Dori Zinn

Pia Malbran is an investigative producer with CBS News based in Miami and is the President of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists South Florida Chapter.  

By: Jason Parsley

Pia Malbran is an award-winning TV producer with nearly two decades of broadcast experience. Prior to CBS she worked as an investigative producer for CNN in Atlanta. In addition to producing in-depth investigations, she has also reported on some of the nation’s biggest stories like Hurricane Katrina, the Newtown school shooting, and the Sandusky child sex abuse scandal. Some of her awards include a 2005 national business EMMY for outstanding investigative reporting and six local EMMYs for excellence in writing and producing. Follow her on Twitter.

What’s a misconception about your job?

I don’t just cover stories in Florida even though I’m based in Miami.  As a network producer, I’m an equal opportunity offender when it comes to finding and reporting good stories – I’ll go anywhere in the country and beyond!

What’s one part of your job that most folks don’t realize you do?

I think most folks are generally confused about my job – most people have no idea what a network investigative producer does. The answer is: I’m responsible for everything when it comes to the stories I produce. I produce stories from concept to completion – from coming up with the ideas to conducting interviews and the research to writing.

In college I met a lot of students who wanted to be in television news because they didn’t like to write? Thoughts?

That’s ridiculous. The very essence of good journalism is writing no matter what format. Writing is the foundation of television news. If you don’t know or learn how to write well for broadcast, you won’t succeed.

Most frustrating part of your job now? Most fun?

There’s nothing frustrating about my job right now. The most fun part of my job is producing stories that matter. Making a difference. Giving a voice to the voiceless and exposing wrongdoing.

Career highlight? Lowlight?

The biggest highlight is having a career – a good career. I don’t take it for granted.  And, I’m grateful for it every day. I don’t dwell on lowlights. But, I can tell you that I have learned, grown and become better from every experience – good and bad.

Give us your weirdest dues-paying job in your career.

Never had one. One of my former bosses, Keith Summa, would tell young journalists: “if you want to be a journalist, be a journalist.” In other words, if you want to be a reporter, find a job as a reporter, no matter how little it pays — don’t go work in PR or do another unrelated job that won’t help you develop your skills or get you where you really want to be. I also think you should definitely stay away from doing anything weird!

How has technology changed your job?

It’s changed my job in every single way.  In journalism school, for example, I learned how to work with film (it really wasn’t that long ago) and now we’re shooting video in HD on tiny SD cards. A few years ago, producers were not allowed to touch any equipment because of union rules. Now, producers are shooting video and editing. It’s amazing. One of my journalism professors said: “Without change, there is no news.” That’s so true. You’ve got to be able to learn new skills… Constantly.

One piece of advice you wish you could surgically implant into college students and young professionals?

There are no rules – none! There is no one set path to success. And, what works for one person won’t necessarily work for another. So, find your own path and do what you enjoy.  Otherwise, you’ll be miserable!

Throughout March, April, May and June, SPJ South Florida Pro will feature Q&As every Friday with South Florida’s most prominent journalists. Want to see someone featured? Want to join SPJ? Email us.

Jason Parsley is President of SPJ South Florida Pro. Follow him on Twitter.

These days, every hack is a one-man band. Build your online storytelling toolkit with a crash course from Danny Sanchez, Audience Development Editor at Sun Sentinel. On Monday, Danny will demo his favorite tools for making richer web stories, including a few he’s built. RSVP here.

Also, bring your digital projects (in ANY phase of development) for show and tell!

This event will be in FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus Scripps Howard Foundation Multimedia Lab, Academic Center II Building, Room 242 this Monday, May 20.

Barbara Petersen with the Florida First Amendment Foundation is back! Last month she discussed what she thinks the State of Florida could be doing to make local and state governments more transparent and open. This month we ask her about taking pictures of documents and how far of a reach the Federal HIPPA law has locally. Sam Steinberg, the First Amendment Foundation’s legal fellow assisted with the answers to these questions.

Let us know what you could use some help with, when it comes to the Florida Sunshine Laws. You can leave questions and comments below or send them to VP of Programs, Lynn Walsh.

SPJ South Florida: Can you photograph photos of records you are viewing?  

Barbara Petersen: Yes.  In general, a person may make photographic copies of records using a variety of devices including a cell phone camera or a portable scanner.  In fact, I am aware of at least one situation of a person rolling in a full service copy machine to copy public records.

There is a provision in the public records law, s. 119.07(3)(a), which says that requestor must be given access to public records for the purpose of making photographs of the records; section 119.07(3)(b)  states that the right to take photographs “applies to the making of photographs in the conventional sense by use of a camera device to capture images of public records.”

Because record custodians are required to make sure that public records aren’t altered or destroyed, they are required to supervise a requestor who decides to make his or her own copies.  If such supervision requires an extensive use of agency resources, s. 119.07(4)(d) allows an agency to charge a reasonable fee based on actual costs incurred for supervisory time.

Finally, public record custodians are allowed to adopt “reasonable rules” governing photographing of public records and if a room other than that where the records are stored has to be provided, the expense of providing that room will be passed on to the requestor.

Bottom Line:  Even though an agency can’t charge a copying fee if a requestor photographs public records or makes his or her own copies, there may be other costs associated with photographing the records.

