Fainaru-Wada and Williams, the San Francisco Chronicle investigative team that exposed the explosive BALCO steroid scandal in 2003, took turns talking about the investigation that made them famous…and infamous. As Fainaru-Wada reminded the Sunshine State Awards audience, the stories he and Williams wrote met much public resistance, particularly in San Francisco. Yet, he and Williams continued to investigate and to write because they felt “athletes were getting a free pass.”

Williams talked about the resistance they faced from another corner – the government. When the government subpoenaed the duo to reveal a key source, both men refused. Williams said the decision was easy to make because “if you promise a source that you won’t give them up, you have to mean it.” Williams wrapped up the speech by expressing support for a Federal Shield Law. The law, which would protect journalists who refuse to testify about their sources, is only one vote shy of approval in the Senate. President Bush has threatened to veto it, but Williams is hopeful and urged journalists in the audience to start writing about the need for the law.

After Williams and Fainaru-Wada took some questions from the audience, Master of Ceremonies Phil Latzman of WLRN-Miami Herald News revealed the many winners of the 2008 Sunshine State Awards. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel investigative team of Megan O’Matz and John Maines took home the top prize — the James Batten Award for Public Service — for their “Florida Gun Law” series. The series also captured the Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting in the Large Papers division.

“Thanks to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, we know that burglars, child molesters and even murderers are allowed to carry concealed weapons,” said Bob Edwards of XM Satellite Radio, one of a trio of nationally recognized journalists who judged the Batten Award entries. “We also know that this news doesn’t bother the legislature nearly as much as the publication of the gun toters’ names. This is why we must continue to have newspapers — to warn us of threats to public safety and the foolishness of public officials. The Sun-Sentinel sounded the alarm — and just in the nick of time.”

The Miami Herald, with 10 first-place awards, took home the most wins of the evening. The Tampa Tribune, with seven first-place awards, finished second. The South Florida Sun-Sentinel and The Florida Times Union tied for third, with six first-place awards apiece.

In the Deadline News Reporting category, the staff of The Palm Beach Post took first place in the Large Papers division for its story of the community’s grief over two sheriff’s deputies who died in the line of duty. The Villages Daily Sun won the award in the Small Papers division for coverage of the tornadoes that ripped through The Villages in February 2007.

First place in the Serious Feature Reporting category, Large Papers, was won by Konrad Marshall, of The Florida Times-Union, for his story about a mentally ill, homeless man in Jacksonville. In the Small Papers division, Tamara Lush won for her Miami New Times story “Rapture of the Deep,” about the death of three divers near Key Largo.

The Gene Miller Award for Investigative Reporting, Small Papers, went to Isaiah Thompson, of Miami New Times, for his “Under the Bridge” series about convicted sex offenders living under the Julia Tuttle Causeway.

Orlando’s WKMG-TV took home three first-place awards, the most of any broadcaster. Channel 9 Eyewitness News, also of Orlando, won for Best TV Newscast. WUFT/Mid-Florida Public Radio won the Radio Deadline News Reporting award for coverage of a wildfire in North Florida’s Columbia County.

John W. Cox, a student at the University of Florida, was named College Journalist of the Year.

*Professional photographer Carlos Miller took photos of most of the award winners who attended the 2008 Sunshine State Awards. To inquire about getting copies of photos, please go to Carlos Miller’s website: www.magiccitymedia.com

• 2008 Sunshine State Awards Winners List (html)
• 2008 Sunshine State Awards Winners List (doc)

Explore these links for additional information:

• 2008 Sunshine State Awards Finalists - Partial List (PDF)
• About the Awards

The annual Sunshine State Awards honors the best online, print and television journalism in the state of Florida.  

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Williams and Fainaru-Wada are co-authors of Game of Shadows: Barry Bonds, BALCO, and the Steroids Scandal That Rocked Professional Sports. The New York Times bestseller led to a vigorous investigation into steroid use in major league baseball. When in May 2006 the reporters were called before a grand jury to reveal their sources or face an 18 months prison sentence, they opted for prison. Williams and Fainaru-Wada, however, appealed and the government dropped the subpoena in February.

Williams and Fainaru-Wada, the recipients of several awards including the George Polk, Edgar A. Poe and Dick Schaap Excellence in Journalism awards, will be the keynote speakers at the awards dinner hosted by the South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The winners of this year’s competition will be announced on Saturday, May 31st at the Sheraton Fort Lauderdale Airport Hotel.

The Sunshine State Awards honors the best online, print and television journalism in the state of Florida and is the largest journalism contest in the state. Journalists from throughout the state come to the banquet every year.

Founded in 1909, SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.

SPJ’s 9,000 members work to promote the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; inspires and educates the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

For more information about the awards banquet or to reserve a seat, contact Julie Kay at (954) 303-3384.

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SPJ’s Spring Conferences are day-long professional development meetings bringing area journalists, students and journalism educators together in one place to hear from industry experts on topics ranging from improving writing to leveraging technology in today’s new media climate.

Networking opportunities at the conferences allows participants to build relationships that can lead to the sharing of best practices in newsrooms.

Kay is an award-winning South Florida journalist who covers the southeast United States for the National Law Journal. She previously worked for the Daily Business Review for seven years, where she authored a weekly column entitled “Justice Watch.” Kay is also the Florida consultant for C-SPAN and freelances for People Magazine and Closer Magazine.

Previously, Kay worked as a staff writer for the Miami Herald for five years, covering city and county government in Broward County, as well as for the Palm Beach Post.

Kay previously served as president of the South Florida chapter of SPJ from 2002 to 2004. She also serves on the national group’s Legal Defense Fund committee.

Other officers elected include Sergy Tabuteau as vice president of programs, Bill Hirschman as treasurer and Ron Levitt as secretary. Darcie Lunsford is immediate past president.

The South Florida chapter of SPJ covers Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties and is one of the largest chapters in the country.