The Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists bestowed two first-place awards to Orlando Sentinel journalists, including one of its most prestigious prizes for the newspaper’s coverage of the Hope Florida scandal.
The Sentinel’s Barbara A. Peterson Freedom of Information Award, named for the Florida First Amendment Foundation’s long-serving president, went to the Sentinel Editorial Board and reporter Jeffrey Schweers, who uncovered unexplained payments to businesses, contractors and foster families by the beleaguered charity headed by First Lady Casey DeSantis.
The report, which relied on Schweers’ interviews with recipients of Hope Florida’s donations, was published despite an unsigned cease-and-desist letter by the Florida Department of Children and Families attempting to quash it.
“We appreciate all of the recognition from SPJ Florida, but winning the Barbara Peterson Freedom of Information Award was especially meaningful,” Executive Editor Roger Simmons said. “We were using public records to show how Hope Florida was spending its money, and the state tried to intimidate us to stop our reporting. Of course, we didn’t stop, and we will never allow such pressure to deter us.”
Reporter Stephen Hudak also won an award in light feature reporting for his story on Pearl, the world’s shortest dog.
Additionally, SPJ Florida placed several Sentinel journalists in the social justice reporting, breaking news, commentary, education, housing and short-form video categories.
Reporters Natalia Jaramillo and Ryan Gillespie were finalists for their coverage of immigration in Central Florida in the social justice category, while Gillespie was a finalist for his breaking news stories of the Pulse crosswalk being painted over. Both entries also placed in the Florida Society of News Editors contest earlier this year.
The Sentinel’s decorated columnist Scott Maxwell was named a finalist for his collection of columns in the general commentary and criticism category, while education reporter Steven Walker placed for his collection of stories on his beat.
GrowthSpotter editor Laura Kinsler also placed for her collection of stories on the housing and real estate beat.
Finally, Sentinel photographer Rich Pope was a finalist for his video on the winners of the newspaper’s annual “Central Floridian of the Year” contest, which took first prize at the FSNE awards.