SPJ South Florida: When is it acceptable for an organization to claim exemption using HIPPA? Would general information referencing medical or health issues apply even if it doesn’t come from a medical professional or is referenced in a medical related file? Or does it have to come from a medical professional?  

Barbara Petersen: Without a doubt, HIPPA, the federal health information privacy law, is the most misunderstood and misapplied law I have to deal with.

In general, HIPPA applies only to personal identifying health information held by “covered entities” including health care providers, health plans, and health care clearinghouses.  Entities not covered by HIPPA include life insurance companies, auto insurance companies, worker’s compensation carriers, and employers.

This means that the vast majority of government agencies in Florida can’t claim HIPPA as a reason for denying a public record request.  However, Florida law contains numerous provisions that protect health and mental health information held by government agencies.  For example, s. 456.046, F.S., exempts patient information held by Florida Department of Health and s. 641.515(2), F.S., provides an exemption for the same information in the hands of the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.

Remember, if your public record request is denied, (politely) demand the records custodian to state the basis for the denial, including the specific statutory citation.  Section 119.07(1)(f), F.S., specifically requires the custodian to “state in writing and with particularity the reasons for the conclusion that the record is exempt or confidential”  if asked to do so by the requestor.

Click here In case you missed last month’s chat.

Answers to these questions and many more, including questions about application of Florida’s open meetings law, can be found in the 2013 Government-in-the-Sunshine Manual, which is now available in both a print edition and electronically.  Go to the First Amendment Foundation website, www.floridafaf.org, and click on FAF Store for information on how to order the manual.

Barbara A. Petersen, President First Amendment Foundation

A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia and Florida State University College of Law, Barbara A. Petersen is president of Florida’s First Amendment Foundation.  Before taking her current position in 1995, Petersen was staff attorney for the Joint Committee on Information Technology Resources of the Florida Legislature, where she worked exclusively on public records legislation and issues.  A passionate advocate of the public’s right to oversee its government, Petersen is the author of numerous reports and articles on open government issues.  She currently sits on the board of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, having served as its president and treasurer, and was recently appointed to the Integrity Florida board of directors.  Petersen served as chair of Florida’s Commission on Open Government Reform.

By Brittny C. Valdes

When seven students and one professor chose to revive Florida International University’s chapter of Society of Professional Journalists last fall, photojournalism became their topic of interest.

Photos are critical companions to stories, but FIU didn’t offer any photojournalism classes. So SPJ-FIU made it a priority to fill that gap.

It began in November, when Miami Herald photographer Dan Bock and Barbara Corbellini Duarte, current SPJ-FIU president, held a photojournalism presentation at FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus. There, they shared photo and caption examples, touched on technique and dove into the discussion about the difference one image can make in news.

By the spring semester, the idea to hold a photojournalism competition almost seemed natural. So they did. The contest: “Capturing Generation Y.”

“Photos are a great way to bring in a reader,” said Michae Baisden, SPJ-FIU vice president. “But a lot of students don’t know that this is really important. We wanted to put a focus on photography in journalism, and we wanted it to be interactive.”

For the contest, SPJ-FIU invited college and high school students around the country to submit one photo that harnessed the essence of their generation in any real moment. Photos had to be accompanied by a caption, and each was judged for content, quality, originality and grammar.

The contest received 22 entries and presented to an esteemed panel of judges, including: Jason Parsley, president of SPJ South Florida Chapter; Roman Lyskowski, photo editor at The Miami Herald; Chris Cutro, photographer at the Miami Herald; Chris Delboni, news director at the South Florida News Service; and Barbara Corbellini Duarte, president of SPJ-FIU.

A national and a South Florida winner emerged, and on the evening of April 25, at Yuca Restaurant in South Beach, about 30 people came together over mojitos, salsa music and Cuban tapas to award the South Florida winner.

Sana Ullah, a digital media studies student at FIU, won for her “Color Me Rad” photo featuring young runners in a 5K getting bombed with neon-colored powder.

“I couldn’t stop smiling,” said Ullah, whose her first reaction to winning was, “why me?”

“There are so many incredible photographers,” she said. “There’s no way this is for me. However, after being shocked, I felt honored and excited to have my work framed and appreciated by others.”

Adam Randall, a journalism student at Western Michigan University, won nationally for his “Kalamazoo Zombie Festival” photo, which highlighted a crowd of young people painted as zombies behind yellow caution tape.

Both winners will have their photos published in SPJ’s Quill Magazine and will be featured in the SPJ South Florida, SPJ Region 3 and South Florida News Service websites.

Ullah will also spend a day with a Miami Herald photographer out on the field as well as in the newsroom.

“I’m a little nervous,” said Ullah. “Photojournalists are professionals, and I consider myself an amateur.”

Sergy Odiduro, an SPJ South Florida chapter board member and reporter for the Forum Publishing Group, attended the event.

“This is a very enthusiastic group,” said Odiduro. “What you’re doing, keep on doing, and all the doors will open out of nowhere.”

