Tallahassee Democrat wins top journalism prize for 4th consecutive year for COVID, crime coverage
For the fourth consecutive year, the Tallahassee Democrat is taking home the top journalism award from the Florida Society of News Editors — the Gold Medal — for a project on the intersection of poverty and youth violence and a heart-wrenching look inside a local hospital's COVID ward.
The Democrat also swept the top five categories in its division with first places in Breaking News Reporting, Enterprise Stories, Investigative Reporting, Community Leadership and Features Writing.
The Gold Medal recognizes "meritorious public service by a newspaper through distinguished reporting, writing and presentation." The streak in the Division B category is unprecedented in the more than a century that the Democrat has been serving the capital city. Also rare, was a tie for the Gold Medal – both won by Tallahassee Democrat journalists.
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In their inaugural year at the Tallahassee Democrat, breaking news reporter Christopher Cann and K-12 reporter Ana Go?i-Lessan won the gold for their empathetic exploration of youth violence in which they chronicled a group of teens navigating a city where poverty can cast young Black men into survival mode. One reader described it as perhaps "one of the most important articles I have read" in the paper.
"I can’t even imagine growing up in the life described here," he wrote.
Digital specialist Grace Pateras was also given a share of the gold for her work in bringing the story to social media, specifically Instagram to reach teens on the platform in which they congregate.
“Thank you to DJ Pace, Quinn Bryant, Markeem Martin, Braxton Gavin, Gabe Graham, DJ Bohler and Jordan for letting us tell their stories,” Go?i-Lessan said. “We couldn’t and wouldn’t have written this without you.”
Winning her second Gold Medal in two years, photojournalist Alicia Devine was honored for taking readers behind the thin curtain that separates life from death in the COVID ward at Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare. Her work at the height of the delta variant surge was heralded as raw, powerful and life-saving journalism.
"This was the first time I watched someone as they died," she would later tell USA TODAY, when they selected her photo as the image of the year. "As soon as I got in my car I called my editor and sobbed. It’s a moment I will never forget."
Both projects exemplify the news team's commitment to a community they love, said Editor William Hatfield.
"It really is an incredible team that truly puts its heart, sweat and sometimes tears into the work," Hatfield said. "It's one of my highest honors to call them colleagues."
The Democrat also took a first place in the Investigative Reporting category for its "Inside the Maddox Messages" series that was built upon thousands of text messages obtained by the Democrat.
The messages — between disgraced former City Commissioner Scott Maddox and numerous political movers and shakers — laid bare the manner in which he conducted business behind the scenes during his last years in office. They revealed how Maddox brokered deals involving city business outside the sunshine, used a legally questionable heavy hand in the appointment of high-ranking officials and worked to hustle cash from supporters.
"The stories were the capstone to a corruption case first reported by the Democrat in 2017 and chronicled by its journalists for more than five years," Hatfield said.
A history of excellence
2021: Tallahassee Democrat wins statewide journalism awards, third consecutive Gold Medal
2019: Democrat wins gold medal, more than a dozen awards in Florida journalism contest
Of special note was a Breaking News first place win shared by Sports Editor Jim Henry, his sports colleagues and the late Gerald Ensley eulogizing the death of a Garnet and Gold legend when former FSU football coach Bobby Bowden died.
Hatfield noted that Ensley kept a running list of his awards on his computer. Now, he can add another to the list.
"Like Bobby Bowden, Gerald was a fixture in Tallahassee homes and was known as his beloved city's best historian," Hatfield said. "Even after Gerald passed on, we kept his obituary on Bowden lovingly updated and delivered it to doorsteps online as a final gift from Gerald to readers."
"Sometimes breaking news is intricately planned, even over the decades," Hatfield continued. "And I know Jim, who also lost a friend when the community lost a legend, is so honored to share this, along with the rest of the sports team."
All told, the Democrat won eight first place, two second place and two third place awards in the FSNE contest and more awards in other state and regional contests.
The newspaper is a member of the USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida, which comprises 19 daily newspapers. In total, the USA TODAY NETWORK won 80 awards, including the two gold medals and 27 first place awards. The network’s newspapers also won 24 second place awards and 27 third place awards.
"As always, I hope you'll support this team's work by subscribing," Hatfield said. "We can't do our jobs without your support."
