Southwest Florida newspapers won two categories in the Florida Society of News Editors 2021 competition and received five other awards, including one for a statewide story exposing law enforcement lax attitudes.
The organization announced its awards on Thursday, July 15, at the Florida Media Conference’s annual lunch in the Westin Sarasota.
The Fort Myers News-Press and Naples Daily News Features all won three spots in feature photography in their category and the top two in the contest’s feature video. Content published in the 2020 calendar year was eligible for funding.
“We have such a great photography team that it’s not surprising they have won so many awards,” said Cindy McCurry-Ross, editor-in-chief of USA Today in Florida.
“The most gratifying thing, of course, is the impact we have on the community,” she said. “But it’s always nice to get that kind of recognition from our colleagues.”
Research by Devan Patel, a former public safety reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press, won second place in investigative coverage in Division A for organizations with more than 5 million average monthly unique visitors to their websites. The article examined lax oversight in law enforcement hiring and was published in Gannett’s newspapers across the state.
The history: Florida gave ailing officers a second chance. Hundreds screwed it up again.
The idea for the story arose when Patel was researching police hiring practices on Marco Island. He discovered the name of a deputy Hendry County sheriff who he knew had been released from Fort Myers Police Department. Patel began checking names and eventually spent nearly a year doing extensive research and writing the winning story.
It revealed how more than 500 law enforcement officers were hired in Florida despite being fired by other authorities for assault and robbery to murder.
Following Patel’s story and the death of George Floyd under a police stranglehold in Minneapolis, a bill was signed in Florida addressing both situations. For recruitment practices, it requires law enforcement officials to report dismissals to a nationwide database.
The law also requires police applicants to state in an affidavit whether they are under investigation or whether they were fired during the investigation or have given up a previous police job. In the latter case, there is a threat of a second degree offense.
Patel found that there were about 51 officers in the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office with criminal records including burglary, drug offenses, and soliciting prostitutes. These were largely unknown to the public.
The winning entry showed how lax standards for recruiting officials in Florida allow those under investigation or who have been dismissed to continue working despite being more likely to commit more crimes.
Patel found 51 officers from the Hendry County Sheriff’s Office were employed with criminal records including burglary, drug offenses, and soliciting prostitutes. These were largely unknown to the public.
Immerse yourself deeply:How we reported Hendry Sheriff’s Office hiring practices
More:Dozens of MPs lied, cheated and stole. That Florida sheriff hired her anyway.
The impact:Florida Governor DeSantis signs police reform laws that provide guidelines for the use of force
Laura Greanias, editor of the project, said both stories highlight the importance of local watchdog coverage.
“While the Florida police misconduct record and personnel files are public knowledge, the lack of a daily newspaper in the area has left Hendry Counties ignorant of their MPs’ pasts and the dangers they pose,” said Greanias, Florida Investigation Editor for the USA Today Network.
She said Patel’s coverage shows the importance of investing resources in investigative journalism at the local level and giving reporters enough time to follow up.
“That investment started with a conscientious reporter connecting Marco Island to, then digging deep into the personnel files and building an extensive database,” said Greanias.
All other awards for the two newspapers went to Department B, organizations with 1 million to 5 million average monthly unique visitors to their websites. They are as follows:
Writing Features – Janine Zeitlin, News-Press, Fort Myers, Second: For her story about two women who appeared to be escorting a Collier sheriff’s deputy at a George Floyd protest
Sports Writing – Adam Fisher, Naples Daily News, Second: Selected stories
News Photography – Jon Austria, Naples Daily News, Second: Photos from 2020 Bushfire in Golden Gate Estates
Feature Photography – Andrew West, Fort Myers News-Press, First and Second: For social justice protests and social protest photos
Feature Photography – Alex Driehaus, Naples Daily News, Third: Photos of “Fisheries in Southwest Florida Prepare for the Uncertain Stone Crab Season”
Sports Photography – Jon Austria Naples Daily News, second: Masked Gulf Coast High dance team
Sports Photography – Alex Driehaus, Naples Daily News: Third: Volleyball teammates after losing in the state championship game of class 5A
Photo Story – Alex Driehaus Naples Daily News, Second: Photos of “‘She Did It’: Collier Students With Migrant Backgrounds Overcome Disruption Amid COVID-19”
Function video – Amanda Inscore, Fort Myers News-Press, first and second: “Lee County teachers are already zooming in on the new norm that virtual learning is” and “Homeless, disembodied man gets new apartment in south Fort Myers through supportive community”
Harriet Howard Heithaus reports on arts and entertainment for the Naples Daily News / naplesnews.com. You can reach them at 239-213-6091.
See similar https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/2021/07/15/southwest-florida-newspapers-win-fsne-writing-photo-awards/7958129002/
The post Southwest Florida newspapers win 12 FSNE writing and photography awards first appeared on Daily Florida Press.
from Daily Florida Press https://dailyfloridapress.com/southwest-florida-newspapers-win-12-fsne-writing-and-photography-awards/
No comments:
Post a Comment