2013 Sunshine State Awards

FINALISTS

Finalists in each category are presented in alphabetical order by organization

To correct errors or omissions, please contact Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com

James Batten Award for Public Service 

• Sun Sentinel – Sally Kestin & John Maines, Above the Law: Speeding Cops
• Tampa Bay Times – Alexandra Zayas, In God’s name
• The Palm Beach Post – Michael LaForgia, Kids in Peril

Diversity Award 

• Tampa Bay Times – Eric Deggans, Eric Deggans: A collection

First Amendment Foundation Freedom of Information Award

• WESH-TV – Greg Fox, TextGate

Integrity Florida Award for Public Corruption Reporting

• Lakeland Ledger – Suzie Schottelkotte, Money in Mulberry

Journalist of the Year 

• Miami New Times – Michael E. Miller, Death Trap

Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting 

• Sun Sentinel – Sally Kestin & John Maines, Above the Law: Speeding Cops

Breaking News Reporting (Large)

• Orlando Sentinel – Arelis Hernandez, Bianca Prieto & Amy Pavuk, 4 dead, 1 hurt in killer’s rampage
• The Miami Herald – Staff of The Miami Herald, Face Eater
• The Palm Beach Post – Staff, Isaac had soaking surprise in store

Breaking News Reporting (Small) 

• Miami New Times – Kyle Munzenrieder , Francisco Alvarado, Gus Garcia-Roberts & Tim Elfrink, Miami Zombie
• The Gainesville Sun – Jon Silman, Cindy Swirko, Joey Flechas & Chad Smith, Tropical Storm Debby
• The Gainesville Sun – Staff, Interstate 75 Wrecks

Non-Deadline News Reporting (Large) 

• Sun Sentinel – Megan O’Matz, John Maines, Bad-Neighbor Banks: How Big Lenders Spread Blight
• Tampa Bay Times – Staff, Stand your ground
• The Palm Beach Post – Pat Beall, Medicaid funds flood of oxycodone to the poor

Non-Deadline News Reporting (Small)

• Florida Weekly Palm Beach Gardens & Jupiter – Athena Ponushis, Life Since Amanda
• Lakeland Ledger – Jeremy Maready & Lyle McBride, Polk’s Garbage Mess
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Melissa Holsman & Zaimarie De Guzman, Killer with no remorse

Feature Reporting (Large) 

• Tampa Bay Times – Leonora LaPeter Anton, The agony of Gretchen M.
• The Miami Herald – Diana Moskovitz, Nubia Barahona – The Life of a Child
• The Palm Beach Post – Carlos Frias, One Shot

Feature Reporting (Small)

• Miami New Times – Tim Elfrink, Gun and the Scalpel
• New Times Broward-Palm Beach – Deirdra Funcheon, Balloon Boy 2012: Three Years After the Hoax, Falcon Heene Fronts a Metal Band
• The Gainesville Sun – Jon Silman, Teen with disease faces life of eating via a tube

Series

• Sun Sentinel – Megan O’Matz & John Maines, Bad-Neighbor Banks: How Big Lenders Spread Blight
• The Miami Herald – Audra D.S. Burch, Frances Robles & David Ovalle, The Trayvon Martin Story
• The Palm Beach Post – Pat Beall & Adam Playford, Flawed machines, endangered votes

General Commentary & Criticism 

• Orlando Sentinel – Scott Maxwell, Scott Maxwell portfolio
• Tallahassee Democrat – Gerald Ensley, Collection
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Mac Thrower, Mac Thrower collection

Arts Commentary & Criticism 

• Creative Loafing – Mark Leib, Collection
• Creative Loafing – Megan Voeller, Collection
• Sun Sentinel – John Tanasychuk, Dining

Editorial Writing 

• Sarasota News Leader – Robert Hackney, Collection
• Tampa Bay Times – Tim Nickens, Voting
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Rich Campbell, Collection

Editorial Cartoon

• Baker County Press – Ed Hall, Portfolio of Cartoons
• Sun Sentinel – Chan Lowe, Editorial Cartoons by Chan Lowe

Presidential Election Coverage 

• Lakeland Ledger – Ryan E. Little, Gary White, Jeremy Maready & Matthew Pleasant, The Homestretch
• Orlando Sentinel – Jim Stratton, Collection
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Derek Catron, Collection

State/Local Election Coverage 

• The Associated Press – Brendan Farrington, Collection
• The Miami Herald – Staff, Florida Early Voting
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Jonathan Mattise, George Andreassi & Scott Wyland, Collection

Election Commentary 

• Creative Loafing – Mitch Perry, Collection
• Tampa Bay Times – Adam C. Smith, Collection
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Eve Samples, Collection

Beat Reporting – Arts 

• Fort Myers Florida Weekly – Nancy Stetson, Collection
• Orlando Sentinel – Matthew Palm, Collection
• The News-Press – Charles Runnells, Collection

Beat Reporting – Business 

• Orlando Sentinel – Jason Garcia, Jason Garcia portfolio
• South Florida Business Journal – Brian Bandell, Squandered bailout for U.S. Century Bank
• Tampa Bay Business Journal – Jane Meinhardt, Legal Beat

Beat Reporting – Children’s Issues 

• Orlando Sentinel – Kate Santich, Kate Santich portfolio

Beat Reporting – Community 

• Lakeland Ledger – Kevin Bouffard, Citrus — An Industry at a Crossroads
• The Daytona Beach News-Journal – Chris Graham, Chris Graham collection
• The Gainesville Sun – Morgan Watkins, Alachua County coverage from Morgan Watkins

Beat Reporting – Consumer Issues 

• Lakeland Ledger – Elvina Nawaguna, Consumer News in Polk County
• Orlando Sentinel – Richard Burnett, Richard Burnett portfolio
• Tampa Bay Times – Laura Reiley, Collection

Beat Reporting – Crime/Courts

• Naples Daily News – Aisling Swift, Collection
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Keona Gardner, Collection
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Melissa Holsman, Collection

Beat Reporting – Education

• Orlando Sentinel – Lauren Roth, Failed charter pays principal more than $500K
• The Florida Times-Union – Topher Sanders, Topher Sanders
• The Miami Herald – Michael Vasquez, Education Beat Reporting

Beat Reporting – Environmental/Health/Science 

• New Times Broward-Palm Beach – Chris Sweeney, Coral Capers
• Orlando Sentinel – Kevin Spear, Kevin Spear portfolio
• Tampa Bay Times – Craig Pittman, The Springs

Beat Reporting – Government/Politics

• Sun Sentinel – Brittany Wallman, Broward County beat coverage
• The News-Press – Thomas Himes, Collection
• The Palm Beach Post – John Kennedy, John Kennedy collection

Beat Reporting – Minority Issues

• Daily Business Review – Julie Kay, Vala Lopez, Diversity Suffers With Firms in Survival Mode
• Orlando Sentinel – Arelis Hernandez, Arelis Hernandez portfolio
• The News-Press – Cristela Guerra, Their desperate search

Beat Reporting – Religion

• Sun Sentinel – Lois Solomon, Collection
• The Tampa Tribune – Michelle Bearden, Collection
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Zaimarie De Guzman, Collection

Beat Reporting – Sports

• Orlando Sentinel – Mike Bianchi, Mike Bianchi portfolio
• The News-Press – Dan DeLuca, Collection
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Laurel Pfahler, Collection

Special Publication/Section

• Daily Business Review – Julie Kay & Vala Lopez, Diversity Suffers With Firms in Survival Mode
• The News-Press – Staff, JetBlue Park
• The Palm Beach Post – Bruce Moore, Eliot Kleinberg, Storm 2012

Investigative Reporting – Magazine 

• Ocala Magazine – John Sotomayor, Stand Your Ground
• Ocala Magazine – John Sotomayor, Zombieland
• Sarasota Magazine – Tony D’Souza, Eyes Wide Shut

Feature Reporting – Magazine 

• Boca Raton Magazine – Gaspar Gonzalez, Black Magic Woman
• Ocala Magazine – John Sotomayor, Stand Your Ground
• Playboy – Andy Dehnart, Reality on the High Seas

Profile Reporting 

• Gulfstream Media Group – Jennifer Tormo, Nila Do, Boca Life Magazine – “Forgetting Breast Cancer”
• Sarasota Magazine – Adam Davies, Saranova and Me
• Sarasota Magazine – Johannes Werner, Poster Boy

Commentary & Criticism – Magazine 

• Sarasota Magazine – Frank Galati, War By Other Means
• Sarasota Magazine – Robert Plunket, From Rudolph to Halston
• Sun Sentinel – Mark Gauert, Here & Now: With the Editor & Publisher

Trade/Special Interest Publication

• 850 – The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida – Linda Kleindienst, Larry Davidson, Saige Roberts & Scott Holstein, 850 – The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida
• Horizons – Horizons Staff, Nova Southeastern University’s Horizons
• Sun Sentinel – Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine

Cover Design

• Sarasota Magazine – Gigi Ortwein, Sarasota Magazine covers, April, November and December 2012
• Sun Sentinel – Anderson Greene, Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine
• The News-Press – Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, Kinfay Moroti & Tammy Ayer, Grandeur (January 2012); Grandeur (November 2012); Grandeur (December 2012)

Inside Design

• Boca Raton Magazine – Lori Pierino, Kathleen Ross, Call of the Wild / Here’s The Beef / Black Magic Woman
• Sun Sentinel – Anderson Greene, Mark Gauert, City & Shore Magazine
• The Boca Raton Observer – Scott Deal, Art Director, Look Better Naked

Best Single Issue

• Tallahassee Magazine – Rosanne Dunkelberger, Larry Davidson & Staff, Tallahassee Magazine – May/June 2012
• The Boca Raton Observer – Linda Behmoiras, Felicia Levine & Scott Deal, The Boca Raton Observer-January 2012-Health & Fitness Issue
• The News-Press – Pamela Hayford, Lindi Daywalt-Feazel, Amanda Inscore & Wendy Fullerton, Southwest Florida Parent & Child October 2012

Breaking News Photography (Large) 

• Orlando Sentinel – George Skene, Falling bear

Breaking News Photography (Small) 

• The Gainesville Sun – Brad McClenny, Tropical Storm Debby in Cedar Key
• The Gainesville Sun – Doug Finger, Multi-car crash on I-75 sends two to hospital
• The News-Press – Kinfay Moroti, Traffic stop turns deadly

Feature Photography

• Orlando Sentinel – Red Huber, Eagle and prey
• The Florida Times-Union – Bob Self, Art Walk Faces
• The Florida Times-Union – Bob Self, Morning Rower

Photography Story

• The Gainesville Sun – Doug Finger, Mack’s killer gets 1st degree murder
• The Gainesville Sun – Erica Brough, Rural Florida Community
• Treasure Coast Newspapers – Eric Hasert, Stuart Air Show

Art/Photo Illustration

• Creative Loafing – Andrew Spear, The Seven People You’ll Meet at the Convention
• Orlando Sentinel – Rich Pope, Rich Pope portfolio
• Sun Sentinel – Tammy Wheatley, 27 Things to Love About FLIFF

Infographic 

• Sun Sentinel – Cindy Jones-Hulfachor, Sally Kestin & John Maines, Cop blazes through Broward County
• The Gainesville Sun – Staff, Tragedy on I-75
• The News-Press – Michael Donlan, Scott Sleeper, Fracking in Florida; Mighty Mo’s final resting place

Front Page Design (Large)

• Creative Loafing – Todd Bates, The Style Issue, Cat Fight, Lucky 13
• Miami New Times – Miche Ratto, Collection
• Tampa Bay Business Journal – Pam Huff & Chris Wilkerson, Tampa Bay Business Journal

Front Page Design (Small)

• Orlando Sentinel – Staff, Orlando Sentinel front page
• Sun Sentinel – Lillian Mayor, 17,668
• The Miami Herald – Robert Cohn, Sports Front Page Design

Best Newscast

• WFTS-TV – ABC Action News Staff , Kristin Moore & Felicia Burton, Tropical Storm Debby, ABC Action News At 5PM
• WFTV-TV – Kim Bottom & Staff, WFTV Entry – 11pm Newscast 11/27/12

Investigative Reporting 

• WBBH-TV – Lauren Bernaldo, Matthew Apthorp, Andy Pierrotti, Voter Investigation
• WFTS-TV – Michael George & Randy Wright, Private Information Made Public
• WTSP-TV – Mike Deeson, Tony D’Astoli & Paul Thorson, FINR Abuse

Spot News Reporting 

• WBBH-TV NBC-2 News – Nina Moini, Nina Moini Spot News Reporting
• WFTS-TV – Kristin Moore, Jacqueline Ingles & Scott Wilson, I-75 Pileup
• WFTV-TV – Staff, DeLand Publix Plane Crash

Government Coverage 

• WFTS-TV – Michael George & Randy Wright, Private Information Made Public
• WPTV-TV – Dan Krauth, Lynn Walsh & Jim Sitton, Millions Spent on Vacant South Florida Government Property
• WTSP-TV – Mike Deeson, Tony D’Astoli & Paul Thorson, Vern Buchanan: Congressional Questions

Continuing Coverage

• WFTS-TV – ABC Action News Staff, Tropical Storm Debby
• WFTS-TV – Jackie Callaway & Matt McGlashen, Charity Scam
• WFTV-TV – WFTV Staff, Trayvon Martin Coverage

Election Coverage

• WESH-TV – Greg Fox, “Commitment 2012”
• WFTS-TV – Staff, Republican National Convention

Feature Reporting 

• WESH-TV – Greg Fox, Scooter Man
• WFTS-TV – Alison Morrow, Blind Man’s Dog Hit
• WFTS-TV – Deiah Riley, Eugene Perry & Jennifer McVan, Melissa Dohme

Public Affairs

• WFTS-TV – Brendan McLaughlin, John Fulton & John Pendygraft, If I Die Young
• WFTS-TV – Lissette Campos, Jennifer McVan, Elizabeth Gold & Rich Pegram, Taking Action Against Domestic Violence
• WUSF-TV – Sarah Pusateri, Jennifer Molina, Uniform Betrayal: Rape in the Military

Anchor of the Year

• Bay News 9 – Veronica Cintron
• WFTS-TV – Jamison Uhler
• WWSB-TV – John McQuiston

Best Newscast 

• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Marva Hinton & The WLRN-Miami Herald News team, Day After the 2012 Election in South Florida
• WUSF-FM – Carson Cooper, Best Newscast – 09/11/2012
• WUSF-FM – Susan Giles Wantuck, Best Newscast – 11/06/2012

General Coverage

• WFSU-FM – Jessica Palombo, Tropical Storm Debby Coverage
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Ashley Lopez, WLRN-Miami Herald News & The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting, The Florida Ballot Amendments
• WUSF-FM – WUSF Staff, Republican National Convention compilation

Investigative Reporting 

• WFSU-FM – Lynn Hatter, Family Speaks Out After Fla. State Mental Hospital Nurse Charged With Neglect
• WLRN-Miami Herald News & The Florida Center for Investigative Reporting – Sarah Gonzalez, John O’Connor, Mc Nelly Torres & Lynn Waddell, 13th Grade (Remedial Education in Florida)
• WUSF-FM – Steve Newborn, Post Office Supervisor Says Suspicious Spill Ruined His Health

Government Coverage

• WFSU-FM – Sascha Cordner, Legislator looks to increase penalties for high-speed chases that result in deaths
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Gina Jordan, The Woman Behind Florida’s Stand Your Ground Law
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Rick Stone, How Bad Things Happen To Good Bills

Election Coverage

• WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN-Miami Herald News Staff & The Florida Roundup, WLRN-Miami Herald News Election Coverage Samples

Feature Reporting 

• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Christine DiMattei, Remembering Jaco Pastorius
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Sammy Mack, Islandia: South Florida’s Own Little Atlantis
• WUSF-FM – Bobbie O’Brien, Vets Adapative Sports: “This Is Not Your Father’s VA Anymore”

