Investigative Reporters & Editors, the nation’s most prominent investigative journalism organization, announced Wednesday that a joint investigation by WLRN and the Miami Herald into the systemic failures that made Florida’s Brightline the deadliest major passenger train in the nation won its top award for statewide coverage. Read the full report.

ORLANDO, Fla. (May 4, 2026) — WUCF Executive Director Jennifer Cook has been recognized with two of Central Florida’s most respected honors, highlighting her leadership in public media and her impact across the region. Cook was named a 2026 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Orlando Business Journal and a 2026 Women of the Year honoree by Orlando Magazine. These recognitions reflect Cook’s leadership of one of Central Florida’s most trusted public media organizations and her role in expanding how WUCF PBS and WUCF Jazz serve and connect communities throughout its nine-county region. Read the full report.

We’re proud to share that our Meet the Helpers initiative has been featured in the 2025 NOAA Education Report! In collaboration with the National Weather Service’s Melbourne office, WUCF introduced a weather forecaster character into the series to help young learners understand weather safety and science in a way that actually sticks. This recognition highlights the impact of WUCF’s partnerships and the role trusted local storytelling can play in delivering safety information to families. Read the full report.

The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has honored WEDU PBS, West Central Florida’s PBS station, with five (5) Suncoast Regional EMMY® Awards. View the full list of winners here

Dolores Fernandez Alonso, President and CEO of South Florida PBS, has transformed public broadcasting through visionary leadership. She successfully merged WPBT and WXEL stations, creating a unified organization serving one of America’s largest television markets. Under her strategic vision, South Florida PBS has undergone transformative modernization of infrastructure and technological capabilities. She championed the Bailey Cultural Arts Center at Boynton Beach studios and invested in cutting-edge immersive technologies. Her prioritization of NextGen TV (ATSC 3.0) technology demonstrates her dedication to advancing public safety and civic engagement through enhanced broadcasting. Learn more here

MIAMI, FL — South Florida PBS (WPBT & WXEL) is honored to announce ten 2025 Suncoast EMMY® Awards for programs produced by South Florida PBS staff and partners. Winners were announced at the 49th Annual Suncoast Regional EMMY® Awards Gala on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at The Diplomat Beach Resort in Hollywood, FL. “These EMMY® Awards reinforce the power of public media and the impact that thoughtful, innovative storytelling can have on our communities,” stated South Florida PBS President & CEO Dolores Fernandez Alonso. “We proudly celebrate this achievement and look forward to continuing to create work that enriches and inspires the communities we serve.” Read the full article here

WUSF has a new leader. Station Manager Leslie Laney will take over the top position at WUSF when General Manager JoAnn Urofsky retires on Jan. 5. Laney joined the station in 2018 to strengthen its digital presence and help it reach new audiences. She was promoted to Station Manager last year, overseeing programming and digital initiatives. As General Manager, she will lead all aspects of the organization, which includes WUSF 89.7, Classical WSMR 103.9 and 89.1, and multiple digital platforms. “Leslie truly represents the next generation of innovators in public broadcasting, and she has already led so many teams and projects within our WUSF family that she is the natural choice to lead this station into the years ahead,” Urofsky said. “I am thrilled that WUSF is so fortunate to have such a skilled leader within our own ranks.” Read the full story here

(TAMPA, Fla. October 28, 2025) – After 33 years of tremendous service to WUSF, General Manager JoAnn Urofsky announced that she will soon retire from the public media organization at The University of South Florida, capping a career of 45 years in radio and public media. Over the last three decades at WUSF, Urofsky steered the organization through some of its most consequential technology and public service advancements, including the acquisition and launch of WSMR, the state’s only 24-7 classical music station; digital media platforms including websites, podcasts and newsletters, the expansion of local news teams and the development of the WUSF Advisory Board. “My time at WUSF has been incredibly rewarding,” Urofsky said, “I am proud that our commitment to public service – building community through trusted journalism, classical music, jazz, and culture – has remained steadfast. As I step away, I’m confident this mission is in excellent hands with a

