SPJ Florida Honors Investigative Journalism in 2026 Sunshine State Awards

The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Reporting served as the evening's centerpiece. The Miami Herald and WLRN News investigative team secured first place for their project, "Brightline, Florida's Killer Train." Second place went to Michael Barfield and Derek Gilliam of Suncoast Searchlight and Florida Trident for their deep dive into Sarasota County stormwater management. The third-place honor was awarded to Nichole Manna and Casey Frank of The Florida Trib for their reporting on questionable prosecutorial tactics in a capital murder case.

Organized by the SPJ Florida Pro Chapter alongside the National Association of Hispanic Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists, the competition evaluated work across seven distinct divisions, including Spanish language, digital, and student categories. Since its inception in 1994, the program has relied on out-of-state judges to maintain impartiality. Proceeds from the event are directed back into advocacy and training for the regional media community, with the next cycle of submissions scheduled to open in February 2027.