All the News You Need: Why Local Journalism Matters, Why it’s at Risk, and How You Can Help Protect It

Featured Guest Speaker—
Judith Smelser | President and General Manager
Central Florida Public Media

Topic:

All the News You Need: Why local journalism matters, why it’s at risk, and how you can help protect it

This program pulls back the curtain on our changing local news ecosystem, its critical role in civic health, and how Central Florida Public Media is partnering with the community to strengthen it.

You’ll leave with an understanding of how public media works, how technology is transforming local journalism, and the community’s role in preserving access to reliable, trustworthy local news and information.

How This Will Benefit Our Members

This program helps FEW members understand why strong local journalism is essential to an informed, thriving community—and why it’s currently at risk. You’ll gain insight into how public media operates, how technology is transforming the news landscape, and what that means for civic engagement, business leaders, and everyday citizens. Most importantly, you’ll learn practical ways our community can help protect access to reliable, trustworthy local news. This session empowers members to stay informed, support meaningful change, and engage more deeply in Central Florida’s civic health.

This session empowers members to stay informed, support meaningful change, and engage more deeply in Central Florida’s civic health.

Meet Our Speaker: Judith Smelser

Judith Smelser is president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media, the only local nonprofit news outlet serving the nine-county Central Florida region. Since 2021, she has led the organization to launch the local discussion show Engage, the local news podcast The Wrap, and the weekly newsletter The Wrap – Inbox Edition, new reporting beats, and the 2024-25 Emerging Journalists Fellowship. In 2024, she spearheaded the rebranding of WMFE to Central Florida Public Media, representing the nonprofit’s evolution into a multimedia organization dedicated to serving the region with trustworthy, independent journalism. In 2025, she led Central Florida Public Media as it weathered the elimination of federal and state funding. She is also a co-founder of the News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged region.