By SERA KING / Headline Surfer
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- There was the excitement of Denny Hamlin's taking the checkered flag for his second win in the Daytona 500 in a crash-marred affair in February.
Then there was the May 2 Hall of Fame profile feature pegged to news on Daytona Beach-native and NBA great Vince Carter's decision to return for a record 21st season.
And if that wasn't enough, on May 21, was a feature story on Stetson Universitry'sd powerhouse baseball program that has produced two MLB pitching aces in Jacob Degrom of the NY Mets, who won the Cy Young, and Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians, who won the coveted pitching award twice - in 2014 and 2017.
The storries were written by Henry Frederick, the online publisher of Headline Surfer, who was recognized with a third place award in Sports Reporting for the three stories.
This was Frederick's lone award in this year's statewide journalism contest among dozens of media outlets from online, print newspapers, and TV news, compared to his streak of multiple awards for seven straight years.
But competition this year was even more fierce since many of the entries were grouped as one with Headline Surfer, among the smallest media outlets competing with some of the largest metro news operations in the SunshineState with several categories combined as opposed to four size divisions in previous years. The combining of a few categories was initiated last year, but many more were combined this time around wuith more and more news outlewts entering their best work in the competition.
Regardless, Frederick's three sports stories held up with many of the categories recognizing only a first, second and third place winner in a combined class as opposed to 12 winners from four class divisions.
"While we don't have the resources to do the major project stories, the three stories that were deemed award-winning were significant in their own right. This was the the third time in fours years that my coverage of the Daytona 500, NASCAR's signature race. Hamlin's race to the checkered flag was dramatic ... "
The Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun Sentinel split top honors in the Florida Press Club’s 2019 Excellence in Journalism Competition Saturday night for stories that shook the entire nation over the past year.
Dozens of media outlets around the state were represented Saturday at the annual event honoring the best in Florida journalism during the 2018-'19 year. The gala was held at the Waterstone Resort & Marina, featuring special guest John Grogan, a former Sun Sentinel reporter and international bestselling author.
The Sun Sentinel was awarded the Florida Press Club's Frances DeVore Award for Public Service for “Parkland,” its coverage of the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 dead and 17 people injured. A nationwide discussion of gun control, legislative changes and a sheriff’s dismissal followed the paper’s chronicling of events.
The Miami Herald’s “Perversion of Justice” won the club’s Lucy Morgan Award for In-Depth Reporting. The massive series detailed how a Palm Beach billionaire was lightly punished for the sexual abuse and trafficking of young girls.
In the wake of reporting by the Herald's Julie K. Brown and Emily Michot, the deal that allowed Jeffrey Epstein to serve only nights in prison was ruled illegal and the prosecutor who arranged it left his cabinet post with the Trump administration. New charges were filed against Epstein and he committed suicide in jail.
For nearly 70 years, the Florida Press Club, originally called the Florida Women’s Press Club, has been honoring the best in Florida journalism — stories, photography and layout. More recently, digital presentation has been added to the work honored.
Last year, Frederick was a big winner in digital presentation: Headline Surfer was named the best online news outlet statewide in one combined category, despite the fact that it has the smallest staff (primarily Frederick with occasional reporting by King and a community column submitted once or twice a month from Edgewatewr resident Darlene Vann).
Frederick also won a first place award in last year's journalism contest for Sports for breaking news on Vince Carter's NBA free agency signing with the Sacramento Kings, Pirson's Chipper Jones being selected for the Baseball Hall of Fame and Austin Dillon winning the Daytona 500 after causing race leader Aric Amirola to crash on the last lap. And he won a third place award in Education Writing for stories on
Award-Winning Journalism of Henry Frederick
• 2019 Florida Press Club, Third Place Place, Online News Web Site, Classes A-D, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: Feb. 18, 2019
Post Date: May 2, 2019
Post Date: May 21, 2019
• 2018 Florida Press Club, First Place, Online News Web Site, Classes A-D, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
• 2018 Florida Press Club, Sports Writing, Class D, First Place, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: Feb. 19, 2018
Post Date: Jan. 25, 2018
Post Date: Sept. 27, 2017
• 2018 Florida Press Club, Third Place, Education Writing, Class D, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: May 15, 2018
Post Date: Sept. 27, 2017
Post Date: Oct. 13, 2017
• 2017 Florida Press Club, Second Place, Online News Web Site, Classes A-D, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
• 2017 Florida Press Club, First Place, General News Writing, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: May 28, 2017
Post Date: April 21, 2017
Post Date: Dec. 29, 2016
• 2017 Florida Press Club, Second Place, Public Safety Reporting, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: Dec. 27, 2016
Post Date: April 21, 2017
Post Date: March 28, 2017
• 2016, Florida Press Club, First Place, Sports Writing, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: July 6, 2015
Post Date: Dec. 21, 2015
Post Date: April 28, 2016
• 2016, Florida Press Club, First Place, Public Safety Reporting, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: Oct. 6, 2015
