Beacon wins First Amendment Defense award

Above, newspaper and magazine awards from last year’s convention. Boca Beacon archives

The Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Island Magazine received word that has been nominated for 39 awards at the annual Florida Magazine Association and Florida Press Association contests. The Beacon is a finalist for 18 awards, including a The Jon A. Roosenraad First Amendment Defense Award, which is given to a news organization that “actively defends the principles of the First Amendment and the public’s right to know.” 

The Beacon’s awards were in categories that included hurricane coverage, graphic design, photography, business reporting and editorial writing. Additionally, on behalf of the Boca Grande community, the newspaper’s community service campaign for the Boca Grande Disaster Fund was also honored, along with community contributor stories such as Barbara Hughes story of North Carolina hurricanes, and a reader photo by Sandi Firtion.

The winners are announced this Friday, August 1 at the group’s annual convention, which is being held at the Sunseeker Resort.

Gasparilla Island Magazine received 21 Charlie Awards.