The Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ) held its annual Florida News Awards ceremony on Saturday, April 20, at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, FL. Graham Media Group station WJXT-TV in Jacksonville, FL was honored as recipient.
This prestigious event brought together journalism students, professionals, and educators from across the state to celebrate excellence in broadcast and digital journalism. Throughout the evening, WJXT-TV received numerous awards and accolades, recognizing the station's exceptional work in a variety of categories, including:
Community Service Station of the Year: Positively Jax
Breaking News Station: Parking Garage Collapse
General Assignment (Long): "A Safer Return" by Marilyn Parker and Ciara Earrey
Investigative Series Finalist: "I-TEAM, Outrageous Water Bills" by Tarik Minor, Anne Maxwell, and Tommy Garcia
Series Franchise (Hard): "Solutionaries" by Vic Micolucci, Chris O'Rourke, and Jodi Mohrmann
Feature: Cultural/Historical: "The Ripple Effect" by Amanda DeVoe and Foad Zabaneh
Continuing Coverage: "A Tragic Encounter and a Journey for Justice" by Marilyn Parker and Frank Powers
Education Reporting: "Solutionaries: Music Therapy" by Vic Micolucci, Josh Morgan, and Jodi Mohrmann
Digital Reporting: "Going Ringside" by Scott Johnson
Best Website: News4JAX.com
Additionally, former WJXT-TV anchor and I-TEAM reporter Vic Micolucci was honored for his 16-year career at Channel 4. Vic serves as the Vice-President of FABJ, and his contributions to the field of journalism were celebrated throughout the evening.
Amid the celebration, the FABJ took a moment to honor the late Jason Mealey, a beloved assignment editor, producer, and member of the WJXT-TV team, who passed away on April 10 due to a heart attack. He was 48 years old and spent 13 years working at WJXT-TV. The entire room observed a moment of silence to pay tribute to Jason and his contributions to the broadcast journalism community.
The FABJ is a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit organization operated by a volunteer board of broadcast journalism professionals based throughout Florida. The organization's annual awards ceremony continues to be a significant event, recognizing the dedication and talent of journalists who strive to inform and engage their communities.