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Tag: Florida Press Association

Sun staffers earn first place awards

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Community News.

Two Anna Maria Island Sun staffers brought home first place awards in the 2025 Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest.

Steve Borggren won first place in the Original Local Editorial Cartoon category for “Fill in the Holes,” about protecting sea turtles on the beach.

Reporter Joe Hendricks won first place in the Editorial category for “Palm trees and other shady endeavors,” about the city of Bradenton Beach’s agreement with local developer Shawn Kaleta on several projects, including planting palms along Bridge Street that kept falling over.

Borggren also won second place in the Original Local Editorial Cartoon category for “Signs,” about confusing road signage in a construction zone.

The awards were made at the Florida Media Conference on Aug. 1 at the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor.

Sun earns three statewide awards

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Featured.

UPDATED JULY 19, 2021 at 12:39 p.m. – The Anna Maria Island Sun has earned three awards in the 2021 Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest.

Steve Borggren earned first place in the Original Local Editorial Cartoon category for “I miss red tide.” Judges praised its originality on a “broad topic all cartoonists are drawing.”

The Sun earned second place in Website Excellence for amisun.com. Judges called it “A great array of news well displayed.”Eric Nalpas earned second place in the Reader-Generated Photo category. Judges asked, “Does Eric want a job?”

Swell surf
Surfer Jack Coleman sizes up the wall of water crashing against one of the erosion control groins at Twin Piers in Bradenton Beach on Oct. 27. Tropical Storm Zeta churned up the Gulf of Mexico into a good surf day. – Eric Nalpas | Submitted

Awards were announced at the Florida Media Conference last week in Sarasota.

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Political cartoons

Sun earns three press awards

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Community News.

The Anna Maria Island Sun won three awards in the Florida Press Association’s 2020 weekly Newspaper Contest on July 31.

First place in the Outdoor and Recreation category was awarded to Cindy Lane for a series of articles on duck hunting near Perico Preserve, Robinson Preserve and Neal Preserve.

Second place in the humorous column category went to Cindy Lane for “Florida flotsam washes up on European beaches,” a story about plastic cups from an Anna Maria Island beach restaurant that were discovered along Europe’s Atlantic coastline.

Third place in local government reporting was awarded to Joe Hendricks for a series on the removal of Australian pine trees from Coquina Beach in the city of Bradenton Beach.

Sun staff wins seven state awards

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Awards, Featured.

ST. PETERSBURG – Anna Maria Island Sun staffers earned seven awards in the 2018-19 Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest at the 2019 Florida Media Conference on July 12.

Awards include general excellence, online breaking news and defense of the First Amendment.

First place in the First Amendment Defense category (the Jon A. Roosenraad Award), competing against Florida newspapers of all sizes, went to Joe Hendricks for “Sunshine lawsuit,” beat coverage of Bradenton Beach litigation surrounding a city committee’s alleged violations of the Florida Sunshine Law. The judges commented, “These articles are filled with detail, depth and factual information on what was a no question hyper-important situation in this local government. I felt this was done very well, and the extent of coverage itself was a proof of the paper’s desire to protect the First Amendment and hold government official accountable. Great overall work in this category, especially when compared to other entries.”

First place in Online Breaking News Coverage, competing against Florida newspaper websites in all circulation categories, went to Digital Editor Cindy Lane and reporters Joe Hendricks and Kristin Swain for “Surf shop fire” at the iconic West Coast Surf Shop in Holmes Beach. The judges commented, “Well done. Thorough reporting. I like the way you labeled and added the update.”

First place in Original Local Editorial Cartoon went to Sun political cartoonist Steve Borggren for “Gas Mask,” picturing Southwest Florida wearing a gas mask during a persistent bloom of red tide last summer. The judges commented, “Just one glance and this one quickly tells the whole story.”

Second place in General Excellence went to The Anna Maria Island Sun staff for overall excellence in reporting, photography and design. The judges commented, “A paper willing to express opinions on local issues, in addition to having a good selection of letters to the editor and a local editorial cartoonist. Plus a reader survey question with results displayed in a colorful pie chart graphic. Solid coverage of local events and issues like a duck hunting controversy (and editorial)… Nice index across bottom of Page 1 to lead readers inside. Good advertising enterprise around “Newspaper In Paradise” content. More local sports would be nice.”

