University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications student journalists, alumni and WUFT News staff were honored in the Region 3 2020 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence (MOE) Awards competition. The awards recognize the best collegiate journalism in Region 3 which comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Winners and finalists include:
General News Reporting: Finalist, Sophie Feinberg, “School Bus Drivers Feel Endangered During COVID-19 Pandemic”
Editorial Writing: Winner, Zachariah Chou, The Independent Florida Alligator’s COVID-19 editorials
Radio News Reporting: Finalist, Meleah Lyden and Alex DeLuca, “Bad Ballots”
Radio Feature: Finalist, Anthony Montalto, “Election Memorabilia”
Radio Feature, Finalist, Chris O’Brien, “Faith is Not the Building”
Radio In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, Valerie Lyons, “Residents Rally as Decision Nears on Seven Springs’ Request to Pump from Ginnie Springs”

Radio Sports Reporting: Winner, Gabriela Mercurio, “Pink Dragon Ladies”
Television Breaking News Reporting: Finalist, WUFT student staff, “Pandemic vs. Sports”
Television General News Reporting: Winner, Hasley Pitman, “Ocoee Massacre”
Television Feature Reporting: Winner, Chris O’Brien, “Faith is Not the Building”
Television In-Depth Reporting: Winner, Chris O’Brien, “4 Days, 5 Murders”
Television Sports Reporting: Winner, Victor Prieto, “Beyond the Finish Line”
Best All-Around Television Newscast: Finalist, WUFT Staff, “WUFT NEWS First at Five”
Best All-Around Television News Magazine: Winner, WUFT Staff, “The Forgotten City”
Online News Reporting: Winner, Natalia Galicza, “Parking Garage Outside Your Bedroom? It’s Possible for this Gainesville Neighbor”
Online News Reporting: Finalist, Meleah Lyden and Alex DeLuca, “Meet the Elderly Republican Voter Whose Ballots Florida Rejected More Than Anyone’s”
Online  News Reporting: Finalist, Melissa Hernandez, ”Exclusive: Owners of Landmark Florida Beach Restaurant Under US Tax Evasion Investigation”
Online In-Depth Reporting: Winner, Stephany Matat, “Moment That Love, Life Was Lost After Tragic Crash: ‘She Did Not Make It, OK’?
Online In-Depth Reporting: Finalist, Marlowe Starling, “UF Researchers Turn to Sewage to Monitor COVID-19 on Campus”
Best Use of Multimedia: Finalist, Natalia Galicza and Ava Loomar, “A Total Freefall: Gainesville Sinkhole Showcases Cracks in Geology and Government Systems Alike”
Broadcast News Videography: Winner, Joseline Donoso, “Door to Disaster”
Broadcast Feature Videography, Winner, Victor Prieto, “Beyond the Finish Line”
Broadcast Sports Videography: Winner, Victor Prieto, “Saints Weather the Storms”
Video Game Reporting: Winner, Paul Lombardo, “Video game developers – Overworks, Underpaid, In Trouble”
Podcast: Winner, WUFT Staff, “Four Days, Five Murders”
COVID-19: Newspaper, Magazine and Online Coverage (Large) 10,000+ Students: Finalist, Lauren E. Johnson, “Seventeen Anesthesiologist Residents, Fellow at University Hospital Contract Virus After Private Party”
COVID-19: Video Coverage: Winner, WUFT Staff, “COVID vs. a College Town”

First-place winners will compete at the national level among other regional MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in the late spring and will be recognized at SPJ’s national conference.

Posted: April 19, 2021
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged as: SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards