Minnesota Public Radio’s coverage of the cover-up of sexual abuse by the clergy in the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis and the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s reporting on delays in hospital screening of newborns won the inaugural “University of Florida Award for Investigative Data Journalism” at the Online News Association’s 2014 Online Journalism Awards banquet, Saturday night in Chicago.

The award, established this year by the UF College of Journalism and Communications, was presented in two categories – Small/Medium and Large. They recognize the growing importance of digital and data journalism and honor high-impact data journalism that is exceptionally well presented.

“We congratulate these two winners,” said Diane McFarlin, Dean of UF’s College of Journalism and Communications. “We hope this award encourages more groundbreaking journalism using big data, and entices more journalists to learn how to find and tell significant stories through data.”

The two winners will each receive a $7,500 prize, the largest award given by ONA. The prizes were established through a generous gift to the University of Florida from the estate of the late Lorraine Dingman.

Members of the reporting and producing teams will be invited to the UF campus to work with College of Journalism and Communications students and faculty as journalists in residence this spring.

“We hope these journalists will be able to share their stories with our faculty and students, and show how you can tell important stories through data,” McFarlin said. “This award also helps raise the bar for our College as we implement our own educational programs in data.”

The Online News Association is the world’s largest membership organization of digital journalists; its annual awards honor data journalism, visual digital storytelling, investigative journalism, public service, technical innovation and general excellence.

About the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications

The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications is driving innovation and engagement across the disciplines of advertising, journalism, public relations and telecommunication. The strength of its programs, faculty, students and alumni  — in research and in practice — has earned the college ongoing recognition as one of the best in the nation among its peers. The college offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees and certificates, both online and on campus. The college’s strength is drawn from both academic rigor and experiential learning. CJC students have the opportunity to gain practical experience in the Innovation News Center, which generates content across multiple platforms, and a strategic communication agency that will begin operation in Fall 2014. The college includes seven broadcast and digital media properties and the nation’s only program in public interest communications.

About the Online News Association
The Online News Association is the world’s largest association of digital journalists. ONA’s mission is to inspire innovation and excellence among journalists to better serve the public. The membership includes news writers, producers, designers, editors, bloggers, developers, photographers, educators, students and others who produce news for and support digital delivery systems. ONA also hosts the annual Online News Association conference and administers the Online Journalism Awards.

Posted: September 27, 2014
Category: College News
Tagged as: Awards