Bradenton Herald staffers win Florida Society of Professional Journalists prizes

Bradenton Herald journalists won two prizes in the Florida Society of Professional Journalists’ 2020 Sunshine State Awards, including a first place for online video.

The video prize went to Visuals Editor Tiffany Tompkins. Her entry including videos on residents who were being evicted from a Bradenton mobile home park; players in the Bradenton Senior Softball League; and a large algal bloom in the Manatee River.

“Tiffany is the leader of our video efforts, not only guiding the rest of the staff, but in producing videos that go far in defining the essential nature of Bradenton.com,” said Marc R. Masferrer, president and editor of the Bradenton Herald. “It is gratifying to see Tiffany’s hard work pay off with this prestigious prize.

Also honored during an online awards ceremony Saturday evening was Herald education reporter Giuseppe Sabella, who won second place for education beat reporting.

Sabella’s entry included stories on delays and cost overruns in the implementation of a new computer system for the Manatee County School District; the teaching of the history of the Holocaust in Manatee Schools; the Manatee School Board’s policies governing public comment during its meetings; and an examination about how the Manatee School District addresses climate change in its curriculum.

“What makes our news coverage essential is how our reporters hold the school board, local governments and other public entities accountable for their actions and decision made in the public’s name,” Masferrer said. “The stories in Giuseppe’s entry do exactly that, covering important education-related topics.”

The prizes awarded to Tompkins and Sabella came in competition with Florida newspapers of all circulation sizes.