University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) students, staff and alumni from WUFT News, Fresh Take Florida and The Independent Florida Alligator were honored in the 2023 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards Competition. The awards recognize outstanding journalism produced in 2022. UFCJC students and alumni received 16 first-place, nine second-place and four third-place awards and three finalist honors in the professional and college competitions.

Winners in the professional division include:

• Outstanding New Journalist: First place, Gabriella Paul, B.S. Journalism 2020, WUFT News
• Feature Reporting (Small Papers): First place, Catie Wegman, B.S. Journalism 2019, TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers
• Series: First place, Chris Cann, B.S. Journalism 2021, Tallahassee Democrat
• Beat Reporting – Arts: First place, Amanda Rosa, B.S. Journalism 2020, Miami Herald
• Beat Reporting – Crime & Courts: First place, Hannah Phillips, B.S. Journalism 2020, The Palm Beach Post
• Light Feature Reporting: First place, Katie Hyson, WUFT News
• Online Package: First place, “Watershed,” WUFT Staff
• Beat Reporting – Environment, Science & Technology: Third place, Max Chesnes, B.S. Journalism 2019
• Best Newscast: Second place, Journalism rising senior Serra Sowers, WUFT News
• Public Affairs: Second place, Katie Hyson, WUFT News
• News Website (Small Newsroom): Second place, WUFT.org, WUFT Staff
• Best Front Page Design (Small Papers): Independent Florida Alligator, Third place, Minca Davis, “Roe in Review”
• James Batten Award for Public Service: Finalist, Chris Cann, B.S. Journalism 2021, Tallahassee Democrat
• Journalist of the Year: Finalist, Katie Hyson, M.A.M.C. 2020, WUFT News

Winners in the college division include:

• College Journalist of the Year: First place, Journalism senior Jack Prator; Finalist, Kristen Bausch, B.S. Journalism 2022
• Best Broadcast Outlet: First Place, WUFT News – WUFT Staff
• Breaking News: The Independent Florida Alligator – First Place, Journalism senior Makiya Seminera; “UF Presidential Finalist Ben Sasse Addresses Community in Campus Visit, Protestors Storm Forum;” WUFT News – Second Place, Journalism junior Alan Halaly, “Protestors Decry Florida Bill Aiming to Ban Discussion of Sexuality and Gender in Schools”
• Best Profile: Atrium Magazine – First Place, Chloe Greenberg, B.S. Journalism 2022, “Balancing Act”
• Best Light Feature: Atrium Magazine– First place, Master’s student Mindy Nissenberg, “For the Love of Dog;” Second place, WUFT News – Journalism junior Alan Halaly; “North Central Florida Newspapers Attempt to Remedy Gilchrist County News Desert;” WUFT News – Third place, Christina Pugliese, B.S. Telecommunication 2022, “Jim Crow and the Coast: For Black Floridians Getting  to the Beach Wasn’t Always Easy”
• Best Serious Feature: Atrium Magazine – Second place, Madison Chestang, B.S. Journalism 2022, and Anderson Bobo, M.A.M.C. 2022, “Healing Waters”
• Best Student Publication: Second place, The Independent Florida Alligator – Student Staff
• Best Sports Story: Fresh Take Florida – Third place, Payton Titus, B.S. Journalism 2023. “Florida Soccer Coach Leaving After Complaints by Players Over Comments About Eating Habits, Bodies”
• Best Video: WUFT News – First place, Alexis Ashby, B.S. Journalism 2023 “Behind the Bet;” The Independent Florida Alligator – Second place, Journalism junior Ben Nielsen; “Gator Wines Executive Seats, Change Achieves First-Ever Student Senate Majority”
• Best Multimedia Feature: WUFT News – First Place, Avery Lotz, B.S. Journalism 2023; “Unintended;” WUFT News – Second Place, Journalism junior Alan Halaly, “High Hazard”
• Best Coverage of Race & Underrepresented Communities: Fresh Take Florida – First place, Daniella Sevares, B.S. Journalism 2022 and Alexander Lugo, B.S. Journalism 2022, “Some Signatures of Florida Voters Whose Registration Changed to Republican Different Than Prior Samples; ”Fresh Take Florida – Second place, Amy Galo, B.S. Journalism 2022; “Historic White, Black Cemeteries Only Blocks Apart in Panama City Tell Very Different Stories;” Fresh Take Florida – Third place, Steven Walker, B.S. Journalism 2022, “Small, Historically Black Florida Town Set to Lose Black Congressman DeSantis Redistricting”
• General News Story: Fresh Take Florida – First Place, Troy Myers, B.S. Journalism 2022, “Campus Tragedy: New Details in UF Student’s Hit-and-Run Death as Driver to Be Sentenced to Prison This Week”

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, and the Asian American Journalists Association – Florida Chapter. The awards were presented at ArtServe in Fort Lauderdale on Aug. 25.

Posted: August 28, 2023
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged as: Fresh Take Florida, SPJ, SPJ Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards, The Independent Florida Alligator, WUFT News