The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2017 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for excellence in journalism. The SPJ Region 3 area which includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands won four Sigma Delta Chi Awards; all from Florida.

- Congratulations to Alicia Zuckerman, WLRN News, for winning the SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting (1-100 Market or Network Syndication)
“Cassettes of Hurricane Andrew”

- Congratulations to Ken Willis, Dayton Beach News-Journal for winning the SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Award for Feature Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000), “Lightning: A Survivor’s Tale”


- Congratulations to Josh Salman , Dak Le and Michael Braga from the Sarasota Herald Tribune for winning the SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Award for Investigative Reporting (Daily Circulation 50,001-100,000)
“One War. Two Races”

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Congratulations to Tim Elfrink from the Miami New Times for winning the SPJ Sigma Delta Chi Award for Non-Deadline Reporting (Non-Daily Publication)
“How a Floating Bale of Cocaine Led to the Florida Keys’ Worst Murder in Decades”.
Judges chose the winners from entries in categories covering print, radio, television and online. The awards recognize outstanding work published or broadcast in 2017.
Dating back to 1932, the awards originally honored six individuals for contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939, when the Society granted the first Distinguished Service Awards. The honors later became the Sigma Delta Chi Awards.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.
Sigma Delta Chi award winners will be honored at an awards banquet on June 8 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Society of Professional Journalists
Twitter @spj_3