Bradenton Herald wins Florida Press Club awards for in-depth coverage

The Bradenton Herald newsroom came away with an array of honors at the Florida Press Club’s 2017 Excellence in Journalism Competition. In all, Herald journalists took home five first-place awards, six second-place awards and three third-place awards.

“It really is an honor for the Herald's journalists to be recognized for their outstanding work. What's especially cool: These awards recognize all talents in our newsroom — photography, sports writing, feature writing, investigative reporting, that only-in-Florida touch,” Herald Executive Editor Joan Krauter said.

Take a look at the winning entries:

Urban affairs reporter Mark Young won first place in the circulation Class C category for the Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting for his watchdog reporting of Rudy’s Agape House, an assisted living facility that kicked out its patients without notice.

“I'm thrilled that Mark Young won one of the most prestigious awards for his in-depth reporting on a shoddy assisted living outfit,” Krauter said. “Young's persistent coverage continues to make a difference on an issue that touches most of our families.”

READ: “Assisted living facility patients given 36 hours to get out”

READ: “Second state agency monitoring eviction of elderly patients”

READ: “Administrator who tossed out elderly patients already licensed for new facility”

READ: “Woman ‘heartbroken’ over treatment of twin sister at assisted living center”

READ: “She evicted patients with only 36 hours notice. So state hits her with big fine.”

Crime reporter Jessica De Leon came in third for the Lucy Morgan Award for her extensive work on justice being served on a six-person crime ring involved in the murder at 13 AV Dream Center.

Former Bradenton Herald reporter Amaris Castillo’s sensitive and poignant reporting on the Manatee County community, whether it was chronicling a family’s plea for their daughter’s killer or documenting community efforts to combat homelessness, won her first place for Class B serious feature writing.

READ: “Grieving woman to daughter’s killer: ‘I’ve forgiven you’”

READ: “Candlelight vigil held for Bradenton homicide victim Dequan Randolph”

READ: “Bradenton police officer leads effort to help homeless family with food, temporary shelter”

Photographer Zack Wittman got the top award for the Class C Photography-Personality/Portrait category for a photo that captured 11-year-old Zakai Cherenfant holding a photo of his late stepfather Dequan Randolph, who was shot and killed during a confrontation in which he was wrongly accused of sleeping with another man’s wife.

Sports reporter Jason Dill’s entries included Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitchers new headwear and an IMG Academy lacrosse player making an appearance on ESPN Sportscenter’s Top 10 plays list. Dill won first for Class C sports feature writing and second place for sports column.

READ: “Pittsburgh Pirates honor Ron Necciai”

READ: “Lacrosse star builds career one highlight at a time”

READ: “Futuristic headwear adds safety to two Pirates pitchers”

Former Manatee County reporter Claire Aronson got to the heart of booming development from the island to East Manatee with stories about the people it directly affects. She won first place for the Class C government category.

READ: “It has been home for the last 62 years, but Manatee resident fears it will be forever changed”

READ: “They moved out to the country for solitude. But some Manatee County residents fear that may vanish.”

READ: “Anna Maria Island residents fear their lifestyle is at risk”

In the Class C public safety category, De Leon’s coverage of the Andres “Andy” Avalos triple-murder trial won second place. Arts and entertainment reporter Marty Clear’s collection of commentary writing won second place, including an ode to Leonard Cohen.

In the Class C environment writing category for stories about climate change and threatened species, Manatee County and environment reporter Hannah Morse took third place.

In the Class C “That is so ... Florida” category, which called for the most Florida of stories, Young won second place and Morse won third. Entries included a Bradenton man selling sea turtle parts even though he knew it was illegal, and a couple’s “love” sounds during the Sarasota Open.

Former education reporter Ryan McKinnon won second place for Class C education writing, scrutinizing the Manatee County School District.

For Class C health writing, Morse’s and McKinnon’s long-form story on Bayshore High School’s troubling cancer story won second place.

This story was originally published November 6, 2017 at 11:12 AM with the headline "Bradenton Herald wins Florida Press Club awards for in-depth coverage."