Bradenton Herald wins Gold Medal, 8 awards at 2023 Florida Society of News Editors contest
The Bradenton Herald staff’s exceptional journalism earned multiple awards at the 2023 Florida Society of News Editors Journalism Contest this week in Sarasota.
From Hurricane Ian, to a county commissioner’s DUI crash, to red tide explainers, the staff covered 2022’s biggest stories in Manatee County.
For Ian, Herald journalists produced more than 65 stores before and after the Category 4 storm that reached over a million readers.
For that work and other stories, photos and videos across many categories, the Herald was awarded the Gold Medal for Division C.
Here is all of the award-winning work:
Breaking news
First Place, Staff, Hurricane Ian in Manatee County
- How to check if you’re in a hurricane evacuation zone in Bradenton or Manatee County
- LIVE UPDATES: Hurricane conditions from Ian expected Wednesday morning in Manatee County
- Mandatory evacuations expand in Manatee County for Hurricane Ian. ‘This storm is coming’
- How bad would a Category 3 hurricane be in Florida? Here’s what a major storm can do
- Some Anna Maria Island residents won’t evacuate for Hurricane Ian. ‘You need to go now.’
Investigative Reporting
First place, Ryan Callihan and Jessica DeLeon, Manatee County commissioner accused of DUI crash
- A Manatee County commissioner could face a DUI charge after crash in neighborhood
- 911 call, bodycam video show Manatee County official moments after suspected DUI crash
- How did Manatee official avoid a sobriety test after crash? Here’s what DUI lawyers say
- Manatee County Commissioner George Kruse charged with DUI after alleged drunken crash
Business
First place, James A. Jones Jr., New project worries historically Black Tallevast community
Beat Reporting
First place, Ryan Ballogg, Environmental issues in Manatee County
- If clean water is Bradenton’s ‘No. 1 issue,’ here’s why keeping grass green isn’t helping
- Are fertilizer laws tough enough to protect Florida’s waters? Take a look at 10 years
- How to help keep Florida waters clean with a natural yard, following fertilizer rules
- 125 degrees? Bradenton, Florida temperatures are rising and the future looks hotter
- Red tide algae is back in Southwest Florida waters. Here’s what experts predict
Second place, Ryan Callihan, Local government in Bradenton and Manatee County
- ‘A change of direction.’ Bradenton voters bring new era of all-Republican leadership
- Could Bradenton’s old downtown jail fill a ‘big gap’ in services for homeless veterans?
- Three people accuse Bradenton city councilman of creating a hostile work environment
- Will a YouTube star’s popular racetrack be threatened by new Lakewood Ranch development?
- Bradenton settles sewage lawsuit, promising to prevent more spills into Manatee River
Multimedia
First place, James A. Jones Jr. and Tiffany Tompkins, Meet the barbecue pit master who has the oldest Black-owned car dealership in Manatee
Features video
Second place, Tiffany Tompkins, As Parrish grows, construction workers replace cowboys and ranchers
Enterprise
Third place, Ryan Ballogg and Ryan Callihan, Growing pollution
Florida Press Club 2022 Excellence in Journalism Competition
Earlier this year, the Bradenton Herald won the following awards for content published between June 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021.
Online – Affiliated News Site
First place, Staff, Bradenton Herald
Photography, General News, Class B
First place, Tiffany Tompkins, Manatee’s mighty clam industry
Second place Tiffany Tompkins, Handmaids at abortion protest
Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting, Class B-C
Second place, Giuseppe Sabella and Jessica De Leon, Arrest of 12-year-old girl at a Manatee County school
- 12-year-old girl arrested at Manatee school after officials wanted a fight video deleted
- Watch bodycam video of how a 12-year-old Palmetto student was arrested over cellphone
- What happened to the deputies who arrested a 12-year-old girl at a Palmetto school?
Writing - Breaking News, Class A-C
First place, Ryan Ballogg, Deputy stops car headed for Skyway 10K
- Driver ignored Skyway 10K interstate closure, FHP says. Then there was a chase and a crash
- Dashcam shows Florida trooper hit car headed for Skyway Bridge full of 10K runners
Writing – Business News, Class A-B
Third place, James A. Jones, Manatee’s mighty clam industry
Judges’ comment: This was an interesting and informative story that shows how an industry (clams in this case) doesn’t have to be at odds with sustainability efforts. There are businesses and workers that are doing both.
Writing – Environmental Writing, Class B
First place, Ryan Ballogg, Red tide in Manatee County
- ‘The bay is not in great shape.’ After Piney Point, water advocates push for pollution cuts
- How do you prep for red tide? Manatee has a plan for possible impact on Anna Maria
- If you see red tide, tweet it. FL scientists say social media helps track toxic algae
Writing – General News, Class B
Second place, Ryan Callihan, Why are some street lights purple in Florida?
Special Awards, That is so … Florida, Class A-C
First place, Jessica De Leon, Florida man who took Pelosi’s lectern in Capitol riot is hosting ‘going to prison’ party
This story was originally published July 21, 2023 at 3:25 PM.
