The WUSF News team also collects six first-place awards and 10 finalist recognitions among Florida’s commercial and public media broadcasters |
TAMPA, Fla. (August 10, 2021) – WUSF Public Media is proud to announce that journalists in the station’s newsroom received 12 honors in the Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards, including first place in two categories. Ten members of the WUSF news staff were honored during a weekend ceremony for their work in 2020. “I am immensely proud of the WUSF team for how they came together amid all the challenges of this pandemic to delve into hard issues and bring to life these stories of struggle, innovation, perseverance and survival,” said WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky. “Their body of work stands as a vibrant library of how Florida faced the worst pandemic and upheaval of our generation. Florida is fortunate to have this team on its side.” In the serious feature reporting category, Stephanie Colombini took home first place for her story on Pinellas County’s efforts to vaccinate the Black community. She also won second place in that category for her story on transgender protesters who said they were mistreated by police. Colombini also was awarded third place in the light feature reporting category for her story on VA nursing homes during the pandemic. Daylina Miller received second place in that category for their story about Black businesses thriving after the protests for social justice. |
WUSF staff and digital editor Carl Lisciandrello won first place for best news web site and All Things Considered Anchor Lisa Peakes won second place in the best newscast category. Reporter Kerry Sheridan received two awards: Second place for best use of sound in her feature on live circus music and third place in education reporting for her feature on a school resource officer who works with migrant children. In the category of government and politics reporting, Steve Newborn, Cathy Carter and Stephanie Colombini took third place for a collection of stories from the 2020 election. Carter also won third place in arts reporting for her story about live performances during the pandemic.In the podcast category, Dalia Colon and Robin Sussingham received a third-place award for the work on The Zest Podcast. And in the new media engagement category, WUSF News Director Mary Shedden shared a third-place award with Matthew Peddie from Orlando’s WMFE for their collaboration entitled The State We’re In. The Society of Professional Journalists is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. It is dedicated to preserving a free press. |
Media Contact:Richard Mullins rmullins@tuckerhall.com O: 813.228.0652 x1127 M: 813-992-8139 |
About WUSF Public MediaWUSF Public Media is a comprehensive media organization that serves the community and businesses through public broadcasting, digital resources and multi-media production services. Licensed to the University of South Florida, WUSF Public Media has been serving the public interest through programming, educational engagement and community partnerships for 58 years. For more information, visit www.wusf.org. |