Second place in Agricultural and Environmental Reporting went to Cindy Lane for “Oil drilling in the Gulf,” a series tracking the progress of an ultimately victorious state constitutional amendment to ban oil and gas drilling in state waters. The judges commented, “This series studies looming oil exploration in local waters with detailed coverage about what’s planned, possible impact and legislative efforts to restrain a petroleum juggernaut. Diligent reporting keeps readers informed.”

Second place in the Outdoor and Recreation category went to Cindy Lane for “Fishermen to cast vote against net ban,” a series about the ultimately unsuccessful effort of commercial fishermen to get a state constitutional amendment passed overturning the 1995 gill net ban. The judges commented, “Solid reporting on a story that has a strong impact on the community and state of fishing.”

Third place in the Outdoor and Recreation category went to Reel Time columnist Rusty Chinnis for “Show them the courtesy,” tips of the trade for fishing courteously. The judges commented, “Nice piece on the power of being a good fisherman.”

 

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FPA President Sandi Kemp and Sun cartoonist Steve Borggren.

FPA President Sandi Kemp and Sun cartoonist Steve Borggren.

FPA President Sandi Kemp and Sun Digital Editor Cindy Lane.

FPA President Sandi Kemp and Sun Digital Editor Cindy Lane.

FPA President Sandi Kemp and Sun correspondent Joe Hendricks.

FPA President Sandi Kemp and Sun correspondent Joe Hendricks.

Sun showered with journalism awards

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Awards.

2018

Sun earns nine statewide awards

The Anna Maria Island Sun was recognized with nine awards in the 2018 Florida Press Club Excellence in Journalism Competition at a ceremony in Mt. Dora on Saturday.

The Sun’s online edition, amisun.com, won third place for “News Website” statewide, competing against online newspapers of all sizes.

Staff writer Kristin Swain swept the “Community News Writing” category, winning all three awards in the division. Her first place award for “Hurricane recovery begins for condo owners” was about delays in the repairs of several Holmes Beach condos damaged by Hurricane Irma.

She won second and third place awards for “Protecting Holmes Beach from rising tides,” about a city engineer’s plans to harden the city against flooding, and “Property owners sue neighbors for complaining about noise,” about vacation rental owners suing neighbors who reported noise violations to the city.

Staff writer and Digital Editor Cindy Lane won first place in “Commentary Writing” for “The press goes back to school,” about statewide coverage erroneously reporting that a new Florida law allowed beachfront property owners to keep people off the beach.

Lane won second place in “Online Package” with Bob Hite, of Kinship Productions, for “Vaught’s Vietnam,” a story honoring the military service of Sun staff writer Tom Vaught.

See video

She won second place in “That is so… Florida” for “State investigates net camp construction,” about a Cortez resident who built a structure on pilings in state waters.

Lane won second place in “General News Writing” for “Fishermen ask Floridians to vote against net ban,” about commercial fishermen’s efforts to put a constitutional amendment on the state’s ballot reversing the net ban.

Lane won third place in “Features Photography” for “Island SUNset.”

– Cindy Lane | Sun

 Sun showered with journalism, Sunshine awards

The Anna Maria Island Sun earned seven statewide awards for reporting and photography in print and online at the Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest on Aug. 10, 2018.

First place awards

  • Staff writer Joe Hendricks, First Amendment Defense, for “Bradenton Beach Sunshine Violations.” Hendricks also won the statewide Jon A. Roosenraad award for First Amendment Defense.

Sunshine lawsuit filed

Metz defense challenges Sunshine Law

 

  • Columnist Sean Murphy, Humorous Column, for “Uncle George’s Zipper Parade.”

Second place awards

  • Cartoonist Steve Borggren, Original Local Editorial Cartoon, for “To Die For,” depicting red tide victims.

  • Staff writer Cindy Lane, Online Slideshow, for “Flippers and Feathers,” featuring photos and information about manatees, dolphins, sea turtles and shorebirds.

Third place awards

  • Staff writer Cindy Lane, Photo Series in One Issue, for “Surf’s Up,” featuring West Coast Surf Shop summer surf campers.

FPA trophies 20172017: Sun best weekly in Florida

The Anna Maria Island Sun earned the distinction of being the best weekly newspaper of its size in the state of Florida.

