University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications student journalists, alumni and staff from WUFT-TV/FM, Noticias WUFT and The Independent Florida Alligator were honored in the 24th annual Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Sunshine State Awards competition. A total of 22 awards were received in both professional and student divisions for work on radio, television, print and online.

Winners in the professional division include:
Second Place: Radio General Coverage, WUFT Staff, “Richard Spencer Coverage”
Second Place: Radio Feature Reporting, Luke Sullivan, “When the Lights Go Out, and Stay Out”
Third Place: Radio Public Affairs, WUFT Multimedia News Manager Ryan Vasquez, “After Irma: What’s Next for Florida?”
Third Place: Digital Multimedia Feature, UF CJC Staff, “Cuba: Outside In”
Third Place: Digital Package, WUFT.org Staff, “Energy Burden”
First Place: Digital Online Video – 3 Minutes or Longer: Andrea Cornejo, “Beyond Gender”
First Place: Spanish Language – Mejor trabajo estudiantil – todo tipo de medios, Nicole Segini, Sofia Miller, Clara Garcia, Alessandra Mayr, “Noticias WUFT”

Winners in the student division include:
First Place: College Journalist of the Year, Andrea Cornejo, “Andrea Cornejo Portfolio”
Second Place: College Journalist of the Year, Ethan Bauer, “Ethan Bauer Collection”
Third Place: College Journalist of the Year, Alexa Lorenzo, “Alexa Lorenzo body of work”
Third Place: Best Student Publication, The Independent Florida Alligator
Second Place: Best Student Feature Story, Ethan Bauer, “Into the Void”
First Place: Best Student Profile, Briana Erickson, “Two Veterans, Two Wars”
Second Place: Best Student Profile, Luke Sullivan, “Vivian Filer”
Third Place: Best Student Profile, Ethan Bauer, “Her Decision”
First Place: Best Student Video, Andrea Cornejo, “Strength in the Storm”
Second Place: Best Student Video, Ramsey Touchberry, “Gainesville Residents React to Thursday Speech Event on Campus”
First Place: Best Student Multimedia Feature, Andrea Cornejo, “Beyond Gender”
Third Place: Best Student Multimedia Feature, WUFT News Staff, “Our Gainesville”
First Place: Best Student Coverage of LGBT Issues, WUFT News, Andrea Cornejo, “Beyond Gender”
First Place: Best Student Disaster Reporting, Grace King, Janae Muchmore, Luke Sullivan, Erin O’Halloran, “Hurricane Irma Aftermath”
Second Place: Best Student Disaster Reporting, Andrea Cornejo, “Strength in the Storm”

The Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards recognizes the best in Florida journalism. Out-of-state journalists chose first, second, and third place honors in each category. The winners were announced at the 2018 Sunshine State Awards ceremony on Aug. 4 in Miami.

Posted: August 10, 2018
Category: College News, Student News
Tagged as: SPJ Sunshine State Awards