Mainstreet captures 4 statewide awards, to enter highest division next year 

(From left) C.J. Gish, Janalyn Peppel, Gigi Cohen and J.C. Derrick hold awards from the Florida Press Association's 2025 weekly newspaper contest. Mainstreet Daily News
(From left) C.J. Gish, Janalyn Peppel, Gigi Cohen and J.C. Derrick hold awards from the Florida Press Association's 2025 weekly newspaper contest.
Mainstreet Daily News

Mainstreet Daily News won four awards from the Florida Press Association on Friday, highlighting feature stories that complement its daily news coverage.  

The 2025 Weekly Newspaper Contest included more than 1,000 articles and photo submissions from 57 Florida media outlets.  

Mainstreet competed with papers between 4,000 and 15,000 print circulation for the 2024 publishing year. Next year, the team will compete in Division A (15,000+ circulation) after doubling the print edition to 20,000 copies.  

Become A Member

Mainstreet does not have a paywall, but pavement-pounding journalism is not free. Join your neighbors who make this vital work possible.

Publisher J.C. Derrick said the team is excited to move into the highest division, even though awards are not what motivates Mainstreet. 

“It’s always nice to see your work recognized, but ultimately, we don’t work for our peers,” Derrick said.” We work for the community, and every day we hear from locals who say we are making a difference. That’s what really keeps us going.”   

Former Mainstreet reporter Glory Reitz earned two third-place finishes in Agricultural & Environmental Reporting and First Amendment Defense.  

Her agricultural story detailed the city of Newberry’s ambitions for an “agricultural renaissance” through its Newberry AgFoodTech Park.  

Her other story dovetailed into Mainstreet’s reporting on a surgical shutdown at HCA Florida North Florida Regional Hospital. After investigating the shutdown, hospital officials posted a BOLO (be on the lookout) for correspondent Gary Nelson, with posters showing a headshot and security footage of Nelson visiting a friend in the hospital.  

Reitz wrote about the BOLO and hospital administrators warning staff to report Nelson on sight to security and not to speak with him.  

Another Mainstreet correspondent made her way into the awards—and not for the first time. Ronnie Lovler won bronze for her Outdoor & Recreation story on the Florida Agricultural Museum in Palm Coast.

Associate editor Seth Johnson received a third-place spot for Health, Medical & Science Reporting. The story shows how the University Air Center flies on a countdown to enable UF Health to perform organ transplants.  

Senior editor C.J. Gish said the Mainstreet team has been recognized each year since entering the print landscape.  

“I hope our loyal readers appreciate the quality of work put forth by our writers as we present stories that cover a broad range of topics that include government, education, prep sports, features and investigative articles,” Gish said. 

Current Mainstreet education reporter Nick Anschultz also won three awards for stories he wrote last year while working for the Levy Citizen, a Division C paper. 

Both of Anschultz’s stories touched on hurricane coverage along the Gulf coast and earned a first and third place award in Hurricane Coverage—General News Story and Hurricane Feature Story.  

Here’s the full list of award-winning pieces:  

In 2023, Mainstreet won another slate of four awards. Find details here

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Frequent Internet Flier

Congratulations – Well earned!

Rebecca Quandt

I’m not surprised! I truly rely on and trust the thorough reporting of MSDN. Thank you!

Real Gainesville Citizen and Voter

Good work, and congratulations! Your efforts are well appreciated by your readers, but its nice to see the FPA recognition, too.

Ricki Dee

Quit the “filler” and “fluff” pieces: do REAL journalism – do (alot) more INVESTIGATIVE reporting.

Tommy Maple

Did you rtfa? They literally had an investigative reporter so deep into the action that the hospital corporation PRINTED OUT BOLO POSTERS and warned all their employees to hide the truth from him

GNV Ken

Perhaps you could be more specific? Suggest 3 to 5 local, feasible areas of focus.

I am very grateful that a talented, persistent team has formed to bring news back to Gainesville.