The Florida Bar’s Media & Communications Law Committee presents the Parker Thomson Awards for Outstanding Legal Journalism in Florida to honor a longtime champion of the First Amendment and counsel to journalists. Any newspaper, radio station, blog, TV station, wire service or online-only media outlet located in Florida is eligible.
First place award winners will receive $500; second place winners will receive $250. All winning reporters and their media outlets will receive plaques. Recipients may donate cash awards to the First Amendment Foundation.
Susan Spencer-Wendel Lifetime Achievement Award
The Committee also presents the Susan Spencer-Wendel Lifetime Achievement Award. This award honors a retired or working journalist who has written or reported extensively in an outstanding fashion to educate citizens on the system of law and justice as it affects the people of Florida. Spencer-Wendel was a veteran Palm Beach Post courts reporter who died in 2014 after a well-documented fight with ALS. She received a lifetime achievement award from The Florida Bar’s Media & Communications Law Committee in 2012 and numerous other media awards throughout her career.
The award recipient will receive a cash prize of $500, a plaque and travel reimbursement to attend the awards ceremony. A reporter who chooses not to accept the monetary prize may opt to donate to the First Amendment Foundation.
Email Awards Subcommittee Chair Sam Morley for nomination information.