Florida Trib Wins Six First-Place Journalism Awards

The news organization's 'Cold-Blooded' series earns a prestigious gold medal for public service.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 5:10pm

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The Florida Trib, a local news publication, won six first-place awards in the Florida Society of News Editors' 2026 journalism contest, including a gold medal for public service for its investigative series 'Cold-Blooded' about a decades-old Death Row conviction that raised questions about prosecutorial and judicial ethics.

Why it matters

The Florida Trib's award-winning work demonstrates the importance of impactful investigative journalism that holds the criminal justice system accountable and uncovers potential miscarriages of justice. The recognition from the state's top journalism organization underscores the publication's commitment to serving its community through high-quality reporting.

The details

The Trib won first place in every category it entered, including beat reporting on the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and breaking news about a death in the Duval County jail. The 'Cold-Blooded' series, reported by Nichole Manna and Casey Frank, was cited in U.S. Supreme Court briefs and won first place in enterprise, features, and investigative reporting, as well as the prestigious gold medal for public service.

  • The Florida Trib won the awards in the Florida Society of News Editors' 2026 journalism contest.

The players

Nichole Manna

The Florida Trib's Senior Investigative Reporter who has covered the criminal justice system for more than a decade. She is currently working with ProPublica's Local Reporting Network.

Casey Frank

The Tributary's Special Project Editor who joined the organization in 2024 after retiring as the senior editor in charge of the Miami Herald's investigative team, where his team shared in two Pulitzer Prizes and was a finalist three other times.

Nate Monroe

The Florida Trib's Executive Editor who praised the award-winning work of Manna and Frank as 'well-deserved and totally unsurprising.'

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What they’re saying

“This is well-deserved and totally unsurprising. Nichole and Casey are singular talents, which is clear to everyone who has had the pleasure of working with them. I'm gratified the judges saw the value of this important, impactful work.”

— Nate Monroe, Executive Editor, The Florida Trib

The takeaway

The Florida Trib's award-winning journalism demonstrates the power of investigative reporting to uncover systemic issues within the criminal justice system and hold authorities accountable. This recognition underscores the vital role local news organizations play in serving their communities through impactful, public service-oriented journalism.