WMNF News has earned recognition as a finalist in five categories for the prestigious Sunshine State Awards, which honor excellence in Florida journalism. The community radio station’s impressive showing across multiple categories demonstrates the breadth and quality of its news coverage and programming.
Excellence Across Multiple Categories
The nominations span WMNF’s diverse journalism offerings, from breaking news coverage to in-depth arts reporting and innovative podcasting. The station earned finalist status in the following categories:
Radio or Audio Newscast features “The Scoop,” WMNF’s flagship news program produced by the collaborative efforts of the WMNF News team. The nominated episode, which was broadcast on December 6, 2024, was anchored and produced by Seán Kinane with news reports by Chris Young, and Kiley Petracek. It included headline news stories about the aftermath of the 2024
hurricanes, the environment, local government and arts. The Scoop is a daily news roundup and has become a trusted source for Tampa Bay and Florida headlines, delivering comprehensive coverage of local and state issues that matter most to the community.
In General Coverage, WMNF’s live broadcast during Hurricane Milton showcased the station’s commitment to emergency journalism. The team of Ben Montgomery, Meghan Bowman, Seán Kinane, and Chris Young provided crucial real-time coverage during one of the most significant weather events to impact the Tampa Bay area, demonstrating how community radio serves as a vital lifeline during crises.
Innovative Podcasting and Specialized Reporting
The Podcast category recognizes Nadine Smith’s “Wide Awake America,” a program that tackles complex social and political issues with depth and nuance. The nominated episodes showcase the program’s range, from examining youth political engagement with activist David Hogg to exploring spirituality and investigating the impact of conspiracy theories on American families through conversations with author Jesslyn Cook.
WMNF’s commitment to arts and culture journalism earned recognition in Arts Reporting through Chris Young’s coverage of the Tampa Theatre’s Juneteenth celebration of local Black filmmakers. This piece exemplifies the station’s dedication to highlighting diverse voices and cultural events that might otherwise go unnoticed in mainstream media.
Developing the Next Generation
WMNF News intern Tyler Oldano earned a Breaking News Story nomination in the college division for his coverage of First Lady Jill Biden’s visit to Tampa to rally veterans. This recognition highlights WMNF’s role in nurturing emerging journalists and providing them with platforms to develop their skills on significant stories.
Other recent awards for WMNF News
The WMNF News team was recently recognized by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists with two first-place awards and two finalist recognitions for 2024 news stories.
WMNF’s 2023 reporting also earned two finalist nominations from FABJ.
In 2014, WMNF’s Seán Kinane won a Griot Drum award for Best Multimedia News Story about Rallies in St Pete and Tampa for justice for Trayvon Martin after not guilty verdict.
Community Radio’s Impact
These nominations reflect WMNF’s unique position in the Tampa Bay media landscape. As a community-supported radio station, WMNF has consistently demonstrated that independent journalism can compete with larger media outlets while maintaining its commitment to serving underrepresented communities and covering stories that commercial media often overlooks.
The variety of categories in which WMNF earned finalist status—from hard news to arts coverage, from emergency reporting to thoughtful podcasting—illustrates the station’s comprehensive approach to journalism. Each nomination represents not just individual achievement, but the collective effort of a newsroom dedicated to informing and engaging the community.
Looking Ahead
The Sunshine State Awards ceremony, scheduled for September 6 at the NSU Museum in Fort Lauderdale, will celebrate the best of Florida journalism. Regardless of the final results, WMNF’s five nominations stand as a testament to the vital role community radio plays in maintaining a diverse and robust media ecosystem.
For WMNF News, these nominations represent more than professional recognition—they validate the station’s mission to provide independent, community-focused journalism that serves the public interest.
The recognition comes at a time when local journalism faces numerous challenges, making WMNF’s achievement even more significant. These nominations not only honor the hard work of individual reporters and producers but also celebrate the collaborative spirit that makes community radio such a powerful force for informed democracy.
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