Reporter Rose Schnabel Won 2026 Waldo Proffitt Award
The award recognizes high-impact investigative reporting on environmental inequities across Florida.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Environmental
Report for America Corps member Rose Schnabel has received the 2026 Waldo Proffitt Award for Outstanding Environmental Journalism. The recognition follows her investigative work covering rural environmental concerns in North Central Florida.
Why it matters
The award highlights the critical role of local journalism in documenting environmental threats, ranging from industrial impacts on timber sectors to infrastructure development effects on native species.
The award, administered by the University of South Florida's Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications, evaluated a body of work focused on rural environmental coverage. The selection emphasized reporting on documented inequities within North Central Florida.
The players
Rose Schnabel
A Report for America Corps member recognized for environmental reporting on the timber industry, rare plants, and waste management.
Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications
A division of the University of South Florida that administers the Waldo Proffitt Award for environmental journalism.
Miami Herald
A news organization that received the Waldo Proffitt Award for its series titled Built on Sand.
The details
Schnabel’s reporting portfolio centers on investigative documentation of regional environmental issues. Her coverage included systemic odor complaints at a local landfill, the economic and environmental dynamics of the pine straw industry, and the threats posed to rare native plants by proposed toll road construction. The Zimmerman School’s judging criteria specifically prioritize journalistic efforts that advance public understanding of environmental policy and community impact.
Timeline
2026: Rose Schnabel won the Waldo Proffitt Award.
Oct. 20, 2026: The Zimmerman School hosts the award presentation.
The Tech Race
This award continues the legacy of the Waldo Proffitt Award in elevating rigorous investigative reporting in Florida. It signals a sustained focus on rural environmental health as a core beat within state journalism.
This recognition draws public attention to specific environmental challenges in North Central Florida that may affect local land use and policy decisions. Readers can expect increased visibility for these investigative topics as the findings are formally presented later this month.
The takeaway
The award underscores the growing influence of data-driven local reporting in identifying environmental inequities. Follow the upcoming award ceremony on Oct. 20 for further details on the winning investigative body of work.
What happens next
The Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications will hold the official award presentation on Oct. 20, 2026.
Further reading
Explore ongoing coverage of regional ecosystem health at Environmental.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WUFT | News and public media for north central Florida.
