In 2024, two local news leaders had an idea: what if we had a more collaborative news landscape here in Central Florida? Could this improve how we serve our community? And how do we achieve this while still remaining competitors?
That spark of an idea became The News Collaborative of Central Florida (News Collab, for short), a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida.
The two leaders, Judith Smelser, president and general manager at Central Florida Public Media, and Megan Stokes, editor-in-chief at hyperlocal Oviedo Community News, knew this idea could be a game changer, but there was one major problem: how to get a group of competitors in the room to talk collaboration. Knowing the Foundation's history as an effective community partner and convener, Judith and Megan approached Central Florida Foundation to find a way forward.
With Central Florida Foundation's President and CEO Mark Brewer on board as a convener and operational advisor, they began developing what would become the Journalism Ecosystem Summit, co-hosted by Central Florida Public Media and Oviedo Community News. The Summit's purpose was ambitious: to bring together diverse voices in local journalism to explore how cooperation, rather than competition, can enhance community impact. In the end, the Summit convened twelve local news organizations, with ten joining the resulting collaborative.
The First Collaboration: Homelessness and Florida's Camping Ban
The group began by examining and reporting on the local impact of Florida's House Bill 1365 on Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping, which went into effect on January 1, 2025. The participating news outlets shared and cross-published their reporting, with each organization bringing its unique strengths to the table. In 2025, they produced more than 150 shared stories about homelessness and Florida's camping ban.
By uniting to address a critical issue, these news organizations built a model of shared responsibility and public service journalism. This initiative was not just about reporting; it was about reimagining the role of local journalism in a way that fosters trust, transparency, and engagement across our community.
Continuing Together
The collaboration was originally slated to last only six months, but as the camping ban project wrapped up, the partners knew they wanted to keep going. Today, the News Collab is an ongoing part of the region's media landscape.
"Gone are the days when one single media outlet could meet the region's needs alone," said Smelser. "By working together, we can strengthen and preserve local journalism."
"Gone are the days when one single media outlet could meet the region's needs alone. By working together, we can strengthen and preserve local journalism."– Judith Smelser, President and General Manager of Central Florida Public Media
Collaborative projects are developed around shared public-interest goals. Participating organizations work together to identify important issues, coordinate reporting, share information and resources, and distribute journalism through multiple platforms and outlets. Each organization remains independent and retains its own editorial identity; the News Collab is designed to support local newsrooms, not replace them.
Voting Central Florida
In 2026, the News Collab launched Voting Central Florida, a shared elections coverage and voter guide project.
By working together, News Collab members were able to expand election coverage beyond what any one newsroom could accomplish independently. Through a shared candidate questionnaire and coordinated reporting effort, these local news organizations covered more races across Central Florida, giving voters greater access to reliable, nonpartisan information before casting their ballots.
Central Florida Foundation’s Partnership with the News Collaborative of Central Florida
Central Florida Foundation's experience bringing diverse perspectives together to achieve solutions made us a natural fit to help turn Smelser and Stokes' spark of an idea into a working partnership. Today, we serve as a convener, operational advisor, and fiscal sponsor for the News Collab, acting as an independent and trusted bridge builder across the journalism ecosystem.
“This collaboration among local news organizations is an excellent example of Central Florida as a leader in community innovation,” Brewer said. “Organizations across sectors want to work together to achieve shared goals, and this initiative shows what’s possible when we prioritize collective impact over individual gain.”
We're proud to have played a role in making the News Collab a reality. By uniting under a common goal, these news organizations have given our region an opportunity to strengthen our social capital and increase civic engagement.
To learn more, visit newscollabcfl.org or contact projectmanager@newscollabcfl.org.
