1997 Excellence in Journalism Awards

Writing:

Excellence in General News Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Jeffrey Gettleman, St. Petersburg Times.

Second Place - Jim Schoettler, Florida Times Union.

Third Place - Barbara Feder, Palm Beach Post.

Class B:

First Place - Michael Morrissey, Bradenton Herald.

Second Place - Kelly Turner, Star-Banner.

Third Place - Thomas Krause, Fort Pierce Tribune.

Class C:

First Place - Julianne Munn, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Larry Hobbs, Palm Beach Daily News.

Third Place - Britt Nelson, Palatka Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Anne L. Hall, High Springs Herald.

Second Place - Judy Vik, West Boca Times.

Third Place - Marsha Jaquays, Community News.

Excellence in Crime News Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Jim Schoettler, Florida Times-Union.

Second Place - Darlene McCormick, Tampa Tribune.

Third Place - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel staff.

Class B:

First Place - Brigid O'Malley, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Chris Tisch, Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Joe Callahan, Ocala Star-Banner.

Class C:

First Place - Claire Booth, Boca Raton News.

Second Place - Christi Poole, Citrus County Chronicle.

Third Place - William Townsend III, Palatka Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Stacie Orozco, Boynton/Delray Times.

Second Place - Jill Krueger, Orlando Business Journal.

Third Place - Judy Vik, South Florida Newspaper Network.

Excellence in Education News Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Thomas B. Pfankuch, Florida Times-Union.

Second Place - Mary Shedden, Florida Today.

Third Place - Paulette Lash Ritchie, St. Petersburg Times.

Class B:

First Place - Wendy Victoria, Northwest Florida Daily News.

Second Place - Sandra Nortunen, Charlotte Sun Herald.

Class C:

First Place - Julie Pomposelli, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Anthony Clark, Palatka Daily News.

Third Place - Rick Cundiff, Citrus County Chronicle.

Class D:

First Place - Anne L. Hall, High Springs Herald.

Second Place - Janel Shoun, Bonita Banner.

Third Place - Christopher Lloyd, Tri-County Sun.

Excellence in Environmental News Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Sean Rowe, Miami New Times.

Second Place - Kirk Semple, Miami New Times.

Third Place - Robert King, Palm Beach Post.

Class B:

First Place - Eric Staats, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Pam Russell, Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Mladen Rudman, Northwest Florida Daily News.

Class C:

First Place - Julianne Munn, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Margie Kacoha, Palm Beach Daily News.

Third Place - Anthony Clark, Palatka Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Jill Higgins, Bonita Banner.

Second Place - William Marden, Ponte Vedra Recorder.

Third Place - Susan Lundine, Orlando Business Journal.

Excellence in Governmental News Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Janet Cho, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Second Place - Robert Andrew Powell, Miami New Times.

Third Place - Jane Musgrave, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Class B:

First Place - Marisa J. Porto, Sun Herald.

Second Place - Chris Tisch, Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Mike Clements, Panama City News-Herald.

Class C:

First Place - Susan Beach, Palm Beach Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Mark Miller, Community News.

Second Place - William Marden, Ponte Vedra Recorder.

Third Place (tie) - Marsha Jaquays, Community News.

Third Place (tie) - Jill Krueger, Adam Byrd, Pat Beall, Orlando Business Journal.

Excellence in Feature Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Lynda Edwards, Miami New Times.

Second Place - Deborah Work, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place (tie) - Matt Schudel, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place (tie) - Phil Davis, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Class B:

First Place - James Lilliefors, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Carol Kearney High, Naples Daily News.

Third Place - Gerald V. Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat.

Class C:

First Place - Karen Navas, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Michele Gelormine, Palm Beach Daily News.

Third Place - Lara Bradburn, Hernando Today.

Class D:

First Place - Kavita Varma, South Florida Business Journal.

Second Place - Rachel Kerns, Bonita Banner. Third Place (tie) - John Williams, Boynton Beach Times.

Third Place (tie) - Roger Buckwalter, Jupiter Courier.

Excellence in Religion Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Juli Cragg Hilliard, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Second Place - Judy Cantor, Miami New Times.

Third Place - Phil Davis, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Class B:

First Place - Jan Pudlow, Tallahassee Democrat.

Second Place - Kim Atamian, Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Marian Christensen Rizzo, Ocala Star-Banner.

Class C:

First Place - Nancy Kennedy, Citrus County Chronicle.

Class D:

First Place - Gwenda Hiett-Clements, Island Reporter.

Second Place - Patrick McCallister, The DeLand Beacon.

Third Place - Kristen Smith, Bonita Banner.

Excellence in Business Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Danielle Herubin, Palm Beach Post.

Second Place - James McNair, Miami Herald.

Third Place - Marguerite Plunkett, Palm Beach Post.

Class B:

First Place - Kris Hudson, Stuart/Port St. Lucie News.

Second Place - Kim Atamian, Bradenton Daily Herald.

Third Place - Clay Cone, Naples Daily News.

Class C:

First Place - Amber Grimes, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Anthony L. Clark, Palatka Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Cheryl Kane Heimlich, South Florida Business Journal.

Second Place - Jeff Ostrowski, South Florida Business Journal.

Third Place - Jill Krueger, Orlando Business Journal.

Excellence in Sports Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Dave Hyde, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. Second Place - Greg Stoda, Palm Beach Post.

Third Place (tie) - Robert Powell, Miami New Times.

Third Place (tie) - XS Magazine staff, (now City Link).

Class B:

First Place - Brian Ettkin, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Dennis Jacob, Stuart News.

Third Place - Roger Mooney, Charlotte Sun Herald.

Class C:

First Place - Michael Barber, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Andy Kent, Boca Raton News.

Third Place - Seth Soffian, Palatka Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Fred J. Michael II, South Florida Newspaper Network.

Second Place - Jim Rassol, Deerfield Observer.

Third Place - Mike Mulhern, Tropic Tidbits (Jacksonville).

Excellence in Sports Column Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Mike Bianchi, Florida Times-Union.

Second Place - Greg Stoda, The Palm Beach Post.

Third Place - Edwin Pope, The Miami Herald.

Class B:

First Place - Brian Ettkin, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Pat Dooley, The Gainesville Sun.

Third Place - Gerald V. Ensley, Tallahassee Democrat.

Class C:

First Place - Michael Barber, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Andy Hall, Palatka Daily News.

Third Place - Jeff Berlinicke, Sanford Herald.

Class D:

First Place - Alan Byrd, Orlando Business Journal.

Second Place - Mike Da Roza, High Springs Herald.

Excellence in Opinion Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Gail Pastula, Fort Myers News-Press.

Class B:

First Place - E. L. Ted Burrows, Stuart News.

Second Place - Jeff Lytle, Naples Daily News.

Third Place - Donna Wright, Bradenton Herald.

Class C:

First Place - Charlie Brennan, Citrus County Chronicle.

Class D:

First Place - Bo Turner, High Springs Herald.

Second Place - Roger Buckwalter, Jupiter Courier.

Third Place - David Bittner, Jewish Journal.

Excellence in Commentary Writing:

Class A:

First Place - John Grogan, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Second Place - Deborah Work, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place (tie) - Matt Schudel, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place (tie) - Mark Lane, News-Journal.

Third Place (tie) - Nicole McGill, Florida Times-Union.

Class B:

First Place - Mary Loftus, The Ledger (Lakeland).

Second Place - Donna Wright, The Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Harriet Daniels, Ocala Star-Banner.

Class C:

First Place - Steve Arthur, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Sarah Pollak, Boca Raton News.

Third Place - David Rogers, Palm Beach Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Charles Sobczak, Sanibel Island Reporter.

Second Place - Kevin Hemstock, Jupiter Courier.

Third Place - Bo Turner, High Springs Herald.

Excellence in Criticism Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Scott Eyman, Palm Beach Post.

Second Place - Sean Piccoli, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place - Joan Altabe, Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Classes B, C:

First Place - Bill Dean, The (Lakeland) Ledger.

Second Place - Maxine Ginsberg, Naples Daily News.

Third Place - Herbert Perez-Vidal, Palm Beach Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Robert Sims, EastSider.

Second Place - Mark Burger, EastSider.

Third Place - Jeffrey Smart, The Longboat Observer.

Excellence in In-Depth News Writing:

Class A:

First Place - Diane C. Lane, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Second Place - Jay Weaver and John Maines, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place - Nancy San Martin, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Class B:

First Place - Mary Loftus, The (Lakeland) Ledger.

Second Place - Kelly Turner, Ocala Star-Banner.

Third Place - Liz Freeman, Naples Daily News.

Class C:

First Place - Kimberly Miller, Boca Raton News.

Second Place - Jan Sjostrom, Palm Beach Daily News.

Third Place - Lara Bradburn, Hernando Today.

Class D:

First Place - Cathy Cottrill and Karie Wobrock, Bonita Banner.

Second Place - Sandy Sanders and Lisa A. Wright, Suncoast News.

Third Place - Cathy Cottrill, Bonita Banner.

Layout:

Excellence in Front Page Design:

Class A:

First Place - W. Kelley Lucas, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Second Place - Len Howell, Tampa Tribune.

Third Place - Fort Myers News-Press staff.

Class B:

First Place - Jim Sergeant, Stuart News.

Second Place - Gary Brown, Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Jenna Lehtola, Stuart News.

Class C:

First Place - Carol Carnevale, Palm Beach Daily News.

Second Place - Pam Smith, Boca Raton News.

Third Place - Palatka Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Thom Witt, Bonita Banner.

Second Place - Brian J. O'Connor, South Florida Business Journal.

Third Place - Heidi Smith, Longboat Observer.

Excellence in Local Page Design:

Class A:

Class B:

First Place - Staff, Ocala Star Banner.

Second Place - Jenna Lehtola, The Stuart/Port St. Lucie News.

Third Place - Scott Kneeland, The Gainesville Sun.

Classes C, D: First Place - Pam Smith, Boca Raton News.

Second Place - Carol Carnevale, Palm Beach Daily News.

Third Place - Charlie Brennan, Citrus County Chronicle.

Excellence in Feature Page Design:

Class A:

First Place - W. Kelley Lucas, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Second Place - Michelle D. Mazzone, Palm Beach Post.

Third Place - Lisa Dawson, Palm Beach Post.

Class B:

First Place - Jim Sergent, Stuart News.

Second Place - Laura Kelly, Stuart News.

Third Place - Harold Weaver, Bradenton Herald.

Class C:

First Place - Yolanda Cernicky, Palm Beach Daily News.

Second Place - Carol Carnevale, Palm Beach Daily News.

Third Place - Sue Quigley, Hernando Today.

Class D:

First Place - Staff, Orlando Business Journal.

Second Place - Mitch Miller, EastSider.

Third Place - Thom Witt, Bonita Banner.

Excellence in Business Page Design:

Class A:

First Place - Lisa Dawson, Palm Beach Post.

Second Place - Kelly O'Neill, Florida Times-Union.

Third Place - Paul Wallace, Palm Beach Post.

Classes B, C:

First Place - Scott Kneeland, Gainesville Sun.

Second Place - Lorene A. Roberson, Naples Daily News.

Third Place - Amber Grimes, Citrus County Chronicle.

Class D:

First Place - Orlando Business Journal.

Second Place - Brian J. O'Connor, South Florida Business Journal.

Excellence in Sports Page Design:

Classes A, B:

First Place - Florida Times-Union.

Second Place - Thomas Elia, Palm Beach Post.

Third Place - Ron Hartman, Naples Daily News.

Classes C, D:

First Place - Andy Hall, Palatka Daily News.

Second Place - Rob Wolf, Citrus County Chronicle.

Third Place - Thom Witt, Bonita Banner.

Special Section:

Class A:

First Place - Staff, Florida Times Union.

Second Place - Karen Feldman, The News-Press.

Third Place - Staff, The Palm Beach Post staff.

Class B:

First Place - Maria Cote, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - The Gainesville Sun sports staff.

Third Place - Star Banner staff.

Class C:

First Place - Palm Beach Daily News staff.

Second Place - Palm Beach Daily News staff.

Third Place - Yolanda Cernicky, Palm Beach Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Orlando Business Journal.

Second Place - Tommy Greene, Madison Enterprise-Recorder.

Third Place - EastSider staff.

Photography:

Excellence in Spot News Coverage:

Class A:

First Place - Rick Wilson, Florida Times-Union.

