By Christopher O’Donnell Published: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 10:37 a.m. Last Modified: Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 8:59 p.m. MANATEE COUNTY – An openly bitter dispute between two Manatee County School Board members and Superintendent Tim McGonegal could quickly have financial implications because it leaves the district handicapped in bargaining sessions with local unions. Facts MANY…
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Some Manatee County School Board members and the superintendent are embarrassing themselves, some people say, by having a public rift at a time when unity is really needed. But since when is disagreement embarrassing, especially when the issue is budget cuts and teacher pay, a matter of obvious public interest? Too many unanimous votes make…
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Lee Williams Published: Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 12:56 p.m. SARASOTA – A judge’s order issued last week will make it very difficult for the Sarasota Police officer who was caught on video and later fired for kicking a handcuffed Guatemalan immigrant to get his job back. The ruling brings clarity to the convoluted case, and…
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The Florida Society of News Editors and the University of Central Florida are partnering to produce a three-day workshop on writing and journalism Feb. 16-18 in Orlando. The Florida Writers Project features writers from Florida and around the country. Come hear expert advice on writing and publishing narrative, mass-market fiction, screenplays and anthologies. Bring your…
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BY CARRIE WELLS Public officials might have more to worry about with Facebook than just an embarrassing picture from college resurfacing. Seemingly innocuous posts could become minefields of litigation under Florida’s tough public records laws, which require everything on an elected official’s or government’s page to be carefully catalogued. If elected officials are caught chatting…
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For a distinguished example of investigative reporting by an individual or team, presented as a single article or series, using any available journalistic tool including text reporting, videos, databases, multimedia or interactive presentations or any combination of those formats, in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000). Awarded to Paige St. John of…
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Gov. Rick Scott won election on the strength of 30-second TV commericials, while avoiding questions from reporters and contact with editorial boards. Now he’s conducting 30-minute Twitter and Facebook “town halls” — bypassing the media altogether. Ducking questions is fine if you’re a private businessman as Scott was before the election. In fact, ducking questions…
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The American Society of News Editors recognized three Florida publications in its annual journalism contest. Michael Kruse of the St. Petersburg Times won the Distinguished Writing Award for Nondeadline Writing. Additionally, the staff of The Palm Beach Post were finalists for the Jesse Laventhol Prize for Deadline News Reporting, and Paige St. John of the…
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