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LISA CAVACINI/Special to the Daily News – From left, Daily News Sports Editor Mark Blumenthal, news reporter Sarah Cavacini and Editor Brandon D. Oliver hold the Florida Press Club awards the newspaper received Saturday.
Daily News staff report
The Palatka Daily News won big over the weekend as four of its journalists took home 13 awards during a banquet in Clearwater Beach.
The Florida Press Club handed out awards to Sports Editor Mark Blumenthal, news reporter Sarah Cavacini, Lifestyles Editor Trisha Murphy and Editor Brandon D. Oliver.
Publisher Jennifer Moates spoke highly of the award-winning journalists, commending them for the hard work, talent and tenacity that produced such great work.
“We are so proud of the dedicated and talented editorial and sports staff at the Palatka Daily News and I would like to personally congratulate them on these well-deserved awards,” Moates said. “The news gathering, writing, editing and page design is second to none as they work hard to bring the news and information that is important to our community.”
With six awards in her stash, Murphy took home the most prizes in this year’s haul. She won first-place plaques for writing in Light Features, Class B, and Sports Features, Class B.
Murphy also won second place for Health Writing, Class A-B, Religion News, Class A-C, and Portrait/Personality Photography, Class B, as well as third place for layout in the Class A-B Feature Page Design category.
Cavacini won first place for writing in Minority News, Class A-B, and Serious Features, Class B. She was also awarded a second-place photography award in the Class B General News category.
Oliver took home second place in writing for Education News and Light Features, both in Class B. He and Cavacini shared a third-place win for Class B Education News writing.
Blumenthal won a first-place plaque for writing in Sports Columns, Class A-C.
These awards were for the work the journalists produced from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023.
Oliver, who became editor in July 2023, said he is proud of his colleagues for not only producing award-worthy work, but for the tireless work they produce for the benefit of the community they cover.
“Although I was not the editor when the work that won these awards was produced, I witnessed the drive and commitment everyone in the newsroom employed to get the job done,” Oliver said. “I must also congratulate former Editor Casmira Harrison for her contributions in leading this team.”
