The WUSF News team collected eight awards at the Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards in Miami this past weekend.
Morning Edition host Carson Cooper was named Anchor of the Year in Florida, besting television and radio anchors from across the state.
His winning work included a variety of newscasts featuring WUSF staff, live election-night coverage with reporters in the field, and a selection of WUSF’s Florida Matters public affairs shows, which Cooper hosts.
The selected Florida Matters shows included a discussion on human trafficking, taped in front of a live audience as well as episodes on the anniversary of D-Day and a look at the cruise industry in the Tampa Bay area. Cooper also placed in the Best Radio Newscast category.
Higher education reporter Mark Schreiner continued to earn recognition for his ongoing coverage of University of South Florida researchers, who have been excavating the remains of former youth inmates at the former Dozier School for Boys in the Florida panhandle. His work earned first place in the investigative reporting for radio category.
Also, in the radio feature category, Schreiner earned a first place award for STEM Superheroes Kickstart Next Phase of Work story.
Veteran WUSF reporter Bobbie O’Brien also was recognized, winning second place in the radio feature category for Army Ranger Cory Remsburg ‘Leads the Way.’
Lottie Watts, a member of the Health News Florida team and producer of WUSF’s weekly Florida Matters public affairs show, was honored twice. She was recognized in the Best Government Coverage for FDA Rules Could Snuff Out ‘Cigar City’ as well as for her work producing Florida Matters.
The weekly public affairs show, hosted by Cooper, was recognized for Public Affairs - Radio for its episode on the 10th Anniversary of Hurricane Charley. O’Brien, reporter Robin Sussingham and interim news director Steve Newborn were among those contributing to the show.
State Impact, the station's education reporting collaborative with WLRN, also was honored for its ongoing coverage of Common Core.
