ByJoeCapozzi.com wins three first-place awards in 2023 Florida Press Club competition

BYJOECAPOZZI.COM won three first-place awards and a second-place honor in the Florida Press Club’s 2023 Excellence in Journalism competition.

The independent news website took first place in the Class C category for General News, Community News and Sports Features.  

The awards honored work produced between June 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, and were announced Jan. 27 at a ceremony in Clearwater Beach. 

The winning General News stories:

• Development plans ones reckoning with past

• Was killing this Florida black bear necessary? State agency rips PBSO decision to 'take the shot' 

• 'Whoever thought a tree couldn't fly?' Green giant quite a showboat on move to new West Palm.

Judges' comments: Well-researched, interesting topics, engaging and excellent writing. Good work.

The winning Community News stories:

• Cardinals, Marlins ready for construction 'headaches' with $108 million spring training makeover 

• Popular car wash trying to clean up traffic mess on West Palm Beach's south end 

• Another attendance slide raises questions about SunFest's future 

Judges' comments: This collection of stories defines "community news." They're issues neighbors talk about and care about. What makes this collection of stories even more impressive -- they're well researched. There's some actual reporting happening! Plus, the writing is sharp and fun to read. Bravo!

The winning Sports Feature stories:

• This Fidel Castro just wants to launch missiles from the batter's box 

• The last of the bubble gum Mona Lisas

• Paul Anka tribute singer records all the hits (and runs and outs) at spring training

Judges' comments: Terrific set of stories with varied subject matter. The baseball card story stands out.

ByJoeCapozzi.com won second place in the Serious Features category for stories about the tragic death of Carol Wright and why a community mourned the death of a homeless man.

All stories were edited by former Palm Beach Post investigations editor Joel Engelhardt, co-founder of Stet Palm Beach, which won second place in newsletter writing. 

The Carol Wright story includes video edited by Jim Kovalsky.

Launched in 2021 by a former Palm Beach Post reporter, ByJoeCapozzi.com is an award-winning independent news website fueled by a passion for storytelling about events in our community.

If you enjoy the stories, please consider making a contribution by clicking the link in the upper-right corner of the banner on our home page.

© 2024 ByJoeCapozzi.com All rights reserved.

---

About the author

Joe Capozzi is an award-winning reporter based in Lake Worth Beach. He spent more than 30 years writing for newspapers, mostly at The Palm Beach Post, where he wrote about the opioid scourge, invasive pythons, the birth of the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches and Palm Beach County government. For 15 years, he covered the Miami Marlins baseball team. Joe left The Post in December 2020. View all posts by Joe Capozzi.