UFCJC Students Honored in 2024-25 Hearst Journalism Awards Multimedia Digital News/Enterprise Team Competition
Two special digital special reports by University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) student journalists received seventh and 15th place, respectively, in the 2024-25 Hearst Journalism Awards Digital News/Enterprise Multimedia Team competition. The winners were selected from 60 entries submitted by 35 schools in the final multimedia competition of the year.
“The Price of Paradise,” by Maria Avlonitis, Kimberly Blum, Sabrina Castro, Gabriella Chavez, Alex Land, Franklin Omar Lopez, Caia Reese, Nathan Thomas, Kat Tran and Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira, received seventh place. The series explored the boom of ecotourism in Costa Rica and the impact it has had on local residents.
“The Cold Hard Facts,” by Austyn Bolig, Rylan DiGiacomo-Rapp, Siena Duncan, Alissa Gary, Máté Imre, Kai Johnsen, Bonny Matejowsky, Luena Rodriguez-Feo Vileira and Nathan Thomas, , received 15th place. The special report focused on the importance of air conditioning in Florida amid rising temperatures.
“The Cold, Hard Facts” was created in the fall 2024 Environmental Journalism course and “The Price of Paradise” was created in the spring 2025 International Reporting on the Environment course, both taught by UFCJC Senior Lecturer and Climate and Environment Reporting Initiatives Director Cynthia Barnett.
Innovation News Center (INC) Interim News Director Ethan Magoc, Multimedia Content Producer Kristin Moorehead, Report for America Environment & Ag Desk Reporter Rose Schnabel and UFCJC Web Developer Craig Lee served as advisors for the multimedia projects. UFCJC Pro Master’s student Kylie Williams designed the project site and recent graduate Valentina Sandoval produced the social media.
UFCJC placed fourth overall in the 2024-25 Hearst Journalism Awards Intercollegiate Multimedia Competition, based on the highest accumulated student points from four multimedia competitions held this year.
The 65th annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program added multimedia to the competition in 2010. The program also includes five writing, two photojournalism and four multimedia competitions offering up to $700,000 in scholarships, matching grants and stipends. There are 105 universities of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication with accredited undergraduate journalism programs are eligible to participate in the Hearst competitions.
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged: 2024-2025 Hearst Journalism Awards Craig Lee Cynthia Barnett Digtal News/Enterprise Multimedia Team Competition Ethan Magoc Kristin Moorehead Rose Schnable The Cold Hard Facts The Price of Paradise
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