Public Affairs

• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Phil Latzman, Elaine Chen, Alicia Zuckerman & Danny Rivero, The Florida Roundup: Post Election Special
• WUSF-FM – WUSF Staff, The Closing and Privatizing of Florida’s Prisons

Affiliated Blog 

• South Florida Business Journal – Paul Brinkmann, Fraud in South Florida
• Sun Sentinel – Anthony Man & Brittany Wallman, Broward Politics
• Tampa Bay Times – Staff, The Buzz

Independent Blog

• Shadow of the Stadium – Noah Pransky

News Web Site 

• Florida Center for Investigative Reporting – Staff
• Tampa Bay Times – Staff, Tampabay.com
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – The WLRN-Miami Herald News team, WLRN.org

Online Package 

• Orlando Sentinel – Staff, In The Shadow of Race
• The News-Press – Staff, JetBlue Park: Ready for the Red Sox
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – WLRN-Miami Herald News Team, Remembering Hurricane Andrew stories

User-Generated Content

• WLRN-Miami Herald News – Terence Cantarella & WLRN Miami Herald News team, The Canoe Project
• WLRN-Miami Herald News – The WLRN-Miami Herald News team, Tweet Us A Story: You Can Co-Author A Story With Junot Diaz

2013 Florida College Press Association Awards

WINNERS

College Journalist of the Year 

Ryan Cortes – University Press

College Newspaper – Weekly 

1.     University Press – Staff, University Press

2.     The Current – Elizabeth Tomaselli, Jeralyn Darling, Tracy Crow & Staff

3.     The Minaret – Joshua Napier, Chelsea Daubar, Jessica Keesee & Daniel Reimold, S02 College Newspaper- Weekly

College Newspaper – Non-Weekly 

1.     Central Florida Future – 2012 Central Florida Future Staff, Central Florida Future

2.     iPulse – iPulse Staff, Obama Meets Romney at Lynn

College Magazine 

1.     The Minaret – Michael Trobiano, Joshua Napier, Chelsea Daubar & Jessica Keesee, S04 College Magazine

College Media Website

1.     University of Miami – Virginia Ansaldi, Patricia Borns Borns, Qin Chen & Megan Terrilli, The Audacity of Beauty

2.     University of Miami – Marcos Alonso, Patricia Borns, Josh Meltzer & Megan Terrilli, Revolution Revisited

3.     University Press – Staff, Upressonline

News Story – Weekly 

1.     University Press – Karla Bowsher & James Shackelford, Who’s in charge here?

2.     The Current – Malena Carollo, One ASPEC member dies in wreck, two others injured

3.     The Current – Elizabeth Tomaselli, New ECOS president to veto senate approved budget

News Story – Non-Weekly 

1.     Central Florida Future – Sarah Aslam, Student’s app violates policy

2.     Central Florida Future – Andy Zunz, Fans fret over unfilled seats

3.     The Gargoyle – Ryan Buffa, Preacher or protester? Tatter brings religious message to Flagler students

News Photo 

1.     Barry Buccaneer – AJ Gonzalez, Walkers continue their journey to end domestic violence

Feature Story – Weekly 

1.     The Current – Malena Carollo, EC student travels home to Venezuela; votes in election

2.     The Minaret – Stef Crocco, S11 Feature Story – Weekly

3.     Eagle News – Kalhan Rosenblatt, The Hijab Challenge

Feature Story – Non-Weekly

1.     The Gargoyle – Sarah Williamson, Muslim student responds to ignorance, reacts with tolerance

Feature Photo 

1.     The Gargoyle – Sarah Williamson, Together again: Colombian refugees resettle in Jacksonville

2.     University Press – Michelle Friswell, Mike Jarvis

Sports Story – Weekly 

1.     University Press – Ryan Cortes, Schnellenberger unhinged — and having the time of his life

2.     The Current – Malena Carollo, Jenks serving up English after Eckerd athletic career

Sports Photo 

1.     University Press – Ryan Murphy, Graham Wilbert

Sports Column 

1.     University Press – Ryan Cortes, Commentary: FAU introduces new AD Pat Chun to thundering approval

Front Page Design – Weekly

1.     University Press – Phaedra Blaize & Emily Galea, University Press Front Page Design

Front Page Design – Non-Weekly

1.     iPulse – iPulse Staff, Honoring Our Own

Feature Design – Weekly

1.     The Current – Carver Lee, Eckerd on politics

Feature Design – Non-Weekly

1.     iPulse – iPulse Staff, Student’s Election Infection

2.     Barry Buccaneer – Susan Dorta, Notable alumni share tips for landing a job after graduation

Editorial/Opinion Column 

1.     The Current – Will Skinner, Student shares his experience at Occupy Tampa

2.     Central Florida Future – Kaley LaQuea, Hitt’s raise sends wrong message

3.     The Current – Max Martinez, The Mets need a few more players

Finalists in each category are presented in alphabetical order by organization

To correct errors or omissions, please contact Tim Dodson, tim@timdodson.com

Ihosvani Rodriguez is more casually known as “Geo.” He got the nickname in middle school when a classmate mistook his name for Giovanni and started calling him Geo. It stuck around, except for his Sun Sentinel byline, which still reads “Ihosvani Rodriguez,” because “my mother doesn’t read my stories… just my bylines.”