Post Date: Oct. 31, 2015
Post Date: March 9, 2016
• 2015, Florida Press Club, First Place, Breaking News, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: March 8, 2014
Post Date: Oct. 17, 2014
Post Date: Oct. 24, 2014
• 2015, Florida Press Club, Second Place, Feature Sports Writing, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: March 28, 2015
Post Date: Jan. 4, 2015
• 2014 Florida Press Club, Third Place, General News Reporting, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: May 4, 2014
Post Date: Dec. 16, 2013
Post Date: April 1, 2014
• 2014 Florida Press Club, Third Place, Religion Reporting, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: Jan. 20, 2014
Post Date: May 29, 2014
Post Date: Jan. 23, 2014
• 2013, Florida Press Club, Third Place, General News Reporting, Henry Frederick
Post Date: March 7, 2013
Post Date: April 29, 2013
Post Date: May 17, 2013
• 2013 Contest Florida Press Club, Third Place, Religion Reporting, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Post Date: Jan. 16, 2012
Florida Baptist Convention elevates Daytona Beach Pastor L. Ronald Durham
Post Date:
Ormond Beach minister and Boston Marathon runner shares message of love
Post Date:
• 2013 Contest Florida Press Club, Public Safety Reporting, Third Place, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Ex-wrestler Mike Graham dies of self-inflicted gunshot wound in Daytona visit for Biketoberfest
Post Date:
Zimmerman's $1M bail means the defense doesn't have to force the state's hand with 'speedy trial' provisions
Post Date:
BREAKING NEWS: NSB cops: Woman killed, man airlifted after both ejected in rollover on S. Causeway Bridge
Post Date:
• 2012 Florida Press Club, First Place, Blog Writing, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
NASCAR Hall of Fame announcement fuels memories of 1979 Daytona 500
Post Date:
Memorial Day: The lessons of the Berlin Wall
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Father knows best even if it takes half a lifetime to see that
Post Date:
• 2012 Florida Press Club, Third Place, Public Safety Reporting, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona police chief promotes patrol supervisor who taunted female cop for more than a year
Post Date:
Ex-Oak Hill Mayor: Embattled Police Chief Diane Young not only snorted coke and smoked pot, but also popped ludes
Post Date:
Daytona Beach's Bike Week 2012 road fatalities stretch out to Pierson and Orlando
Post Date:
• 2012 Florida Press Club, Third Place, General News Writing, Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Daytona police chief promotes patrol supervisor who taunted female cop for more than a year
Post Date:
Trayvon Martin's parents in exclusive interview after Miami rally: 'We are not alone in this fight for justice'
Post Date:
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• 2012 Florida Press Club, Third Place, Best Online Presentation (Including Use of Social Media), Henry Frederick, Headline Surfer, Daytona Beach, FL
Print Newspapers
• 2006 New England Press Association Contest, First Place, Enterprise Reporting/Public Service (news staff 5-day series), Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA
Safety in our schools
• 2005 Suburban Newspapers of America Contest, Third Place, Small Dailies, Investigative journalism, Henry Frederick, Taunton Daily Gazette, Taunton, MA
Pipeline Hell
• 2004 Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, Second Place / Large Newspapers, Investigative Reporting, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
Silent Cries (3-day series on child homicides)
• 2004 Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, Honorable Mention, Investigative, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
Silent Cries (3-day series on child homicides)
• 2004 Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, Breaking News, Honorable Mention / Large Newspapers, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
Community mourns death of longtime area educator.
• 2003 Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, First Place / Large Newspapers, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
Lawsuit monopoly justifies splitting up NASCAR
• 2003 Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, Second Place / Large Newspapers, Breaking News, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
The execution of Aileen Wuornos
• 2003 Florida Press Club, Second Place, Excellence in General News Writing, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
-- Property takeover may change boardwalk
-- Unusual cases re-ignite legal arguments on Miranda rights
-- Word on the Street: Few police
• 2003 Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, Third Place, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
Lawsuit: Monopoly justifies splitting up NASCAR
• 2002, Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, Third Place / Large News, Breaking News, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
Brothers on trial
• 2002 Florida Press Club, Third Place, Excellence in General News Writing, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytona Beach, FL
-- Spring Break: Collision Course
-- Lawsuit: Monopoly justifies splitting up NASCAR
-- Behavior nets police chief two-week unpaid suspension
• 1998 Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, Honorable Mention / Large Newspapers, James K. Batten Award for Outstanding Public Service, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal
Daytona Beach, FL
Spring Hill (week-long series)
• 1998 Society of Professional Journalists, Florida Chapter, Second Place / Large Newspapers, Breaking News, Henry Frederick, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Daytiona Beach, FL
Little boy: He shot and killed my friend
• 1992 New York State Associated Press, Spot News, Honorable Mention, Henry Frederick, The Rockland Journal-News/Gannett Suburban Newspapers, West Nyack, NY
Two charged in gas station slaying
