University of Florida College  of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) alum, Troy Myers, B.S. Journalism 2023, was recognized as a finalist in the 2023 Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) National Journalism Awards in the Student – Large category for the Fresh Take Florida story “University of Florida Removes Years of Campus Crime Data Online.” The awards recognize the best in investigative reporting by print, broadcast and online media.

Myers’ story revealed how UF removed nearly eight years of campus crime data from its website, just as the University reported record numbers of rapes and sexual battery cases.

“Removing the crime data makes it harder for students, parents, faculty, alumni and prospective students and their families to learn important details about their overall safety and risks from serious, violent crimes they may face at specific locations on the campus of Florida’s flagship university, including dorms, classroom buildings or fraternity houses,” said Myers.

UF never added back its historical campus crime data, but two of Myers’ UFCJC classmates created a new website, UFCrime.com, that restored access to all of UF’s historical and contemporaneous crime data and enhanced what the school previously had available: It charts reported crimes on a local map and connects each report to any related court records that might exist.

According to the judges, “This story shows how something can be legal but is not fair and is not right. The university’s general counsel trying to shut the story down shows perseverance.”

The 2023 IRE National Journalism Awards winners and finalists were chosen from more than 450 entries in 19 categories across media platforms and a range of market sizes.

Posted: April 8, 2024
Category: Alumni News, College News
Tagged as: 2023 Investigative Reporters & Editors (IRE) National Journalism Awards, Fresh Take Florida, Troy Meyers