By: Dori Zinn

Rodriguez has been at the Sun Sentinel since 2004, covering crime and occasional crazy Florida stories. When he isn’t showing off South Florida on Instagram, he’s part of a team that won Sun Sentinel its first Pulitzer Prize.

“I’ve been a newspaper reporter for 17 years. It’s still strange that my first major award is for videos,” Rodriguez says. He produced all four videos that were a part of the “Speeding Cops” package. Pretty good for a guy whose journalism education was by “screwing things up really bad.” Follow him on Twitter.

SPJ South Florida: What’s one part of your job that most people don’t realize you do?

Geo Rodriguez: It still amuses me to run into people who are puzzled on why a newspaper guy wants to interview them with a video camera.

It also surprises many to learn that most of us in my team reports and writes stories and then shoot and edit video for those stories all in one day.

Sometimes we find time to Tweet, Facebook and Instagram!

What’s the least glamorous part of your job?

The crazy long hours and sitting through countless boring meetings and/or court hearings. Unlike TV journalists, we are not recognized at crime scenes.

Career highlight and lowlight?

Highlight: as a really young Florida Today reporter, I got to go hunting for frogs at night in the pitch-dark Everglades among all the alligators.

Lowlight: Still living quarter to quarter worried about being laid off.

What’s the most frustrating part of your job?

We have fewer staffers and more appetite for content in all sorts of platforms. It is getting harder to find time to do more meaningful projects or stories that require more than a day of effort.

What’s the most fun part about your job?

I really enjoy going to work not knowing what my day will be like. I once jumped off an airplane with the Army’s Golden Knights in Homestead and was at the scene of a house fire the next morning.

Do you remember a point in your career that you feel you wouldn’t be who you were today without it?

I was stuck covering a Hollywood city meeting one day and my editor called me to ask if I wanted to go work for sister TV station WSFL as a shooter/reporter based in Miami. My only qualification: I am from Miami. I said yes and my career continues to change every day because of that decision.

If you had to do your career over, what would you do different? What’s your biggest regret?

I honestly have no regrets. I never had a game plan and never took a journalism class beyond a Mass Communications 101 course I took at Miami-Dade College on a whim. I’ve learned everything by screwing up things up really bad… and yet everything has turned out peachy thus far.

There was a time I did a telephone interview with Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters many years ago. It was horrid from the moment he answered the phone and I totally blanked out. It was exactly like that SNL skit with Chris Farley and Paul McCartney. “Remember when you guys did Meddle? That was so cool.”  I think I ended up hanging up on him because I was too embarrassed.

Who did you admire or look up to when you started out?

As a weird high school band geek, I worshiped Miami Herald, Miami News and Washington Post bylines. In college I wanted to be Hunter S. Thompson, Jack Kerouac and Tom Wolfe.

What piece of advice would you give to young people who are just starting out their careers?

It’s going to be rough, but there are many rewards for those who stick to it for all the right reasons. Industry leaders are looking at you right now for answers, but don’t be afraid to be wrong because everyone is still trying to figure this out. You need to be aware that what works for you today will likely suck for you tomorrow and you will need to adapt quickly.

What’s the future of newspapers as you see it?

None of us work for “newspapers” anymore. Unlike what others want to believe, I think we are a lot closer to finding out what a “newspaper” is supposed to be and look like. Look at what the Boston Globe is doing right now following the Boston Marathon bombings.

Getting there has been bumpy and frustrating, but I think it’s going to work out for those of us who manage to stick around.

Throughout March, April, May and June, SPJ South Florida Pro will feature Q&As every Friday with South Florida’s most prominent journalists. Want to see someone featured? Want to join SPJ? Email us.

Dori Zinn is VP of Membership for SPJ South Florida Pro. Follow her on Twitter.

SPJ South Florida Pro is hosting its 2nd Annual Diversity Mixer. Join local journalists and celebrate diversity in South Florida. Free food available courtesy of SPJ South Florida

Who:

SPJSoFla – South Florida Society of Professional Journalists
SFBJA – South Florida Black Journalists Association
NAHJ – National Association of Hispanic Journalists
AAJA – Asian American Journalists Association
NAJA – Native American Journalists Association
NLGJA – National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association

When: 
7 pm, Wednesday, May 22

Where:
Hollywood Vine: 2035 Harrison Street, Hollywood, FL
R.S.V.P.:
Find our event on Facebook
Note: This is a free event. You do NOT have to be a member of SPJ or any of the partner organizations to attend. Snacks will be provided by SPJSoFla.  

If you live in South Florida, Kelley Dunn is a journalist you have probably seen on TV once or twice.

Dunn is a five-time Emmy Award winning journalist who began her career in West Palm Beach working for WPTV, where she still works today. She began her career as a reporter, but quickly became an anchor for the NBC affiliate TV station in Palm Beach County.

By Lynn Walsh

She was born in California, but only lived there for a year. Dunn was raised in Daytona Beach and received her Bachelor’s degree in Broadcasting from the University of Florida. Follow her on Twitter.

SPJ SoFla: What’s one part of your job that most folks don’t realize you do?

