Society of Professional Journalists 2025 Sunshine State Awards Finalists Announced
University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) students, alumni and staff from WUFT News, Fresh Take Florida, and Atrium Magazine were selected as finalists in the 2025 Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Florida Pro Chapter Sunshine State Awards. The awards recognize outstanding journalism produced in 2024.
In the Print and Digital Writing professional division, Light Feature Reporting – State & Nation, WUFT News Producer Kristin Moorehead is a finalist for “Young People Splurging More as ‘Little Treat’ Internet Trend Looms.”
In the college division, the finalists include:
- College Journalist of the Year: Vivienne Serret for Fresh Take Florida collection
- Student Publication: Atrium Magazine Staff for Atrium Magazine Winter 2024 Issue
- Website: Diego Perdomo and Zarin Ismail for Atrium Magazine website
- Investigative Reporting: Vivienne Serrett and Garret Shanley for “UF President’s Woes,”
Fresh Take Florida - Investigative Reporting: Lee Ann Anderson and Kai Johnsen for “Democrats Fielded Candidates for Every Legislative Seat, Some Live Hundreds of Miles from Districts Where They’re Running,” Fresh Take Florida
- Breaking News Story: Sophia Baily for ”On Presidential Campaign Ropes, Florida Governor Recounts Conservative Victories in Legislative Address,” Fresh Take Florida
- News Photo: Kat Tran for “The Scales That Guard the Springs,” Atrium Magazine
- Serious Feature: Sarah Henry for “Mascot for Cruelty,” Atrium Magazine
- Serious Feature: Vivienne Serrett for “Undercover Messianic Jewish Activist Sought to Entrap Muslim Professors at UF,” Fresh Take Florida
- Lifestyle Features: Alissa Gary for “Do you Want to Try Some Pickles?,” Atrium Magazine
- Human Interest Feature: Lauren Brensel for “Tampa Man Refusing to Leave Sailboat in Hurricane Milton Once Arrested Over Claim He Tried to Set Woman on Fire,” Fresh Take Florida
- Narrative Feature: Siena Duncan for “The Life and Death of a Florida Abortion Clinic,” Atrium Magazine
- Narrative Feature: Lauren Brensel for “When Private Pilots Falter, Air Controllers are Saviors of the Skies,” Fresh Take Florida
- Sports Feature Story: Alissa Gary for “Taming the Beast,” Atrium Magazine
- Front Page Design: Delia Rose Sauer & Matthew Cupelli for “Atrium Magazine Winter 2024 Cover”
- LGBTQ+ Coverage: Amanda Friedman for “Florida Banning Changes of Gender on Driver’s Licenses Sparks Confusion, Backlash,” Fresh Take Florida
- General News Story: Lauren Whiddon for “The Watch of the Lynx,” Atrium Magazine
- General News Story: Kylie Williams for “Nowhere Else to Go: Florida Seniors Struggle to Recover from Back-to-Back Hurricanes,” Fresh Take Florida
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, the Asian American Journalists Association – Florida Chapter and Diversify Photo. The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale on Sept. 6.
Category: Alumni News, College News, Student News
Tagged: SPJ Florida Pro Sunshine State Awards
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