: Venezuelans Head
North to Uncertainty Series
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Silas Morgan, Redondo condo? GOP candidate wins state House race in South Florida
amid questions over district residency

Breaking News Story

Winner: The Miami Hurricane – Caroline Val, UPurr leads animal cruelty investigation after 6 cat injuries, 9 deaths
over past year on campus
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Jack Lemnus, Idalia survivor of storm’s fury near landfall: ‘Don’t ever want to go through
that again’
Finalist: PantherNOW – Elise Gregg, Hoax shooter alert briefly interrupts MMC activity during commencements and
Hemispheric Security Conference

News Photo

Winner: WANM-FM 90.5 – Sydney Dorsey-Rencher, Students Rally Against House Bill 999 in Florida
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Alexandra Fisher, Hug the Lake

Profile

Winner: The Miami Hurricane – Andrew McCleskey, How UM singer Jasmine Harris — granddaughter of ‘60s folk
music icon Joan Baez — is finding her own voice
Finalist: Distraction – Andrew McCleskey, Marita Gavioti & Sharron Lou, Travian
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – Sydney Preston, Flagler alum discovered his purpose in giving chimps a second
chance at life

Review

Winner: FSView & Florida Flambeau – Dulce Ordonez, Women at War’: MoFA unveils exhibition on Russia-Ukraine
conflict
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Faith Jimenez, Ring Theatre’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” is a comedy for
serious people

Serious Feature

Winner: Fresh Take Florida – Troy Myers, Underage drinking in a college town: How strictly should police, prosecutors
enforce laws?
Finalist: Atrium Magazine – Heather Bushman, I’d never seen a gun before. Days later, I fired one.
Finalist: WUFT News – Abigail Hasebroock, Shifting Sands

Light Feature

Winner: Atrium Magazine – Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira, Liquid bodies, soft hearts
Finalist: Caplin News – Rafael Hernandez, Visiting this Kendall man’s arcade is time travel for gamers

Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – Sara Orr, ‘Teach Me a Song:’ Indigenous music and art installation at Crisp

Sports Story

Winner: Fresh Take Florida – Aidan Bush, New group emerges to pay UF athletes; Gator Collective dissolves after
mishandled QB deal
Finalist: PantherNOW – Brian Olmo, Running in circles: Track and field athletes speak out over state of facilities
Finalist: University Press – Mary Rasura, Mental health services for FAU Athletics

Sports Photo

Winner: The Miami Hurricane – Jared Lennon, Reaching for Greatness
Finalist: FAMU Athletics – Sydney Dorsey-Rencher, Touch Down
Finalist: FAMU Athletics – Sydney Dorsey-Rencher, FAMU Women’s Basketball vs Houston

Best Opinion Column

Winner: The Oracle – Marcelene Pilcher, OPINION: ‘Don’t Say Gay’: Do say fascist.
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – Hannah Duffey, Black women in the public eye
Finalist: PantherNOW – Kailey Krantz-Diaz, Why did FIU’s Investiture Ceremony ignore diversity?

Front Page Design

Winner: Atrium Magazine – University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications – Matthew Cupelli, Front
Page Design
Finalist: Distraction – Lizzie Kristal & Charlotte Deangelis, Distraction Winter 2023 Blue Cover
Finalist: PantherNOW – Staff, November 2023 Front Page

Best Inside Page Design

Winner: Lynn University iPulse News – Emily Nagle, LYNKD Magazine – Best Student Inside Design
Finalist: Distraction – Juliana Warnock, Darby Steininger, Sharron Lou & Lizzie Kristal, Blue Jean Baby
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Katie Stute, Roberta Macedo, Lauren Ferrer & Jenny Jacoby, Messi’s Magic Touch

Video

• Winner: UMTV – Anna Coon, The Biggest Airport That Never Was
• Finalist: UMTV – Derryl Barnes, History of the Florida Everglades
• Finalist: UMTV – Embrik Eyles, Oil Drilling and Economy Benefits of the Florida Everglades

Podcast

Winner: Z News – Meghan Bowman, One More Time: A Tribute Podcast to My Mom
Finalist: WANM-FM 90.5 – Halftime with The Playmakers cast, Halftime with The Playmakers ft. Jabari Smith Jr.
Finalist: WANM-FM 90.5 – Jalynn Mcduffey & Janelle Sears, The Streetlights Podcast ft. Tracy Oliver

Multimedia Feature

Winner: Caplin News – Laura Palfrey, Sheetal Bahadursingh & Jasmine Arocha, Life beyond height: Little people’s
struggle to access public buildings
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – Nicholas Leo, Kayla Debrow: The Story Behind The Game
Finalist: USF Z News – Meghan Bowman, One More Time: A Tribute Podcast to My Mom

Coverage of LGBT Issues

Winner: UNF School of Communication – Inside Jacksonville – Carter Mudgett, Inside Jacksonville-River City Lifts The
Rainbow Flag Amid Floridat’s Anti-LGTQ+ Legislative Crackdown
Finalist: The Miami Hurricane – Patrick McCaslin, When identity clashes with aspirations; trying to teach in Florida
Finalist: UMTV Primetime – Isabella Popadiuk, In the Wake of “Don’t Say Gay”

Coverage of Race & Underrepresented Communities

Winner: WUFT.org – Alan Halaly, “When the Storm Hits”
Finalist: Atrium – Kylie Williams, Finding hope in a broken nation
Finalist: Caplin News – Samuel Larreal, Amelia Orjuela Da Silva & Kylie Hannigan, Great escape: Venezuelans Head
North to Uncertainty Series

General News Story

Winner: University Press – Mary Rasura, FAU’s Parking Enforcement
Finalist: Fresh Take Florida – Lucille Lannigan, ‘Radioactive roads’? Environmentalists want brakes on Florida plan to
reuse toxic mining waste
Finalist: The Oracle – Camila Gomez, Some faculty, students consider leaving state due to DEI legislation

Human Interest Story

Winner: Atrium Magazine – Kylie Williams, Finding Hope in a Broken Nation
Finalist: Flagler College Gargoyle – Chloe Smith, Retiree devoted to serving local food-insecure population
Finalist: PantherNOW – Elise Gregg, FIU alumni make New York Times’s Top 50 restaurants

HIGH SCHOOL

High School Journalist of the Year

Winner: CCNN Live – Sebastian Broche, High School Journalist of the Year
Finalist: Bear Truth News – Shaina Kaprow, Shaina Kaprow Collection

2024 Sunshine State Award winners (2024)

SPECIAL AWARDS

PRINT & DIGITAL WRITING

PHOTOGRAPHY & DESIGN

TELEVISION & VIDEO

RADIO & AUDIO

DIGITAL

SPANISH LANGUAGE

COLLEGE

HIGH SCHOOL

References