Observer wins 2024 awards for journalism, advertising

The West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer won awards for its journalism, design and advertising at the 2024 Florida Media Conference, held July 25-26 at the Signia by Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek.

In the Florida Advertising Media Executives’ 2024 Creative Excellence Awards, the Observers won two Gold awards — one for best Multi-Media Campaign (Hamlin Craft Beer Festival) and a second for Medical & Wellness advertising (Community Health Centers). 

The Observers also received two Silver awards for Advertising-Driven Special Section (Graduation 2023) and Medical & Wellness advertising (Sundrop Aesthetics); and Bronze awards for Special Section (Local Motion 2023) and Real Estate & Development print advertising (Elle Probst).

In the Florida Press Association’s 2024 Better Weekly Awards Contest, the Observers won five first-place, five second-place and eight third-place awards for writing, photography and design.

The first-place awards included: 

• Front Page Makeup (staff)

• Faith and Family Reporting (Last of a generation by Amy Quesinberry)

• Photo Series in One Issue (Florida Bandmasters Association 2023 District 8 MPA by Michael Eng) 

• Best Headline (Michael Eng)  

• Feature Photo (Light Up Windermere by Michael Eng)

The second-place awards included Overall Graphic Design (Southwest Orange Observer by Jessica Eng); Portfolio Photography (Michael Eng); Arts, Entertainment & Review Reporting (The little things by Annabelle Sikes); Informational Graphic (Ocoee City Budget Breakdown by Jessica Eng); and Online Slideshow (Florida Bandmasters Association 2023 District 8 MPA by Michael Eng).

Third-place awards included Overall Graphic Design (West Orange Times & Observer by Jessica Eng); Sports Section (Andrea Mujica and Jessica Eng); Sports Spot News Story (Horizon/Windermere rivalry game by Sam Albuquerque); Education News (A parent’s guide to Florida’s voucher system by Michael Eng); Investigate Reporting (Where is Leah Calabrese? by Annabelle Sikes); Humorous Column (Bucket List: Visit Questenberg Castle by Amy Quesinberry); Business Reporting (Sweet sorrow by Amy Quesinberry); and Education Feature (DPHS security guard retires after 35 years by Amy Quesinberry).