The first place award in General Excellence is one of 14 awards The Sun earned in the 2016 Florida Press Association Better Weekly Newspaper Contest at the FPA annual convention at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Naples on Aug. 11. The awards and judges’ comments are:

First place

General Excellence, Staff

“There is a lot to like about this newspaper. The front page design is unusual but very inviting. The paper is chock full of everything – solid, comprehensive coverage of the community, including arts and sports. Love the info graphics and treatment of the editorial page. Paper is well designed – fun and engaging treatment of every page – and loaded with ads. I would subscribe to this paper in a heartbeat. Nice work.”

Original Local Editorial Cartoon, Steve Borggren, “No app for that”

“Steve Borggren has a talent for finding irony and wry humor in news events and everyday life. Especially liked his cartoon about a parent telling her kids to get out in the yard to hunt for Easter eggs rather than look for an ‘app for that’ on their phones.”

POLITICAL CARTOON 3-23-2016

Second place

Best Headline, Pat Copeland, “Commission pooh-poohs peeing in public.”

“Playful alliteration helped draw readers into what might have been just another story about a city commission meeting.”

Commission pooh poohs peeing in public

Breaking News Story, Joe Hendricks, “Webb challenges voter’s eligibility”

“Points for recognizing a story that’s not sexy but it is important – especially when the newspaper takes note of it.”

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Feature Story: Non-Profile, Cindy Lane, “Legendary hammerhead immortalized”

“This is a great little story about immortalizing a local legend – Ol’ Hitler, the biggest, meanest, scariest hammerhead ever to scare people out of the water. Well done with plenty of local color. A story that people will keep talking about.”

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Third place

Local Government Reporting, Pat Copeland, “Stirring the pot”

“Well written story covering all sides of this issue – great headline – lots of compelling arguments to help the public understand.”

Stirring pot 1

Stirring pot 2

Best Headline, Mike Field, “You ain’t nothing but a houndfish.”

“Fun headline. Elvis would approve!”

You ain't nothing but a houndfish

Overall Graphic Design, Ricardo Fonseca and Mike Field

“Less flashy, but a nice, solid design, with very well-designed graphic elements.”

042016 front page

Humorous Column, Cindy Lane, “Eat more octopus”

This entry was cute and funny, but also informative and entertaining. Good writing – nice work.”

Community History, Cindy Lane, “Tourism slogans, logos evolving”

“Loved the topic, and it was presented in a very stylish way.”

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Outdoor and Recreation, Cindy Lane, “Saving seashells on the seashore”

“Picking up shells on the beach is probably one of the most popular seaside recreations there is. But this story went well into the science and conservation of shelling. A story you should read before you reach for that sand dollar.”

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Editorial Award, Cindy Lane, “Respect the wildlife”

“It’s refreshing to see the newspaper use its power to remind the locals of their responsibilities to help protect the environment.”

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Sports Photo, Monica Simpson, “Two little wrestlers”

“With apologies to the many other great entries in the category – beware of photos with cute kids – this one stole the show.”

Two little wrestlers

Portfolio Photography, Tom Vaught

“Loved the shot of Elvis in the water on New Year’s Day for the annual ‘Shamrock Shiver.’ And a dramatic news photo of workers trying to cap a water leak in Anna Maria.”

Shamrock Shiver

All the news that’s fit to print

Written by Sun staff on . Posted in Editorial, Feature, Opinion.

Not so long ago, this was considered the off season here on the Island. The pace of life was slower. The crush of tourists less crushing. The flow of news often drying up to a trickle.

Not so much anymore.

Just take a look at the headlines. There we find that one Island city is suing its own planning commission for alleged Sunshine Law violations. That may be a first.

Also we see that the controversial Aqua by the Bay project was rejected by county planners. Apparently, the proposal’s 145-foot waterfront skyscrapers were harder to sneak through the process than developers thought.

However, other news makes us particularly proud.

Last week, the Florida Press Association named this little publication the best weekly newspaper of its size in the state. The top newspaper designation was awarded at the trade group’s annual media conference, held this year at the Naples Ritz-Carlton.

Overall, The Sun received 14 awards in the FPA’s Better Weekly Newspaper Contest, including the first-place finish in the Overall General Excellence category for medium-sized weeklies.

One of the contest judges commented, “The paper is chock full of everything … solid, comprehensive coverage of the community … well designed … fun and engaging treatment of every page. I would subscribe to this paper in a heartbeat. Nice work.”

The credit for such honors goes, of course, to The Sun’s wonderfully talented staff. It’s a team effort every week in putting the whole thing together to make a newspaper.

It’s also nice to be recognized by one’s peers. We will do our best to live up to this honor.