UFCJC Student Journalists, Alumni and Staff Honored in 2024 SPJ Sunshine State Awards Competition
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) students, alumni and staff from WUFT News, Fresh Take Florida, Atrium Magazine and The Independent Florida Alligator were honored in the 2024 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards. The awards recognize outstanding journalism produced in 2023. UFCJC students, staff and alumni received 11 first place and seven finalist honors in the professional and college competitions.
Winners in the professional division include:
- Digital Online Package: Winner, “The Price of Plenty,” WUFT Staff.
- Outstanding New Journalist: Finalist, Julia Cooper, B.S. Journalism 2023.
Winners in the college division include:
- College Photojournalist of the Year: Winner, Valentina Sarmiento, B.S. Journalism 2023, The Independent Florida Alligator, WUFT News, Atrium Magazine and WRUF Sarmiento photo collection.
- Student Publication: Winner, Atrium Magazine Winter 2023, UFCJC Staff and Students.
- College website: Winner, Atrium Magazine, UFCJC Staff and Students.
- In-Depth Reporting: Winner, “The Price of Plenty,” WUFT Staff.
- In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, Silas Morgan, B.S. Journalism 2024, Redondo Condo? GOP Candidate Wins State House Race in South Florida Amid Questions Over District Residency,” Fresh Take Florida.
- Breaking news: Finalist, Jack Lemnus, B.S. Journalism 1023, “Idalia Survivor of Storm’s Fury Near Landfall: ‘Don’t Ever Want to Go Through That Again,” Fresh Take Florida.
- Serious Feature: Winner, Troy Myers, “Underage Drinking in a College Town, How Strictly Should Police, Prosecutors Enforce Laws?,” Fresh Take Florida.
- Serious Feature: Finalist, Heather Bushman, B.S. Journalism 2023, “I’d Never Seen a Gun Before. Days Later, I Fired One,” Atrium Magazine.
- Serious Feature: Finalist, Abigail Hasebroock, B.S. Journalism 2023, “Shifting Sands” from “Living on the Edge” project, WUFT.
- Light Feature: Winner, Journalism junior Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira, “Liquid Bodies, Soft Hearts,” Atrium Magazine.
- Sports Story: Winner, Journalism junior Aidan Bush, “New Group Emerges to Pay UF Athletes; Gator Collective Dissolves After Mishandled QB Deal,” Fresh Take Florida.
- Front Page Design: Winner, Journalism junior Matthew Cupelli, Atrium Magazine.
- Coverage of Race & Underrepresented Communities: Winner, Alan Halaly, B.S. Journalism 2024, “When the Storm Hits” from “The Price of Plenty,” WUFT.
- Coverage of Race & Underrepresented Communities: Finalist, Kylie Williams, B.S. Journalism 2024, “Finding Hope in a Broken Nation,” Atrium Magazine.
- General News Story: Finalist, Lucille Lannigan, B.S. Journalism 2023, “Radioactive Roads? Environmentalists Want Brakes on Florida Plan to Reuse Toxic Mining Waste,” Fresh Take Florida.
- Human Interest Story: Winner, Kylie Williams, “Finding Hope in a Broken Nation,” Atrium Magazine.
The SPJ Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards are presented in partnership with the National Association of Hispanic Journalists – South Florida Chapter, the National Association of Black Journalists – South Florida Chapter, NLGJA: The Association of LGBTQ Journalists, the Asian American Journalists Association – Florida Chapter and Diversify Photo. The awards were presented at the Hollywood Central Performing Arts Center in Hollywood, Florida on Aug. 17.
Posted: August 20, 2024
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged as: Atrium Magazine, SPJ Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards, The Independent Florida Alligator, WUFT News
