Daniel has won more than two dozen journalism awards. Here is a partial list.
Longlisted for the 2022 PEN America Jacqueline Bogard Weld Award for Biography, King of the Blues.
Living Blues magazine, Living Blues Award, Best Blues Book of 2021, King of the Blues.
Education Writers Association, second place, beat reporting, 2012, “The College Beat 2011.”
Education Writers Association, first place, news feature or issue package, 2010, “Poor Neighborhoods, Untested Teachers.” (With Michael Alison Chandler.)
Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association, second place, feature story, 2009, “Here, Here! 13 Years of Perfect Attendance.”
MDDC Press Assn., first place, education writing, 2007, “More Work, Less Play in Kindergarten.”
Society of Professional Journalists, Sunshine State Awards, first place, criminal law reporting, 2004, “Imperfect Justice.” (With Wanda DeMarzo.)
New Times, Best Miami Herald Writer, Broward-Palm Beach region, 2003. (With DeMarzo.)
Florida Press Club, second place, Frances DeVore Award for Public Service, 2003, “A Case for Innocence.” (With DeMarzo.)
Florida Bar, Media Award, 2003. (For criminal justice coverage.)
SPJ, Sunshine State Awards, James K. Batten Award for Outstanding Public Service, 2002, “A Case for Innocence.”
Florida Press Club, first place, in-depth news writing, 2002. (With DeMarzo.)
SPJ, James K. Batten Award and first place, non-deadline reporting, 2001, “Justice Delayed.” (With DeMarzo.)
SPJ, first place, deadline reporting, 2001. (Lead writer on 9/11 coverage.)
SPJ, Green Eyeshade Award, first place, breaking news, 2001. (For 9/11 coverage.)
Pulitzer Prize (team), deadline reporting, 2001. (For Elian Gonzalez coverage.)
Miami Herald, Quarterly Excellence Award, 1999. (For private education series.)
California Reading Association, Outstanding Journalism Award, 1996. (For literacy series.)
California Newspaper Publishers Association, best front page, 1996. (Lead author of lead story on wildfires.)
Educational Press Association of America, Distinguished Achievement Award, 1996, for "Grading Our Schools" series.
Education Writers Association, National Awards for Education Reporting, first prize, series, 1995, “Grading Our Schools.”
California Newspaper Publishers Association, first prize, investigative reporting, 1995, “Grading Our Schools.”
Los Angeles Press Club, Award of Excellence, 1995, "Grading Our Schools."
California Teachers Association award, best series, 1995, "Grading Our Schools.
California Reading Association, Outstanding Journalism Award, 1994.
The News, Boca Raton, Fla. Reporter of the Year, 1991.