Second Place - Joe Raedle, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place - M. Jack Luedke, Florida Times-Union.

Class B:

First Place - Douglas L. Engle, Ocala Star-Banner.

Second Place - Bruce Ackerman, Ocala Star-Banner.

Third Place - Ben Gray, Naples Daily News.

Class C:

First Place - Jana Pittson, Citrus County Chronicle.

Second Place - Douglas R. Clifford, Hernando Today.

Class D:

First Place - Mark Freerks, West Boca Times.

Second Place - Kevin Hemstock, Jupiter Courier.

Third Place - Tommy Greene, Madison Enterprise Reporter.

Excellence in Feature Photography:

Class A:

First Place - Joe Raedle, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Second Place - Jim Virga, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place - Andrew Itkoff, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Class B:

First Place - Eric Strachan, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Douglas Engle, Star Banner.

Third Place - Al Anderson/Grant Jefferies, Bradenton Herald.

Class C:

First Place - Jacek Gancarz - Palm Beach Daily News.

Second Place - Douglas Clifford, Hernando Today.

Third Place - Ruth Cincotta, Palm Beach Daily News.

Class D:

First Place - Hope Kinchen, Bonita Banner.

Second Place - Andrew Itkoff, South Florida Business Journal.

Third Place - Kevin Hemstock, Jupiter Courier.

Excellence in Sports Photography:

Class A:

First Place - Jim Virga, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Second Place - Robert Azmitia, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Third Place - Eliot J. Schechter, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Class B:

First Place - Ben Gray, Naples Daily News.

Second Place - Doug Engle, Ocala Star Banner.

Class C:

First Place - Jana Pittson, Citrus County Chronicle.

Class D:

First Place - Hope Kinchen, Bonita Banner.

Second Place - Ron Chenoy, South Florida Newspaper Network.

Third Place - Joe Marshall, South Florida Newspaper Network.

Excellence in Photo Illustration:

All Categories:

First Place - Karsten Ivey, Florida Times-Union.

Second Place - W. Kelley Lucas, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Third Place - Bethany Taylor-Myers, Orlando Business Journal.

Illustration:

Excellence in Info-Graphic Presentations:

All Categories:

First Place - Tim Standish, Florida Today.

Second Place - Palm Beach Post sports staff.

Third Place - Lina Lawson, Palm Beach Post.

Excellence in Artist Illustration:

Class A:

First Place - Lina Lawson, Palm Beach Post.

Second Place - Octavio Diaz, Florida Today.

Third Place - Desi Aragon, Florida Times-Union.

Class B:

First Place - Jim Sergent, Stuart News.

Class C:

No entries.

Class D:

First Place - Pamela Smith, South Florida Business Journal.

Excellence in Editorial Cartooning:

Class A:

First Place - Stephanie McMillan, XS Magazine (now City Link).

Classes B, C, D:

First Place - David Willson, Palm Beach Daily News.

Magazines:

Newspaper Weekly Magazine:

Class A:

First Place - Sunshine Magazine, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel.

Classes B, C:

First Place - Northwest Florida Daily News.

Second Place - Bradenton Herald.

Third Place - Naples Daily News.

Weekly Periodical:

First Place - South Florida Business Journal.

Second Place - XS Magazine (now City Link).

Third Place - Miami New Times.

Special Awards:

Public Service:

Information on individual winners did not move yet. More information will be posted when it becomes available.

Class A:

First Place - Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel for a series on pawn shops.

Second Place - Palm Beach Post for a series on violations of the Sunshine Law.

Third Place - Fort Myers News-Press for a series on doctors molesting patients.

Classes B, C:

First Place - Debi Pelletier, The Stuart News.

Second Place - Steve Arthur, Citrus County Chronicle.

Class D:

First Place - Susan Lundine and Melissa Stoker, Orlando Business Journal.

Editorial Support:

No award. Not enough entries.

Best On-Line Publication:

Class A:

First Place - City Link Online (formerly XS Magazine).

Second Place - Florida Times Union.

Third Place - Miami New Times.

Classes B, C:

First Place - Panama City News Herald.

Second Place - Charlotte Sun-Herald.

Third Place - Bradenton Herald Internet Plus.