Oct. 14, 2025 — Jacksonville, Fla. — WJCT Public Media, the independent, community-owned public media organization serving Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, today announced that David McGowan will retire as President and CEO on March 31, 2026. McGowan has led WJCT Public Media since January 2018. This announcement follows an extensive period of planning between McGowan and the organization’s Board of Trustees’ leadership, which started in January 2025. “Serving WJCT Public Media through this period of growth has been a tremendous honor. Everything we’ve been through these last eight years has only strengthened my belief in the power of public media to bring people together,” said McGowan. “WJCT Public Media is such a precious community asset, and I am grateful to have helped guide it during such an interesting time in our industry and in our region. I look forward to working with our Board during this transition.” Under McGowan’s leadership,

Christine Dellert Mullon Orlando, Fla. (Sept. 22, 2025) — WUCF, Central Florida’s PBS and NPR Jazz stations, has once again been named a “Top Workplace” by the Orlando Sentinel Media Group’s annual rankings of the region’s best employers. This marks the second year in a row that WUCF has received the honor, underscoring the station’s reputation not only as a great place to work, but as a vital community institution. The “Top Workplaces” list is based solely on confidential employee feedback gathered by Energage, LLC, a leading provider of employee engagement surveys. Responses measure the employee experience across themes such as feeling respected and supported, opportunities to grow and empowerment to execute. “Being recognized again as a ‘Top Workplace’ speaks volumes about the culture we’ve built here,” said Jennifer Cook, executive director of WUCF. “Our team shows up every day with passion and purpose, creating trusted content, engaging events and educational

The Sunshine State Awards is Florida’s largest journalism contest and recognizes the best writing, photography, and design for both professional and college journalists. WUSF won 17 awards Saturday, including 10 first-place honors, in a competition hosted by the Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Read the full article here.

It’s among the most respected journalism awards in the world, recognizing the station’s commitment to public service above all else. WUSF has won a coveted National Edward R. Murrow Award for overall excellence in the large market radio division. It’s among the most respected journalism awards in the world, recognizing the station’s commitment to public service above all else. WUSF competed against regional award winners from across the country, representing the nation’s top 50 markets. The station’s submission (click on the “Listen” link above to hear the audio) in the overall excellence category included broadcast, digital and social media work from all of its journalists. Read the full story on WFSU.org

TALLAHASSEE, FL. (August 11, 2022) – Florida Public Media is honored to announce the statewide public media collaboration, “Class of COVID-19: An Education Crisis for Florida’s Vulnerable Students,” has won a national Edward R. Murrow Award. In this statewide project, public media journalists from across the state explored the high costs of the pandemic for children and young adults who faced some of the greatest obstacles to success. The national Murrow awards recognizes excellence in journalism. The Radio Television Digital News Association presented Florida Public Media the Digital award in the large market radio group. Participating stations included WLRN (Miami), WGCU (Fort Myers/Naples), WFSU (Tallahassee), WUSF (Tampa/St. Petersburg), WMFE (Orlando), WUCF (Orlando), WPBT (Miami), WJCT (Jacksonville), WEDU (Tampa/St. Petersburg) and WUWF (Pensacola). “We are very proud of this work,” said David Mullins, general manager of WFSU and chair of Florida Public Media. “It took a special, in-depth look at how the pandemic affected our state’s

Digital Project launched Feb. 22, featuring the story of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore in collaboration with WUCF   ORLANDO, Fla. (August 11, 2022) – A student-produced multimedia journalism project spotlighting the story of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, a Black couple from Brevard County who were instrumental in the modern civil rights movement in 1951, has been honored with an Edward R. Murrow Award. WUCF TV, Central Florida’s PBS station, in collaboration with the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Florida produced The Road to Freedom Avenue – The Legacy of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, a project featuring audio, visual and written content from UCF journalism students. Of the awards given to journalists, the Murrow Awards are among the most respected journalism awards in the world. WUCF was named the winner of Excellence in Digital Reporting for the Moore project in the national student

