Bradenton Herald coverage gets top honors at Florida Press Club 2021 awards. Take a look
During an unprecedented year full of breaking news across the globe, the Bradenton Herald newsroom again produced award-winning coverage of issues important to Manatee County.
Here are the stories, photos and videos that earned top awards at the Florida Press Club’s 2021 Excellence in Journalism Competition.
The entries were published between June 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021.
Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Class B-C
First place: Ryan Callihan, Jessica DeLeon
Judges’ comment: “The Herald’s coverage of COVID-19 did a strong job of touching on issues communities across the country faced early in the pandemic — deaths in nursing homes, precautions individuals and businesses took, schools, and even reported on the death of a former employee.”
- Manatee Springs resident died the day after her COVID-19 results came in, family says
- More COVID vaccine coming to Manatee. Only residents of these two zip codes can get it
- Upset about Manatee’s exclusive COVID vaccines? DeSantis threatens to send them elsewhere
- Manatee commissioner Baugh made VIP list for COVID-19 vaccines. She put herself on it
- Manatee sheriff investigating whether Baugh broke state law with vaccine event, VIP list
- Ethics complaint alleges Commissioner Baugh misused public office to schedule vaccines
Photography, Breaking News, Class A-C
First place: Tiffany Tompkins
Third place: Tiffany Tompkins
Photography, General News, Class B-C
First place: Tiffany Tompkins
Second place: Tiffany Tompkins
Writing, Breaking News, Class A-B
First place: Ryan Callihan
COVID-19 Breaking News
First place: Giuseppe Sabella
- More than 100 people sent home from Palmetto High after COVID-19 case, official says
- Manatee County principal got tested for COVID-19 and returned to work. Now he’s on leave
- Manatee School Board stays the course after anti-mask protesters fill meeting
Second place: Ryan Ballogg
- ‘It’s not over yet.’ Keep fighting COVID with masks, vaccines, Manatee health official says
- Feds say Bradenton family got rich selling bleach as cure for COVID-19, other illnesses
Third place: Jessica De Leon
- Manatee County hospitals running out of ICU beds as COVID-19 cases surge
- Funding for COVID testing site in Manatee in jeopardy as demand and new cases climb
- State changing how it tests for COVID-19. Here’s how it will affect Bradenton residents
COVID-19 Features Reporting
First place: Ryan Ballogg
Education News, Class A-B
Third place: Guiseppe Sabella
- Questions remain after Manatee School District releases COVID-19 data on cases
- Upset about criticism, Golden pushes to limit public comments at school board meetings
- Ringling College students, alumni demand action against dean over his ‘demeaning’ conduct
Environmental News
First place: Ryan Callihan
- How did this crisis happen? A breach at Piney Point puts area in environmental peril
- Piney Point staff warned Florida officials of ‘critical’ tears in pond liner before leak
- Is Piney Point leak a looming disaster for Tampa Bay? It may take weeks to know
Third place: Ryan Ballogg
- Red tide threat looms after Piney Point spill. Here are lessons from last big bloom
- New report sounds alarm on SW Florida water quality. Manatee County has the worst outlook
- Republicans, Democrats agree on opposing drilling off Florida’s Gulf, Atlantic coasts
Public Safety, Class A-C
Second place: Jessica De Leon
- Name of Manatee deputy who killed suspect remains secret. Sheriff cites crime victims law
- A deputy at Manatee jail resigned over a relationship with inmate at Florida prison
- Bradenton cop shot dog, investigators say. His girlfriend, a detective, covered up the crime
Serious Features, Class A-B
Third place: Giuseppe Sabella
COVID-19 Business News
Second place: Mark Young
