Storytelling was in the spotlight at Florida International University’s Biscayne Bay campus on Friday evening.
This past Friday night marked the sixth annual Voces del Periodismo awards ceremony hosted by FIU’s National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) chapter — an initiative that recognizes the best of Spanish and English language student journalism across the nation.
Students submitted journalism pieces in nine categories such as best video story, best documentary, and best investigative or explanatory Story.
Out of 114 entries from colleges including Florida International University, Northwestern University, the University of Southern California, the University of Puerto Rico, and others, 33 winners were selected by a panel of professional judges from media companies such as Univision and CNN.
FIU’s Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media faculty, as well as friends and family of recipients joined together for the occasion.
The ceremony was led by FIU’s NAHJ chapter president, Andrea Fonseca, vice president Dave Fair, chapter advisor Mercedes Vigon, and host Mimi Alas. NAHJ Florida chapter board member Ivette Franco supported the event on behalf of the regional chapter.
For Fonseca, who is finishing up her final semester as chapter president, the ceremony is an invaluable career-boosting experience for students: “Voces del Periodismo is much more than just an award show,” she said. “For most students, it’s the first time they’ve ever had their work reviewed by industry professionals.”
The event was made possible through sponsorship from the Caplin School and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ Florida chapter.
The night ended with a video tribute to chapter advisor Mercedes Vigon, for her leadership of the NAHJ FIU chapter since its start in 2002.
“Seeing such a talented pool of emerging journalists and communicators, it is clear that the integrity and future of the profession are in good hands,” she said.
Below is a list of this year’s Voces Del Periodismo award winners:
Best Audio Story:
- First place:
- Benjamin Cure, Jason Harrow and Ivanna Hilewsky, Florida International University, “Ripple Effect”
- Second place:
- Luciana Cordero, Christian Ibañez, David Del Purgatorio and Laneisha Green , University of South Florida, “Z NEWS PODCAST: The Environmental Impact of Hurricanes Helene & Milton”
- Third place:
- Dawn Boothe, Luz Gonzalez, Paola Sirignano and Stefanny Tenia, Florida International University, “Deadly Cost: The Burden of Driving Drunk”
Best Social Media Story:
- First place:
- Oscar Flores, City University of New York Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, Instagram post
- Second place:
- Sara Alvarez, Tony Fajardo, Natalie Ceron and Dímelo Team, University of Southern California University of Southern California (USC), Snapchat post
- Third place:
- Tracy Mejia, University of Southern California, Instagram Reel
Best Investigative Story:
- First Place:
- Christine Stoddard, Columbia Journalism School, “As Tent Shelter Shutters, What’s Next for the Children of Floyd Bennett Field”
- Second Place:
- Olivia Guthrie, Florida International University, “One night in Miami — a deeper look at the racial history of the Magic City”
- Third Place:
- Lorena Cespedes González, Florida International University, “Rehabilitación en lugar de encarcelamiento en Miami-Dade”
Best Photo Slideshow:
- First Place:
- Luz Gonzalez, Florida International University, “Economic Hardship”
- Second Place:
- Giselle Suastegui and Valeria Macias, University of Southern California, “Protestors take to the streets to call for immigration reform in Los Angeles”
- Third Place:
- Dawn Boothe, Luz Gonzalez, Paola Sirignano and Stefanny Tenia, Florida International University, “Deadly Cost: How an event honors victims of drunk driving crashes”
Best Video Story:
- First Place:
- Britton Struthers-Lugo, Alexia Kadota-Browner, Northwestern University, From Trash to Treasure – Los Cartoneros in Buenos Aires
- Second Place:
- Sofia Lense, Carla Mendez, Jacqueline Pecker, Isabel Rivera, Bautista Samperi, Florida International University, “After Pro-Palestine demonstrations, Spanish university removes student tents”
- Third Place:
- Mauro Rueda, Florida International University, “Luminosa: El festival de luces regresa a Miami”
Best Video Story 2:
- First Place:
- Yarithza Liceaga, Alana Rosario y Sebastián Bencón, University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo, “Edificios abandonados en Arecibo”
- Second Place:
- Valentina Gaspari and Esteban Rodriguez, Florida International University, “New spring break measures impact a small business owner on South Beach”
- Third Place:
- Ivanna Hilewsky and Benjamin Cure, Florida International University, “Five years later: Students still struggle with the lasting impact of COVID 19 on their education”
Best Written News Story:
- First Place:
- Carla Mendez, Florida International University, “Miami homeless in limbo after public sleeping law takesy effect, fear arrest and jail”
- Second Place:
- Natalie La Roche Pietri, Florida International University, “Two Palestinian brothers lost everything in Gaza. A nonprofit brought them to the U.S. to heal”
- Third Place:
- Alexander Hernandez Gonzalez, Northwestern University, “Fashion designer Emmanuel Jesus Cabrera highlights Chicago’s ‘Gente Fina’ through fashion”
Best Written News Story: Honorable Mention:
- First Honorable Mention:
- Juan Carlos Ramírez, University of North Texas, Latino Freeze Movement boycotts companies that roll back DEI
- Second Honorable Mention:
- Mauro Rueda and Brianna Arias, Florida International University, Survivor of unimaginable trauma and homelessness builds a nonprofit to help others
- Third Honorable Mention:
- Enrique Bertran, Carlos Fernando Tinoco Guzman and Patricia Varas Chong, Florida International University, Un adiós forzado en Sweetwater
Best Written Feature Story:
- First Place:
- Mariana Navarrete Villegas, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, “El difícil equilibrio de las mujeres deliveristas de Nueva York en un trabajo mayoritariamente de hombres”
- Second Place:
- Nicol León Arge, Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York, “Los migrantes dedicados a la venta ambulante en Nueva York, acorralados entre el alcalde Adams y Trump”
- Third Place:
- Beverly R. Muzii, Florida International University, “Bearing Witness to ‘A Beautiful Struggle’: Photojournalist Alon Skuy’s work in post-Apartheid South Africa”
Best Visual Feature Story:
- First Place:
- Alejandro Sánchez and María Teresa López Rodríguez, Florida International University, Te Busco: quiénes son las madres buscadoras y qué le piden al nuevo gobierno de México
- Second Place:
- Tracy Mejia, University of Southern California, Instagram reel
- Third Place:
- Stefanny Tenia, Florida International University, “Taller de “Gelli paint” reúne amantes del arte en Doral”
Best Documentary:
- First Place:
- Dawn Boothe, Luz Gonzalez, Paola Sirignano and Stefanny Tenia, Florida International University, Deadly Cost: The consequences of drunk driving
- Second Place:
- Britton Struthers-Lugo, Northwestern University, “Domestic Violence in Illinois – Karina’s Law”
- Third Place:
- Illary Centeno, Lina Lozano and Giannina Rosales Chong, Florida International University, Medical tourism: Seeking treatment outside the U.S.
Although the date is unannounced, next year’s ceremony promises to unite students, their families and friends, FIU faculty, and industry professionals for another night full of celebrating the strongest student voices in journalism.