WUFT/FM-TV was honored with two national awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for work produced in 2021. Reporter Victor Prieto’s story — Run, Regas, Run — earned student honors for Excellence in Video Feature Reporting. The multimedia piece documented Ocala Paralympian Regan Woods’ journey to the Tokyo Paralympic Games. A team project — Rising From the Rubble — earned the student award for Excellence in Video Hard News. Students Landry Baliton, Elizabeth Biro, Jill Colombo, Meleah Lyden, Guamay Martell, Anthony Montalto, Samantha Narson and Alexander Someillan collaborated on stories about Louisiana’s recovery from Hurricane Ida. WUFT, the public radio and TV station in Gainesville, is located on the campus of the University of Florida. WUCF-TV, Central Florida’s PBS station, in collaboration with the Nicholson School of Communication and Media at the University of Central Floridain Orlando produced The Road to Freedom Avenue – The Legacy of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore, a project

May 12, 2022 – The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications (UFCJC) today announced that meteorologist Jeff George will join the College as Chief Meteorologist and Director of the Florida Public Radio Emergency Network (FPREN) on May 31, 2022.   George will have oversight over both FPREN and the South Carolina Emergency Information Network, which are partners with the states of Florida and South Carolina, respectively, to provide online weather and other emergency information to public media outlets throughout the states.   He will also oversee the WUFT Weather Department, which provides weather updates on public media stations WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM, and commercial TV station WRUF-TV. The department consists two meteorologists and a producer/editor who focuses on public safety and emergency management content for public television and radio stations in Florida and South Carolina. George will also manage the Meteorologist in Training program within the College and its various media properties. Jeff George

WLRN in Miami was named Overall Station of the Year by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists during its annual awards ceremony in Orlando this weekend. The station also won first place awards for Breaking News and Education Reporting (Series). It shared a first place award with WJCT in Jacksonville for producing the statewide public affairs program, The Florida Roundup. The program is hosted by WLRN’s Tom Hudson and WJCT’s Melissa Ross. It also shared first place awards with WUSF in Tampa/St. Pete for Series (Franchise-Hard) and Feature Reporting (Cultural & Historic). WLRN’s Leslie Ovalle won an individual award for producing. “The work by WLRN and all of the public radio stations in Florida is remarkable,” said Patrick Yack, executive director of Florida Public Media. “It is deeply satisfying to see them recognized by these awards.” WLRN also was part of a statewide news initiative, Class of COVID-19, which won a first place award for Digital Programming. Stations throughout the state

April 1, 2022 – WUWF‘s veteran executive director Pat Crawford was awarded the University of West Florida Marion Viccars Award. This award was established to recognize superior service of university employees for substantial contributions, outstanding performance, and professionalism impacting operations, service excellence, inter-departmental effectiveness, and community involvement. WUWF Executive Director – Pat Crawford (Photo: Jennie McKeon/WUWF Public Media WUWF Public Media) In addition to this milestone, 2022 marks Crawford’s 40th anniversary with WUWF Public Media. “We are proud of Pat for winning this prestigious award,” said Patrick Yack, executive director of Florida Public Media. “Pat has made many lasting contributions to WUWF, the university and the community. We can all be thankful for his dedicated service.”

Randi M. Zimmerman has been named General Manager of WMNF-FM in Tampa. Zimmerman, who previously worked for WMNF as a headline news anchor between 1998 and 2005, will assume her role on February 21, 2022. Randi Zimmerman – WMNF – Tampa “Randi is a seasoned professional and we are proud to welcome her back to WMNF and our Tampa Bay community,” said WMNF Board President Isha Del Valle. Zimmerman co-created and anchored the WMNF Evening News with Mitch Perry, winning the “Exceptional News and Public Affairs Programming” award for her work. She also developed and taught a practicum in broadcast management at the University of Tampa, teaching students to run their radio station from a non-commercial perspective. WMNF if a member of Florida Public Media.