A complete list of awards won by the Democrat in Division B follows:
2022 Gold Medal Winners
TIE: Inside the COVID Ward at TMH - Alicia Devine
TIE: Youth Gun Violence in the Capitol City - Ana Go?i-Lessan, Christopher Cann, Grace Pateras
Breaking News Reporting
FIRST PLACE: The Death of a Garnet and Gold Legend Bobby Bowden - Jim Henry, Gerald Ensley (posthumous), and staff
His name shall endure: Bobby Bowden took FSU from 'nowhereland to splendor' | Gerald Ensley
Bobby Bowden dies: Legendary coach built Florida State into college football powerhouse
Early to bed, early to rise. Morning calls with Coach Bowden and Ann were special | Jim Henry
Enterprise Stories
FIRST PLACE: Youth Gun Violence in the Capitol City - Ana Go?i-Lessan, Christopher Cann, Grace Pateras
Investigative Reporting
FIRST PLACE: Inside the Maddox Messages - Jeff Burlew, Jeffrey Schweers, Karl Etters
'Let's conspire': Hundreds of Scott Maddox texts emerge in Tallahassee public corruption case
'It looks really bad': Scott Maddox texts point to deal-making outside the Sunshine
'Blueprint is yours': Scott Maddox texts reveal his role as the man who would be kingmaker
Texting for dollars: Maddox messages show intersection of public policy, campaign cash
Community Leadership
FIRST PLACE: Inside the COVID Ward at TMH - Alicia Devine
Don't let me die': Life and death inside Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare's COVID unit
Features Writing
FIRST PLACE: A Transition to his Authentic Self - Jack Williams
'I needed to be who I am': Tallahassee Soccer Club's Zak Worms discovering self as trans woman
Page Design
FIRST PLACE: The Death of Bobby Bowden - Elora Karim
SECOND PLACE: Maddox Unmasked - Erin Wetzelberger
THIRD PLACE: Health Care Heroes - Keith Saunders
Feature Photography
FIRST PLACE: Life and Death in the Tallahassee COVID Ward - Alicia Devine
Photo Story
FIRST PLACE: The Transition of Zak Worms - Alicia Devine
SECOND PLACE: Life and Death in a Tallahassee COVID ward - Alicia Devine
Editorial Cartoons
THIRD PLACE: Editorial Cartoons - Nathan Archer
GREEN EYESHADE AWARDS
In the prestigious Green Eyeshade Awards, run by the Society of Professional Journalists, the Democrat also performed well.
Competing against newspapers from around the Southeastern U.S., the Tallahassee Democrat and Alicia Devine won the Print Graphics Division for small and large newspapers for her work inside the TMH COVID ward.
In addition, the Democrat won the following awards:
Deadline Reporting / Small Dailies
First Place: The Death of a Garnet and Gold Legend - Jim Henry, Gerald Ensley (posthumous) and Staff
Investigative Reporting / Small Dailies
Second Place: A Lightning Rod Surgeon General - Jeffrey Schweers.
Third Place: Inside the Maddox Messages - Jeff Burlew, Jeffrey Schweers and Karl Etters
Feature Writing / Small Dailies
First Place: Life and Death in the COVID Ward - Alicia Devine
Sports Commentary / All Dailies
Second Place: The Death of a Garnet and Gold Legend - Jim Henry, Gerald Ensley (posthumous) and staff
Feature Photography / Newspapers
First Place: Behind the Curtain in the COVID Ward - Alicia Devine
SUNSHINE STATE AWARDS
The Tallahassee Democrat is also a finalist in a number of categories in the Sunshine State Awards, organized by the Florida Society of Professional Journalists.
Barbara A. Petersen Freedom of Information Award: A Lightning Rod Surgeon General - Jeffrey Schweers
COVID-19 – Feature Reporting: Inside the TMH COVID Ward - Alicia Devine
Breaking News Reporting: The Death of Bobby Bowden - Jim Henry, Gerald Ensley (posthumous) and Staff
Non-Deadline News Reporting (Small Papers): 'It’s Breaking Them’: Poverty and Youth Gun Violence - Ana Go?i-Lessan and Christopher Cann
Editorial Cartooning: The Toons of Nathan Archer - Nathan Archer
Beat Reporting – Government & Politics: John Kennedy collection - John Kennedy
Beat Reporting – Underrepresented Communities: Black Teens in Survival Mode - Ana Go?i-Lessan & Christopher Cann
Feature Photography: Attending the Dying in the COVID Ward - Alicia Devine
Art/Photo Illustration: Athletes Illuminated - Alicia Devine
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Tallahassee Democrat wins top journalism prize for 4th year in a row
