Local Publications Win “Green Eyeshade” Awards for Journalism

The Society of Professional Journalists has honored WUSF Public Media with three prestigious “Green Eyeshade” awards for journalism. This includes work created through a new collaboration between WUSF and several Black-owned publications, including The Weekly Challenger, Florida Courier and Royaltee Magazine.

What is the “Green Eyeshade” award?

Named in honor of the green eyeshades traditionally worn by newsroom editors, these awards date back to the 1950s. They recognize the very best print, television, radio, and digital journalism in the southeastern United States. Entries for this year’s awards came from newsrooms in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

“I am immensely proud of the work this newsroom has produced to delve into issues that are vital to Florida residents,” said WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky. “To see recognition of work done in cooperation with our new partners is especially important.”

Related: WUSF Launches 24-hour Live Jazz Streaming Service on Arts Axis Florida

This year, WUSF’s Green Eyeshade awards include:

• First Place: Breaking news Reporting/Radio for coverage of Hurricane Ian.
• Second Place: Best Newscast/Radio awarded to host Craig Kopp and reporters Stephanie Colombini and Gabriella Paul. Morning Edition, November 14.
• Second Place: Public Service in Radio Journalism for “Black Mental Health Series” awarded to WUSF’s Stephanie Colombini, Daylina Miller, Octavio Jones, Julio Ochoa and Mary Shedden, in collaboration with The Weekly Challenger, the Florida Courier and Royaltee Magazine.

The series on Black mental health previously won regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, and it explored the issues of racism, health inequities and the effects of Jim Crow segregation for Black Americans.