FLORIDA TODAY journalists were recognized this week for outstanding investigative journalism, community leadership, beat and business reporting, feature and column writing and amazing photography.
Altogether, our staff of 17 journalists won 11 awards, including six First Place wins, from the Florida Society of News Editors.
First Place Investigative Reporting
Engagement Editor John A. Torres was recognized with a First Place win in the Investigative Reporting category for his sustained effort on multiple mediums that led to the unraveling of the 2006 murder conviction of Jeff Abramowski. Built on original reporting and public‑records analysis, Torres’ reporting raised questions about Abramowski’s involvement in the 2002 killing of a 78-year-old drug dealer.
It started with an original 2019 podcast, Murder on the Space Coast, highlighting problems with the prosecution’s case and prompting a new attorney to get involved.
The result: in 2025, Abramowski was released from prison, his conviction overturned, the prosecutor decided not to pursue new charges and, ultimately, a judge exonerated him in January 2026.
When Abramowsi’s 23-year quest ended, he immediately turned to Torres with gratitude. “John,” he said. “I owe you my life. I do.”
First Place Community Leadership
Education Reporter Finch Walker won First Place for a series of stories entered as “Teacher Disciplined for a Name.” The entry documented Walker’s in-depth, sustained coverage of an unprecedented case in Florida education: the first known instance of a teacher losing her job for calling a student by a chosen name that was not officially approved by a parent.
Through a series of explanatory, accountability, and community-centered stories, Walker illuminated the complex intersection of education policy, parental rights and student identity — an issue that had immediate and lasting consequences for families, teachers, and school districts across Florida
First Place wins from beat reporting to photography
Space Reporter Rick Neale won First Place in Beat Reporting for his space coverage.
In addition to the dozens of launches Neale covered last year, he also traveled to SpaceX’s sprawling Starbase in remote Boca Chica, Texas, to interview locals and see how Starship testing and development impacted the local economy, environment, culture and tourism. SpaceX officials declined all interview requests but Neale was still able to report on what Space Coast residents may expect from the revolutionary – and controversial – rocket’s pending arrival.
Photographer Craig Bailey won First Place award for Spot News Photography for his amazing photograph of lightning striking around Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building.
Bailey also won another First Place award for Sports Photography for his emotion-packed coverage of high school sports throughout Brevard County.
Photographer Malcolm Denemark won First Place for Feature Photography for a collection of photos that included a SpaceX Falcon 9 launch, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V liftoff and an artsy shot of the lunar eclipse.
FLORIDA TODAY won in photo story, columns and feature writing
Executive Editor Mara Bellaby can be reached at mbellaby@floridatodaycom.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: FLORIDA TODAY journalists win 11 awards, 6 first place in Florida contest
Reporting by Mara Bellaby, Florida Today / Florida Today
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