Sun Shines Brightly on Local Free Weekly

On May 16 New Times picked up sixteen honors in nine categories at the Society for Professional Journalists' Sunshine State Awards, held in Boca Raton.

The newspaper swept the business and sports nondeadline categories for small newspapers statewide. In the business division, former staff writer Kirk Semple took first place for his cover story "Barroom Brawl," Kathy Glasgow took second for her article "Loads of Dirty Laundry," and Ted B. Kissell was awarded third for "The Jockey Club's Wild Ride." In the sports category, Robert Andrew Powell won first place for his story "Coming of Age on the 50-Yard Line," and the staff as a whole won second place for "Go Marlins!" and "You Say Hoax, We Say Spirited Public Journalism."

In the feature-writing category, former staff writer Sean Rowe picked up a first place for "The Bell Tolls for Him"; former staffer Paula Park took second for "Addicted to Addiction."

New Times also scored in two news categories. Powell, Park, and former staff writer Elise Ackerman each took an honorable mention in nondeadline reporting. Arts writer Judy Cantor won third place in foreign reporting, a division that included both small and large papers, for "Bring on the Cubans!" a story she reported from Havana.

In commentary, editor Jim Mullin was awarded first place for "The Man Who Caught Carmen," and staff writer Jim DeFede won second for a collection of his columns. In a related category, critical writing and review, restaurant critic Jen Karetnick won a second place award. Art director Dean Sebring received two first-place awards for excellence in front-page design and feature story design.