Lest you think we're just a bunch of wankers spewing leftist propaganda with no regard for journalistic convention, we should tell you that we actually win awards with this stuff. These are the ones we won for work published in 2001:
The Society of Professional Journalists Mid-Florida Chapter gave Planet writers six awards in the under 100,000 circulation categories: News Editor Francis X. Gilpin placed first in General Reporting, Non-Daily for "What's the Big Secret?" an investigation of the Hillsborough Aviation Authority's leasing of airport property to a developer for land now occupied by the International Plaza. The Planet is currently in litigation to obtain records from the authority and a private company in an effort to ascertain the cost to taxpayers of the arrangement. Staff Writer Rochelle Renford took second and third place in this category for "Hot Pursuit" and "Burning Question" respectively. The first was a look at the human costs of allowing Tampa police to engage in high-speed chases, and the second examined police conduct in the accidental burning of a St. Petersburg house during a drug raid that turned up no drugs. Associate Editor Eric Snider was awarded first place in Feature Reporting — Light for his "Metal of Honor," a portrait of John Veleno, maker of fine aluminum guitars that are now collector's items. Music Editor Scott Harrell placed second in Criticism for his music columns, and Editor Susan Edwards took a first-place award for "Cuba Libre," a look at life and art in post-Soviet Cuba.
The Society of Professional Journalists Sunshine State Awards recognized former Art Director Todd Bates with a third place for Excellence in Tabloid Design-Large Newspapers and Edwards with a first place in Foreign Reporting.
—Staff Report
This article appears in Jun 19-25, 2002.