Observer wins state awards for advertising, journalism

The West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer won 14 state awards at the 2026 Florida Media Conference.

By Michael Eng
| 10:57 a.m. June 9, 2026

West Orange Times & Observer
Your Town

The West Orange Times & Observer and Southwest Orange Observer won 14 state awards, including six first-place honors, for advertising and journalism at the 2026 Florida Media Conference, held June 4-5 at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista — Disney Springs.

In the 2026 FAME Creative Excellence Awards, the Observers won a Gold Award in Multimedia Campaign (Sarah Santiago).

In the 2026 Florida Press Association Weekly Newspaper Contest, the West Orange Times & Observer won five first-place awards: Photo Series in One Issue (Michael Eng); Feature Photo (Michael Eng) Best Obituary (Amy Quesinberry Price); Faith & Family Reporting (Amy Quesinberry Price); and Education News (Liz Ramos).

The Observers also won six second-place awards and two third-place awards in this year’s contests.

author

Michael Eng

As a child, Editor and Publisher Michael Eng collected front pages of the Kansas City Star during Operation Desert Storm, so it was a foregone conclusion that he would pursue a career in journalism. He holds a journalism degree from the University of Missouri — Columbia School of Journalism. When he’s not working, you can find him spending time with his wife and three children, or playing drums around town. He’s also a sucker for dad jokes.