The newly created Bill Baggs Fearless Journalism Award was announced during the 2026 Bill Baggs's Birthday Bash and celebration Sept. 30th. the first of a series of new initiatives to recognize the 60th Anniversary of the opening of Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.

The Friends of Cape Florida, the park’s community-based organization, established the award in partnership with the Key Biscayne Community Foundation, The Miami Foundation and Press Forward South Florida and the Baggs family.

Cape Florida State Park is named after Baggs, who served as editor at The Miami News from 1957 until his death in 1969. He wrote more than 3,000 articles and editorials, many focused on environmental preservation and responsible development.

This award honors Bill's belief that journalism has a responsibility to ask difficult questions and serve the public. The Bill Baggs Fearless Journalism Award supports journalists willing to investigate important issues and contribute to meaningful discussion about South Florida's environmental future.”

The inaugural winners will be announced at the April 2027 Esserman-Knight Journalism Awards ceremony, which celebrates outstanding investigative and public service reporting in South Florida.