Fort Myers Beach Observer wins awards at Florida Weekly Newspaper Contest
The Fort Myers Beach Observer took home multiple honors from the Florida Press Association’s Weekly Newspaper Contest this month at the Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor.
Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg placed third in the combined Division A and Division B, the two largest circulation categories in the Florida Weekly Newspaper Contest, for the Fort Myers Beach Observer editorial “Council turns it back on environment.” The editorial was in regards to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council’s vote to replace a member of the Fort Myers Beach Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force, the third time the council had voted to replace members of the committee since Hurricane Ian and a new town council was elected.
Mayberg took home a second place in Division B for Arts, Entertainment & Review Reporting with “Love Brings the Good Vibrations of the Beach Boys,” which featured an interview with Beach Boys co-founder and singer Mike Love, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Mayberg also won a third place award in Division B For Arts, Entertainment & Review Reporting for “Dion, the Doowop King, basks in Florida revival,” which featured an interview with Dion DiMucci, co-founder of Dion and the Belmonts and a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The Observer’s sister paper, the Cape Coral Breeze, placed third in Division A for the “Hurricane Ian Then & Now” special issue. The issue also featured stories and photographs from the Fort Myers Beach Observer and the Breeze Newspapers staff on the recovery of the region after Hurricane Ian.
The Cape Coral Breeze also won third place for General Excellence in Division A, featuring the reporting of the staff of Breeze Newspapers, which also included the staff of the Fort Myers Beach Observer.
“The real work our reporters and editors do is for our readers, but it is always nice to see our team be recognized by their peers,” said Breeze Newspapers Publisher Ray Eckenrode. “It’s a reflection of the hard work they do every day and well deserved.”
Breeze Newspapers Executive Editor Val Harring credited team effort for the Special Section and General Excellence recognitions.
“Hurricane Ian Then & Now,” designed by graphic artist Michel Pistella, included contributions from the Fort Myers Beach Observer, Sanibel Island Reporter and Islander and the Pine Island Eagle, in addition to The Cape Coral Breeze.
The General Excellence award is an interdepartmental award, also including sales, production and press room operations.
The award recognizes newspapers that “demonstrate outstanding overall performance across all aspects of their operation, from news gathering and writing to design and community engagement.”
Papers from two consecutive issues and an FPA -designated week are judged on a number of criteria including Overall News Content — the depth and breadth of news coverage, emphasizing the quality of reporting, writing style, and local relevance; mechanical excellence; advertising enterprise, editorial page, general appearance, photography, makeup and style and promotion of community interest.
Cape Coral Breeze reporter CJ Haddad also took home two sportswriting awards, with a first place and third place award in Division A for Sports Spot News Story.