Eleven University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications student journalists and recent graduates and the editorial staff of The Independent Florida Alligator were honored in the 2024 Florida Society of News Editors (FSNE) Journalism Contest Student Division.

The winners include:

• Breaking News Reporting: First place, Makiya Seminera, B.S. International Studies 2023, Fresh Take Florida, “’Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet:’ DeSantis Touts Making Florida Attractive Destination, Largely Tempers Firebrand Style”
• Breaking News Reporting: Third Place, Journalism junior Gabriel Velasquez Neira, WUFT.org, “Pilot of Small Plane Who Died in Crash Pleaded for Help in Final Moments: ‘I’m Losing Altitude’”
• Enterprise Writing: First place tie, Loren Miranda, S. Journalism 2024, Fresh Take Florida, “Panic in the Plaza: New Videos Show Chaos of Stampede at UF Peace Vigil, Reveal Police Secretly Investigating Suicide-Bomb Threat”
• Enterprise Writing: First place tie, Silas Morgan, S. Journalism 2024, Fresh Take Florida, “Redondo Condo? GOP Candidate Wins State House Race in South Florida Amid Questions Over District Residency”
• Enterprise Writing: Third place, Alligator Editorial Staff, The Independent Florida Alligator “Mind Over Stigma”
• Feature Writing: Second Place, Zachary Carnell, B.S. Journalism 2023, Fresh Take Florida, “Only in Florida? Family’s Pool Shaped Like Six-Shooter Gun”
• Sports: First Place, Journalism senior Aidan Bush, Fresh Take Florida, “New Group Emerges to Pay UF Athletes; Gator Collective Dissolves After Mishandled QB Deal”
• Multimedia: First place, Avery Lotz, B.S. Journalism 2023, WUFT.org, “Unintended: When Playfulness Leads to a Permanent End”
• Multimedia: Second place, Alexis Ashby, B.S. Journalism 2023, WUFT.org, “Behind the Bet”
• Photography: First place, Augustus Hoff, B.S. Journalism 2024, WUFT.org, “The Fall in Photos: 25 of the Best Photos from WUFT’s Photojournalists this Semester”
• Photography: Third place, Journalism senior Ashleigh Lucas, WUFT.org, “Photos: Homecoming Parade Rallies Thousands of Fans”
• Video Storytelling: First place, Alexis Ashby, B.S. Journalism 2023, WUFT.org, “Behind the Bet”
• Video Story telling: Second place, Serra Sowers, B.S. Journalism 2024, WUFT.org, “Here’s a Full Timeline of the Chaos at the Turlington Plaza Vigil for Israel”

The annual competition honors the year’s best journalists. The FSNE awards were presented at the 2024 Florida Media Conference on July 25 in Orlando.

Posted: July 25, 2024
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged as: 2024 FSNE Journalism Contest Student Division, Florida Society of News Editors