Veteran journalist and broadcaster Judith Smelser has been named President and General Manager of WMFE-FM in Orlando. Judith Smelser – President and GM – WMFE & WMFV Smelser had been serving as WMFE/WMFV’s interim President and General Manager since September 2021. She has a long history with the station as an award-winning reporter and news director, according to an announcement by the station’s board. “After a nationwide search and interviewing a number of well qualified candidates, we have selected Judith as the person to lead the station on a permanent basis,” said Donna Mackenzie, Chair of WMFE/WMFV’s Board of Trustees. “Judith embodies the qualities and experience we believe will allow the station to reach its full potential, enhancing and building the focus on journalism and service to our community.” Mackenzie announced Smelser’s permanent position to station staff on February 8. “My ambition was never to lead a station,” Smelser said. “But for

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 3, 2022) –The U.S. Senate has confirmed the nominations of Thomas E. Rothman and the renominations of Laura Gore Ross and Elizabeth M. Sembler to the board of directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). Sembler, of Seminole, Fla., is a retired educator and administrator, most recently as director of engagement at Congregation B’nai Israel in St. Petersburg, Fla. She served on CPB’s board of directors from 2008–2020 and was board chair from 2014–16. Sembler has also been a board chair for WEDU PBS in Tampa, Fla., where she is still a serving board member, and is a former board member for America’s Public Television Stations. She will serve a term expiring in 2026. “Liz is a great friend and supporter of public media not just in Florida but throughout the country,” said Patrick Yack, Executive Director of Florida Public Media. “We thank her and her colleagues

WFSU Public Media won a NETA Award for its “Summer Challenge 2021 Mountains, Hills and Mounds.” The Summer Challenge was “interactive virtual event for kids and families to watch and do engaging and educational activities, while also learning from WFSU’s many friends and partner organizations. Each year, this event launches your PBS KIDS station’s longest-running summer learning initiative – and a major tool for parent and teacher toolboxes for combatting the summer slide! Read on to learn about the Summer Challenge checklist and how it can keep the fun going all summer long.” Public media’s achievements were celebrated at the 53rd Annual Public Media Awards Gala on January 25, held virtually at the NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum. The National Educational Telecommunications Association is a professional organization of public media stations.

Five Florida Public Media stations were honored with 14 Suncoast Emmy Awards this year. They included: WEDU PBS, WFSU Public Media, WLRN Public Radio and Television, WPBT2 South Florida PBS, and WUCF TV. The Suncoast Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences is a nonprofit Florida corporation dedicated to excellence in television. It offers the annual Regional EMMY® Awards called The Suncoast Regional EMMY® Awards to television markets in the entire State of Florida, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles and New Orleans, Louisiana, Mobile, Alabama, Thomasville, Georgia and Puerto Rico. “The Chapter is composed of professional people who work in television or students who are studying television in colleges or universities and aspire to become professionals.”

WUSF Public Media (Tampa/St. Petersburg) and WUWF Public Media (Pensacola) were chosen by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to take part in the 2022 Digital Transformation Program, a “virtual program developed by the Poynter Institute to educate, assist, and coach public media senior leaders and their staff on the best strategies and tactics to transform their organization’s digital operations and culture. “ “The program includes online coaching and training to the station CEOs, along with the leaders of the five National Multicultural Alliance organizations, and their staff members, to accelerate their digital transformation efforts.” “CPB’s commitment to advancing innovation and diversity continues to be reflected through our strategic investments helping system leaders advance a digital-first, audience-centric approach,” said CPB President/CEO Patricia Harrison in a release. “The program will provide coaching and resources to help stations become more agile and leverage digital content, platforms, and data to grow and engage new and existing public media audiences,” she said.

By Brian Lassiter, Astoria Park Elementary, Tallahassee, Florida One of my main goals as an educator is to help students find their way as an independent learner. Many times I have witnessed students look to the teacher as the holy grail of knowledge.  I would love for that to be the case (for my own ego), but believe it or not, teachers are human – we don’t know everything. How does this tie into PBS LearningMedia?  Simple.  While guiding my students to think for themselves and formulate ideas based on their own collection of knowledge, students need to have a safe place to learn this skill.  What is safer than allowing students access to a brand they trust and are already familiar with – PBS? The student access site for PBS LearningMedia (www.florida.pbslearningmedia.org) is a great tool students can use to research and discover information on their own.  I trust