Southwest Florida journalists have been honored for their outstanding contributions to investigative reporting, breaking news, building and development stories, sports coverage, photography, and videography. The News-Press and Naples Daily News recently garnered 20 awards from the Florida Society of News Editors (FSNE), with Amy Bennett Williams receiving the prestigious Paul Hansell Award.
Amy Bennett Williams Wins Paul Hansell Award
Amy Bennett Williams, a seasoned journalist with The News-Press and Naples Daily News, was awarded the highly coveted Paul Hansell Award, which includes a $1,000 prize. This long-running award, presented annually, recognizes overall excellence in reporting and writing by a single journalist across Florida.
The nomination letter for Williams highlighted her unique ability to embody the “quintessential Florida journalist,” combining investigative reporting with narrative storytelling. Her work in 2025 showcased a diverse range of topics, from environmental coverage to an investigation into Pop Warner football and a distinctive story about an iguana hunter on Marco Island.
Cindy McCurry-Ross, Executive Editor of The News-Press and Senior Editor for the Naples Daily News, praised Williams, stating, “This is an absolutely well-deserved honor for Amy. What’s remarkable about Amy is her range – from expert environmental coverage to her investigation of Pop Warner football and her quirky, unique story about the Marco Island man who hunts iguanas. She is a veteran reporter and a world-class storyteller.”
The Paul Hansell Award is named after a distinguished Associated Press bureau chief in Florida, who passed away in 1975, and is a testament to his dedication to Florida journalism.
The News-Press & Naples Daily News Team Shines in Multiple Categories
The News-Press and Naples Daily News team demonstrated exceptional talent across various categories, securing awards for in-depth reporting, breaking news, business and sports coverage, photography, and videography. “Our team is dedicated to serving our Southwest Florida community with best-in-class local journalism,” said McCurry-Ross.
The awards will be presented at the Florida Media Conference in June. Key wins include:
- Breaking News Reporting: Tayeba Hussein, Andrew West, Kim Luciani, and their colleagues earned second place for their coverage of a bear attack in May 2025. J. Kyle Foster and Andrew West, along with other team members, received third place for their reporting on a Cape Coral boat crash in December 2025 that resulted in three fatalities.
- Community Leadership: The staff of both newspapers secured second place for their comprehensive coverage of “Alligator Alcatraz,” an immigration detention center.
- Features Writing: Chad Gillis was recognized with second place for his story, “Who is Clyde Butcher,” which profiled the internationally renowned Southwest Florida photographer.
- Beat Reporting: Amy Bennett Williams earned second place for her extensive environmental reporting throughout 2025.
- Sports: Dan DeLuca took home first place for his exceptional sports coverage.
- Business: Phil Fernandez was awarded first place for his collection of stories on growth and development, while Laura Layden received third place for her business journalism.
Photography and Videography Excellence
The visual journalism teams also received significant accolades:
- Spot News Photography: Andrew West secured second place for his captivating photo of a coyote on a ledge in downtown Fort Myers in November 2025. Ricardo Rolon earned third place for his photo titled “Face-off.”
- Feature Photography: Rolon received second place for his photo “Christmas Snow” and third place for his collection of Southwest Florida weather photos.
- Sports Photography: Jonah Hinebaugh was awarded second place for his sports collection, and Rolon received third place for his sports moments.
- Photo Story: Staff photographers claimed first place for “Alligator Alcatraz Light Pollution,” and Hinebaugh earned second place for his photos depicting a resident battling an iguana invasion.
- Features Video: Southwest Florida photographers swept this category. West won first place for a video reflecting on Hurricane Ian, Hinebaugh secured second for his portrayal of Ian survivors, and West also took third for his profile of Tiara Brown.
National Recognition for Sports Journalists and Photojournalists
Southwest Florida sports journalists also excelled in the Associated Press Sports Editors (APSE) contest, often referred to as the “Oscars of sports writing.” Dan DeLuca was recognized in the Top 10 for both his high school beat writing and breaking news coverage. Nick Wilson and Jonah Hinebaugh also made the Top 10 for breaking news and action/feature photos, respectively.
McCurry-Ross highlighted the consistent excellence, stating, “Year after year after year, The News-Press & Naples Daily News sports journalists are honored as the best in the business.”
Furthermore, photographer Jonah Hinebaugh achieved national acclaim, placing first in the sports action category of the National Press Photographers Association’s (NPPA) Best of Photojournalism year-end contest for his photo of a high school swimmer. McCurry-Ross remarked on this achievement, saying, “That is some rare air right there! This is a national contest, and Jonah is among winners from some of the big-name national publications and wire services.”
These awards underscore the dedication and talent of the journalists in Southwest Florida, reinforcing their commitment to delivering high-quality local journalism to their communities.
Source: https://www.aol.com/news/naples-daily-news-news-press-090526364.html
