Report on Journalistic Excellence Advancing Sustainable Development Goals in Florida

Introduction: Recognition of SDG-Aligned Journalism

The Florida Society of News Editors (FSNE) has awarded several members of the South Florida Sun Sentinel staff for journalistic contributions that significantly align with and highlight the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The awards, presented at the 2025 annual conference, recognize reporting that addresses critical issues of health, inequality, and institutional accountability.

Core Investigation: “Born to Die” and its Impact on SDGs 3, 5, and 10

The premier honor, the Paul Hansell Award for Distinguished Achievement in Florida Journalism, was awarded to reporter Cindy Krischer Goodman and photojournalist Carline Jean for their four-part series, “Born to Die: Florida’s infant mortality crisis.” This investigative work provides a critical analysis of public health failures and their disproportionate impact, directly engaging with several key SDGs.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The series fundamentally addresses Target 3.1 (reduce maternal mortality) and Target 3.2 (end preventable deaths of newborns) by exposing the severe challenges within Florida’s maternal and infant healthcare systems despite significant financial investment.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: A central focus of the report was the analysis of state data that uncovered deep-seated inadequacies and disparities in healthcare access and outcomes, particularly affecting Black women and other women of color. This work directly supports Target 10.3 to ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality: By documenting the suffering of mothers and the systemic barriers they face, the series highlights the urgent need for policies that promote gender equality in healthcare, as outlined in Target 5.c.

The FSNE judges commended the series as a “testament to the power of journalism that gives a voice to the voiceless.” This function is crucial to SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which calls for ensuring public access to information and holding institutions accountable.

Additional Awards Recognizing Contributions to Sustainable Development

Seven other staff members received honors for work that contributes to a broader understanding of sustainable development within the community. These awards span various categories, each touching upon different SDG principles.

1. Shira Moolton (Beat Reporting): Reporting on crime and public safety aligns with SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) by examining the factors that contribute to safe and inclusive societies.
2. Ron Hurtibise (Business): Coverage of the state’s insurance market relates to SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by analyzing economic stability and corporate responsibility.
3. Sean Pitts and Phillip Valys (Feature Video): Their work on the Mai-Kai tiki bar contributes to SDG 11 by documenting and preserving local cultural heritage.
4. Sun Sentinel Staff (Niche Site / App): The “Explore Florida and the Caribbean” platform supports SDG 8 and SDG 11 by promoting sustainable tourism and appreciation for regional culture and environments.
5. Mark Gauert and Anderson Greene (Magazine / Website): City & Shore / PRIME Magazine contributes to the narrative of community life, aligning with the social sustainability aspects of SDG 11.
6. Lauren Brensel (Student Classification): Her articles on air traffic controllers (“Sky Saviors”) and breaking news (“Lieutenant Dan”) demonstrate the role of SDG 4 (Quality Education) in fostering the next generation of journalists. Her work, produced via the University of Florida’s journalism program, underscores the partnership between educational institutions and media in service of SDG 16.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article’s central focus is the journalism series “Born to Die: Florida’s infant mortality crisis,” which directly addresses health outcomes. It explicitly mentions the “deaths of babies,” the “suffering of their mothers,” and “inadequacies in maternal healthcare.” These topics are at the core of SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.

2. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   • The article highlights that the journalistic investigation uncovered health disparities, noting that the crisis and inadequacies in healthcare were “particularly among Black women and other women of color.” This directly connects to SDG 10, which calls for reducing inequality within and among countries, including ensuring equal opportunity and reducing inequalities of outcome for different racial groups.

3. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The issues discussed are gender-specific, focusing on “maternal healthcare” and the “suffering of their mothers.” The article also points to “increasing restrictions on abortion,” a policy area that directly impacts women’s health and autonomy. These elements connect to SDG 5’s goals of ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights and ending discrimination against women.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5

   • This target is directly identified by the article’s main subject: the “Born to Die: Florida’s infant mortality crisis.” The series focuses on the “deaths of babies,” which aligns with the target’s goal to “end preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age” and reduce infant and neonatal mortality.

2. Target 3.1: Reduce the global maternal mortality ratio

   • The article’s mention of “inadequacies in maternal healthcare” and the “suffering of their mothers” in the context of infant deaths points directly to this target. While maternal death is not the primary focus, the underlying issue of poor maternal healthcare is a key driver of both maternal and infant mortality, which this target seeks to address.

3. Target 10.3: Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome

   • This target is relevant because the article specifies that the healthcare inadequacies disproportionately affect “Black women and other women of color.” The journalistic series analyzed data to expose this disparity, which reflects an inequality of outcome in health services that Target 10.3 aims to eliminate.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator: Infant Mortality Rate

   • The article explicitly refers to “Florida’s alarming infant mortality rate” and a series titled “Florida’s infant mortality crisis.” This is a direct, quantifiable indicator used to measure progress on Target 3.2 (specifically, Indicator 3.2.2: Neonatal mortality rate). The article notes that the journalism was “data-driven” and involved an “analysis” of this rate.

2. Indicator: Health outcomes disaggregated by race

   • The article implies the use of this indicator by stating the series “analyzed state data to uncover inadequacies in maternal healthcare… particularly among Black women and other women of color.” This points to the measurement of health outcomes (like infant or maternal mortality) broken down by racial groups to track and address the inequalities relevant to Target 10.3.

3. Indicator: Maternal Mortality Ratio (Implied)

   • While not explicitly named, an indicator for maternal health is strongly implied. The focus on “inadequacies in maternal healthcare” and the “suffering of their mothers” suggests that data related to maternal health and well-being was analyzed. The Maternal Mortality Ratio (Indicator 3.1.1) is the primary measure for tracking the quality and outcomes of maternal healthcare.

SDGs, Targets and Indicators

Source: sun-sentinel.com