Kelly Dunn: Most people do not realize that we answer our own phones, book our own speaking engagements and answer our own emails!  They also do not realize that we style our own hair, buy and wear our own clothes, apply our own makeup and everything else related to our on-air look.

What is one career highlight?

I did a story on retinoblastoma (cancer of the retina).  A 3-year-old in our area died of this terrible disease.  It turns out, his grandmother, Pam Bergsma, photographed the tumor in his eye months before it was able to be detected by a doctor or started causing symptoms.

In some flash photography, retinoblastoma appears opaque in the affected eye. When Pam learned this fact after little Joey’s death, she started a campaign to make people aware of it.  My story on Pam happened to have been seen by a grandmother in West Palm Beach who saw the same “white dot” in her granddaughter’s eye when she looked through recent pictures of their trip to Disney.

That grandma took the little girl to the doctor and sure enough it was diagnosed as retinoblastoma, but it was caught early.  Little Lexie did not lose her eye or her life.

We introduced the two grandma’s in a follow up story and featured Lexie’s success story.  It was amazing and won me my first emmy.

What’s the best part of your job?

Best part of the job is working with such amazing people who have become some of my best friends.  In fact, I met my husband at channel 5….27 years ago!

What’s the worst part of your job?

When people feel that they have the right to say or email nasty things to you just because you’re on television.

What is one piece of advice you wish you could surgically implant into college students and young professionals?

Learn grammar! It is astounding how poorly people speak and write these days.  Proper English and grammar always matters!

Throughout March, April, May and June, SPJ South Florida Pro will feature Q&As every Friday with South Florida’s most prominent journalists. Want to see someone featured? Want to join SPJ? Email us.

Lynn Walsh is the Vice President of Programs for SPJ South Florida Pro. Follow her on Twitter.

Twelve journos dared to try their hand at Ethics Hold’em, a Texas Hold’em style card game with an ethical twist. SPJ South Florida Pro Chapter Vice President Gideon Grudo volunteered to deal the rookie table, and SPJ guest Ryan Dixon stepped in as the dealer for the veteran table. (Extra props to Gideon for patiently instructing his incorrigible group of novices.)

Spectators and players snacked on free appetizers provided by SPJ and sipped the Irishmen special of buy one, get one free drinks.

After an intense tilt, first and second place winners from each tables squared off in a combined game for the chance for an Amazon gift card. The top prize of $20 in Amazon gift cards was awarded to Dan Alexander, a graduate student at nearby Florida Atlantic University. Second place and a $10 Amazon gift card went to Padrick Brewer, a Digital Content Editor at Fox Sports Florida.

Special thanks to SPJ Region 3 director Michael Koretzky for providing the poker tables and Ethics Hold’em cards. Want to host your own Ethics Hold ‘Em event? Email him.

For photos of the event, check out SPJ South Florida’s album on Facebook.

Chief Meteorologist Steve Weagle is no stranger to social media. The Nova Scotia-native works hard to incorporate pictures, tweets and comments from viewers while telling them what to expect outside. Weagle has worked for WPTV since 1998. Before coming to South Florida, he worked for the CTV and with the Weather Service.

By Lynn Walsh

When he isn’t tweeting or letting South Florida know about the next big storm heading to the area, he is actively volunteering in the community. The American Red Cross and The Palm Beach Literacy Coalition are two organizations that are near and dear to his heart. Follow Weagle on Twitter or like him on Facebook.

SPJ SoFla: What’s one part of your job that most folks don’t realize you do?

Steve Weagle: Social media has made this job 24/7. I post weather updates non-stop day and night. And those meteorologists who don’t will soon be left out in the cold.

What is one career highlight that sticks out to you?

Hurricane Frances. The weather Superbowl. It was a true team effort where everything clicked.

A Lowlight?

Hurricane Irene in 1999. It was a learning experience. We were too confident it was going to hit Tampa. You learn from every hurricane coverage event. And management made the mistake of not deciding whether to run the World Series game or cover a hurricane. Today the decision would be easy. You cover weather.

What is the most frustrating part of your job now?

Using social media efficiently in severe weather coverage. At least one meteorologist needs to be dedicated to social media updates. Getting news from Facebook and Twitter is not the future, it’s now! It’s amazing how many meteorologists don’t realize that.

What is the most fun part of your job?

Live weather remotes at events. Especially small community events that are so appreciative for the publicity.

What is one piece of advice you wish you could surgically implant into college students and young professionals?

I’ll steal a line from Ron Burgandy. Stay Classy. Don’t try to get attention with social media gimmicks like Harlem Shuffle videos on the news set and goofy photos of yourself on Facebook. It’s a credibility killer. If they don’t take you seriously they won’t watch or follow you in the future.

Weather is a very important part of every newscast. Do you feel the pressure to get it right every day? If you get it wrong – what’s the reaction like from people? Is it anything like in the movie The Weatherman?

Yes, I’ve had a few Nicholas Cage moments on the street. Facebook and Twitter can be unforgiving, too. The great thing is that you can redeem yourself quickly with a blown forecast by getting the next one right.

Throughout March, April, May and June, SPJ South Florida Pro will feature Q&As every Friday with South Florida’s most prominent journalists. Want to see someone featured? Want to join SPJ? Email us.

Lynn Walsh is the Vice President of Programs for SPJ South Florida Pro. Follow her on Twitter.