UFCJC Student Journalists, Alumni and Staff Receive 2024 Region 3 SPJ Mark of Excellence Honors
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) student journalists and alumni, WUFT News, Fresh Take Florida, The Independent Florida Alligator and Atrium Magazine were honored in the Region 3 2024 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence (MOE) Awards competition.
The awards recognize the best collegiate journalism in 2024 in Region 3 which comprises Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. UFCJC was the winner in 18 categories and had finalists in 28 categories.
Winners and finalists include:
Print/Online:
- Breaking News Reporting: Finalist, “Florida’s Social Media Ban for Teens,” Erina Anwar, Fresh Take Florida
- Breaking News Reporting: Finalist, “Live updates: Everything You Ned to Know About Hurricane Helene,” Alligator Staff, The Independent Florida Alligator
- General News Reporting (Large): Finalist, “Trucker Accused of Kidnapping and Sexually Assaulting Woman Released to Home Arrest,” Aidan Bush, Fresh Take Florida
- General News Reporting (Large): Finalist, “Florida Cracking Down on Cyber Stalking with Apple AirTags, Other Hidden Tracking Devices,” Jared Teitel, Sandra McDonald, Fresh Take Florida
- In-Depth Reporting (Large): Finalist, “UF Employee, Students Implicated in Illegal Plot to Ship Drugs, Toxins to China,” Matthew Cupelli, Fresh Take Florida
- In-Depth Reporting (Large): Finalist, “Undercover Messianic Jewish Activist Sought to Entrap Muslim Professors at UF,” Vivienne Serret, Fresh Take Florida
- Feature Writing (Large): Winner, “When Private Pilots Falter, Air Controllers are Saviors of Skies,” Lauren Brensel, Fresh Take Florida
- Feature Writing (Large): Finalist, “After Losing Everything to Hurricanes, Floridians Grapple with Leaving Permanently,” Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Independent Florida Alligator
- Feature Writing (Large): Finalist, “Beautiful but Highly Destructive: On the Hunt to Kill Elusive, Invasive Lionfish on Florida’s Reefs,” Lee Ann Anderson, Fresh Take Florida
- Personality Profile (Large): Winner, “Not Homeless, Just on an Adventure,” Hanna Fox Maglio, The Hernando Sun
- Personality Profile (Large): Finalist, “The Last Responder,” Bonny Matejowsky, Atrium Magazine
- Personality Profile (Large): Finalist, “Words in Motion,” by Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira, Atrium Magazine
- Sports Writing (Large): Winner, “The Burden of Professional Aspirations,” Noah White, The Independent Florida Alligator
- Corbin Gwaltney Award for Best All-Around Student Newspaper (Large): Winner, The Independent Florida Alligator, The Independent Florida Alligator staff
- Best Ongoing Student Magazine: Finalist, Atrium Magazine, Atrium Magazine staff
Arts/Graphics/Multimedia
- Breaking News Photography: Finalist, “Hurricane Helene Aftermath,” Ashleigh Lucas, WUFT News
- Breaking News Photography: Finalist, “Hurricane Helene Aftermath Aerial,” Diego Perdomo, WUFT News
- General News Photography: Winner, “Spelling Bee,” Sydney Johnson, WUFT News
- General News Photography: Finalist, “Solar Eclipse,” Lee Ann Anderson, WUFT News
- Feature Photography: Winner, “The Scales that Guard the Springs,” Kat Tran, Atrium Magazine
- Feature Photography: Finalist, “Election Night,” Madilyn Gemme, The Independent Florida Alligator
- Feature Photography: Finalist, “Sunset Silhouette,” Sydney Johnson, WUFT News
- Photo Essay/Slideshow: Winner, “Hurricane Helene Destroys Man’s Home” Kimberly Blum, WUFT News
- Sports Photography: Winner, “Eyes on the Ball,” Ashleigh Lucas, WRUF-AM
- Sports Photography: Finalist, “Home Run,” Lee Ann Anderson, WRUF-AM
- News Videography: Winner, “Horseshoe Beach Recovery,” Alexander Land, WUFT-TV
- Feature Videography: Winner, “Un vuelo historico al espacio/A Historic Trip to Space,” Nicole Borman, WUFT-TV
- Feature Videography: Finalist: “The Threads that Bind,” Ashleigh Lucas, WUFT News
- Sports Videography: Winner, “Team Returns After Hurricane Helene,” Ben McLeish, WUFT-TV
Audio
- Radio News Reporting: Winner, “RNC Divine Intervention,” Matthew Cupelli, WUFT-FM
- Radio News Reporting: Finalist, “First-time Voters,” Staff, WUFT-FM
- Radio Feature: Winner, “Hurricane Helene’s Impact,” Aileyahu Shanes, WUFT-FM
- Best All-Around Radio Newscast: Winner, “The Point,” The Point staff, WUFT-FM
Broadcast
- Television Breaking News Reporting: Finalist, “A Community Comes Together,” Bianca Smith, WUFT-TV
- Television General News Reporting: Winner, “Remembering Tiffany Sessions,” Chris Will, WUFT-TV
- Television General News Reporting: Finalist, “Jimmy Carter & Jimmy Carter,” Ophelie Jacobson, WUFT-TV
- Television Feature Reporting: Winner, “A Special Singer,” Juan Carlos Chaoui, WUFT-TV
- Television Feature Reporting: Finalist, “The Sock Man,” Kirsten Maselka, WUFT-TV
- Television Sports Reporting: Finalist, “Limitless Legends,” Alexander Land, WUFT-TV
- Best All-Around Television Newscast: Finalist, WUFT-TV, WUFT-TV Staff
- Best All-Around Television News Magazine Finalist: “Hurricane Helene: The Big Bend’s Recovery,” WUFT-TV staff, WUFT-TV, University of Florida
All Platforms:
- Regional Political Reporting: Winner, “The Life and Death of a Florida Abortion Clinic,” Siena Duncan, Atrium Magazine
- Retail/Small Business Journalism: Winner, “Your Stain, His Gain,” Brooke Davidson, Atrium Magazine
- Retail/Small Business Journalism: Finalist, “The Watch of the Lynx,” Lauren Whiddon, Atrium Magazine
- Science/Environment/Climate Reporting: Finalist, “After Losing Everything to Hurricanes, Floridians Grapple with Leaving Permanently,” Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, The Independent Florida Alligator
- Science/Environment/Climate Reporting: Finalist, “Sea Turtles, a Florida Conservation Success Story, Face a New Threat,” Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira, WUFT News
SPJ MOE Awards entries are judged by professionals with at least three years of journalism experience. Judges were directed to choose entries they felt were among the best in student journalism. First-place winners will compete at the national level among other SPJ MOE winners from the 12 SPJ regions. National winners will be notified in late spring.
Category: College News
Tagged: 2024 Region 3 SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards Atrium Magazine Fresh Take Florida The Independent Florida Alligator WUFT News
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