The work of writers and designers at The Coastal Star was honored with seven awards in the Florida Press Club’s 62nd annual Excellence In Journalism competition:
• Top honors went to Cheryl Blackerby, Mary Kate Leming, Jerry Lower and the late Tim O’Meilia, who received the Lucy Morgan Award For In-Depth Reporting for their series, “Lessons Learned From Sandy.”
• Blackerby also took first place honors in the environmental news category for a portfolio of stories, including “Rising Water” and “Audubon Bird Count.”
• Thom Smith took first place in commentary writing for his column about the embattled President of Florida Atlantic University.
• Ron Hayes received a first place in the light feature writing category for a portfolio of stories, including “Time In A Bottle,” as well as third place for commentary writing for his memorial feature on journalist Tim O’Meilia.
• Jane Smith was honored with a first place award for her public safety reporting for a portfolio of stories, including reports on lifeguards’ attempt to rescue a drowning victim, the Manalapan beach closure and Atlantic Avenue traffic woes in Delray Beach. • A second place award for layout/front page design went to Jerry Lower, Mary Kate Leming and Scott Simmons for “Lessons Learned From Sandy,” “Rising Water” and “Crocodile Capture.”
The Coastal Star competes in the “Class D” division for nondaily, community, tribal or college publications.
The awards were announced at the club’s annual banquet Nov. 15 at the Pirate’s Cove Resort & Marina in Stuart.
The Florida Press Club was founded in 1951 as the Florida Women’s Press Club by Frances DeVore, a reporter at The Ocala Star-Banner, to fight inequities that kept women from career advancement in the news industry. Later, as “women’s pages” faded from section fronts, the club changed its name to the present-day Florida Press Club, which now boasts hundreds of Florida journalists across the state as members.
— Ron Hayes
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