TCPalm wins 3 Green Eyeshades awards for best journalism in 11 Southeast U.S. states

TCPalm/Treasure Coast Newspapers won three awards in the 74th annual Green Eyeshades, the nation’s oldest regional journalism contest, sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Laurence Reisman won first place in the Public Service in Daily Journalism category for Never Give Up. The five-part series chronicled a mother's 20-month fight to get her mentally disabled daughter back. Homeland Security had taken her based on unfounded accusations, and Catholic Charities had hidden her from her mother.

Editorial Board members Laurence Reisman, Blake Fontenay and Ed Killer won third place in the Editorial Writing category for a collection of editorials that included:

• Keith Pearson: For a sheriff whose No. 1 goal is transparency, newest one in Florida flunking the test
• Ken Mascara: FDLE probe into St. Lucie County sheriff a lesson for political wannabes
• Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch: Nothing's faster than DeSantis nod, so why the dilly-dally on replacing her?
• Brightline: Congrats on new service. Now where's the Treasure Coast stop going to be?
• Tim Moore: What mysteries do Indian River State College development plans hold?

Breaking News Reporters Corey Arwood, Will Greenlee, Melissa E. Holsman and St. Lucie County Watchdog Reporter Olivia McKelvey won third place in the Deadline Reporting category for their coverage of an MLK Day mass shooting. Their articles included:

The Green Eyeshades, begun in 1950, recognize the best journalism in print, digital, radio and television throughout the Southeast U.S., including Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia.

The name refers to the green, transparent, celluloid visors newspaper copy editors typically wore to lessen eye strain under the harsh incandescent lights common in offices from the late-19th century to the mid-20th century.