Miami Herald reporting wins big in national, state journalism contests
The Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald won several prestigious national and statewide journalism awards in 2025.
Much of the journalism recognized had significant community impact, including investigative work that triggered the arrest of a gym coach long accused of abusing girls, prompted the Florida Bar to open an investigation into a South Florida attorney who used a legal loopholes to manipulate condo auctions to his advantage, and led authorities to strengthen boating safety laws and increase charges against the captain in a catastrophic boat crash.
'We're exceptionally proud of the work our journalists do, and the positive impact they have in our community,' said Alex Mena, executive editor of the Miami Herald and el Nuevo Herald. 'It's an honor to see that work recognized by our peers.'
Here is the list of the Herald's recent awards and the work recognized:
The National Headliner Awards is one of the oldest and largest annual journalism contests.
▪ First Place, local news beat coverage: Brittany Wallman and Ben Wieder for 'Rigged.' Wallman and Wieder revealed how a Florida attorney had manipulated Florida's foreclosure action process to his advantage. Following their reporting, the Florida Bar opened an investigation. The revelations also prompted action from Broward County's chief judge and a vow for legislation from a Miami state senator.
▪ Second Place, local news beat coverage: Grethel Aguila, David Goodhue and Susan Merriam for their 'Wrecked Justice' inquiry, which revealed a botched investigation into a boat crash that killed one teen and permanently disabled another.
▪ Third Place, investigative reporting: Miami Herald Staff for 'Criminal Injustice,' which explored how Miami-Dade's legal system failed victims in several controversial cases. This package included:
— Key Biscayne's Dark Secret by Ana Claudia Chacin and Clara-Sophia Daly, which focused on how Miami-Dade's State Attorney's Office dismissed sexual abuse allegations against a popular gymnastics coach in Key Biscayne. Police arrested Oscar Olea weeks after the Miami Herald reported that former students alleged he sexually abused them.
— Deal with the Devil by Sarah Blaskey and Brittany Wallman, which detailed how Miami murderer William 'Little Bill' Brown was given a sweetheart plea deal and immunity from prosecution for one of Miami's worst mass shootings. Following the Herald's reporting, Brown was finally sent to prison.
— Dr. Feelgood by Julie K. Brown and Grethel Aguila, who revealed how a Miami Beach doctor accused of sex trafficking a teenage girl evaded serious charges.
— Wrecked Justice by Grethel Aguila, David Goodhue and Susan Merriam. The Herald's dissection of the 2022 boat crash that killed 17-year-old Luciana 'Lucy' Fernandez and critically injured Katerina 'Katy' Puig led prosecutors to increase charges against prominent real estate broker George Pino, the boat's captain, and Legislators to strengthen boating safety laws.
The 2024 Associated Press Sports Editors contest, judged by sports editors and journalists from across the nation, recognized work that was published in 2024.
First place, investigative reporting: Key Biscayne's Dark Secret, by Ana Claudia Chacin and Clara-Sophia Daly
The 2024 Best in Business Awards by the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing honors excellence in business journalism from 2024.
First place, real estate coverage for medium market: Rigged by Brittany Wallman and Ben Wieder
Finalist, Tom Renner Award, in recognition of career accomplishments: Julie K. Brown. Judges noted Brown's work in uncovering New York financier Jeffrey Epstein's pattern of sexual abuse against underage girls and her continued pursuit of stories revealing abuses of power against vulnerable people, most recently her Dr. Feelgood investigation into the suspicious death of a young sex trafficking victim.
Finalist, Print/Online investigations: Wrecked Justice by David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila and Susan Merriam
The Livingston Awards honor the best reporting and storytelling by journalists under 35.
Finalists: Ana Claudia Chacin and Clara-Sophia Daly, who were recognized for their impactful investigation Key Biscayne's Dark Secret.
The annual Taylor Family Award is meant to encourage fairness in news coverage by American journalists and news organizations.
Finalist: Guilty of Grief by Carol Marbin Miller, Linda Robertson and Camellia Burris with the help of visual journalist Jose Iglesias and data/visual journalist Susan Merriam. The series relied on hours of police bodycam footage, thousands of court documents, interviews and other records to tell the saga of Gamaly Hollis and her son Richard Hollis, a 21-year-old with a history of psychiatric problems. He was shot dead by Miami-Dade police officer Jaime Pino during a confrontation. His mother was jailed for nearly a year after protesting on Facebook against Pino. The State Attorney's Office offered Hollis a plea deal instead of additional jail time a week after the Herald's series was published.
Sponsored by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, this is a monthly, national award for outstanding investigative journalism that exposes social and economic injustices.
December 2024 award: Guilty of Grief by Carol Marbin Miller, Linda Robertson and Camellia Burris.
NABJ's awards recognize journalism that 'best covers the Black experience or addresses issues affecting the worldwide Black community.'
Finalist, feature story: 'These Black Veterans Served In Multiple Wars. Now They Meet Daily At A Miami McDonald's' by Michael Butler, with images by photojournalist Carl Juste.The annual Florida Society of News Editors journalism contest recognizes works across Florida's news industry.
Investigative Reporting, First Place: Guilty of Grief by Carol Marbin Miller, Linda Robertson Camellia Burris, with contributions from Jose Iglesias, Susan Merriam, Pierre Taylor, Carolina Zamora, Alie Skowronski, Andres Viglucci, and McClatchy Media Creative Director Sohail Al-Jamea and Visual Journalist Rachel Handley.
Community Leadership, First Place: Guilty of Grief.
Enterprise writing, First Place: Guilty of Grief.
Multimedia, First Place: Wrecked Justice, by David Goodhue, Grethel Aguila and Susan Merriam, with contributions from Pedro Portal, Carl Juste, Sohail Al-Jamea, and Kevin Scott.
Spanish beat writing, First Place: Sonia Osorio.
Spanish sports writing, First Place: Jorge Ebro.
Sports columns, First Place: Greg Cote.
Sports photography, First Place: 'Georgia fan selfies with Miami coach after team's defeat,' by Al Diaz.
Investigative Reporting, Second Place: 'Juvenile Crime, Adult Time,' by Shirsho Dasgupta. The series found that teens who were tried in court as adults were often given higher sentences on average for felony crimes than older, adult offenders.
Spot News Photography, Second Place: 'Fire at the Temple Court Apartments,' by Carl Juste.
Spanish feature writing, Second Place: Sarah Moreno.
Spot News Photography, Third Place: 'Aftermath of Hurricane Milton,' by Pedro Portal.
Breaking News, Third Place: 'The Cuffing of Tyreek Hill,' by Miami Herald Staff, including Grethel Aguila, David J. Neal, David Goodhue, Doug Hanks, Devoun Cetoute, Charles Rabin, Isaiah Smalls, Camellia Burris, Barry Jackson and Al Diaz.
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