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 26^th annual Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Sunshine State Awards competition. A total of 14 awards were received in both professional and student divisions for work on radio, television, print and online.

Winners in the Radio professional division include:

First Place: Best Newscast, WUFT NEWS – Henry Coburn and Joe Hastings
Second Place: Public Affairs, WUFT News Staff, “Generation Gunned Down”
Third Place: Best Use of Sound, Taylor Levesque, “Tom Petty Birthday Bash”
Second Place: Education Reporting, Skyler Lebron, “Florida Guardians”

Winners in the student division include:

Finalist: College Journalist of the Year, Skyler Lebron, WUFT News
Second Place: Best Feature Story, Emma Witmer, “Small Town Salvation”
First Place: Best Profile, Gabriella Paul, “Breaking Ground”
Third Place: Best Profile, Katie Hyson, “I Will Not Go Quietly”
First Place: Best Sports Story, Skyler Lebron, “Two Bits”
Second Place: Best Sports Story, Joseph Salvador, The Independent Florida Alligator, “The Last Lap: Pascoe’s Chase for Greatness”
First Place: Best Video, Mackenzie Behm, “Reverend Without a Church”
First Place: Best Multimedia Feature, The Independent Florida Alligator Staff, “It Never Gets Easier: A Year After Parkland, Communities Grieve and the State Debates”
Second Place: Best Coverage of Race and Minorities, Valentina Cruz, WUFT Noticias, “Viviendo en la Oscuridad”

The Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards recognized the best in Florida journalism in 2019. The winners were announced in a virtual awards ceremony on Aug. 15.

Posted: August 17, 2020
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged as: SPJ Sunshine State Awards