The Press Club is kicking off the 2023-24 program season on Wednesday, Nov. 8, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Naples with a national speaker and local panel regarding new media funding models to support (rebuild) local news and investigative reporting.
Topic:
How Can We Save Local Media? – Grants, Philanthropy, and Other New Funding Models to Support Local and Investigative Journalism
Lead Presenter:
Roshni Neslage
Roshni Neslage is Head of Communications for the American Journalism Project headquartered in Washington, D.C., leading a multifaceted communications strategy to share the work of the Project and its grantee partners across the U.S. She has nearly a decade of experience in philanthropic and journalism communications.
Previously, Roshni executed editorial and digital strategies for Knight Foundation, advancing the work of the foundation and its grantees. She was the communications lead for its journalism program and led its audience development strategy. Roshni was also a communications associate at The Miami Foundation, and was a reporter for the Oakland Tribune and The Ottawa Herald. She is a recipient of a Chips Quinn Scholarship from the Freedom Forum Institute, which advances digital media skills for minorities in journalism. A Nebraska native, Roshni received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. She also earned her master’s in business administration from the University of Kansas. Roshni is based in Miami.
About the American Journalism Project: It is a venture philanthropy investing in and building digital nonprofit newsrooms that are governed by, are sustained by, and look like the public they serve. Impact: $157 million raised for local nonprofit news; 41 nonprofit news organizations backed; 4 newsrooms launched.
Our Panelists:
Tom Doerr
Tom Doerr serves as the Director of Local News and Content at the Fort Myers Broadcasting Company (FMBC), responsible for guiding both English and Spanish television news, including WINK-TV, WXCW-TV, Univision SWFL, Gulfshore Business, Gulfshore Life, Gordon Drive magazines, custom publications, and The Naples Press newspaper. Before joining FMBC, Tom was Vice President of News at Fox Chicago and had significant posts at Fox Houston, CBS in Miami, CBS in Dallas, and stations in Houston, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta. Tom’s academic background is rooted in the University of Florida’s College of Journalism, where he secured his BS and MAJC degrees.
Wendy Fullerton Powell
Wendy Fullerton Powell joined Gannett and The News-Press in October 1989, starting out first as a bureau reporter. She spent time covering education, growth and special projects. She also served as deputy metro editor, business editor and news director. She currently holds dual roles as executive editor, Naples Daily News, and Southwest Florida region editor overseeing Naples and Fort Myers. She also serves as interim Florida region editor for the USA TODAY Network, which includes 11 publications in the state, including Palm Beach Post, Jacksonville Times-Union and Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Wendy holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Vermont.
Corey Lewis
Corey Lewis joined WGCU as general manager in May of 2021 – after 18 years with NPR in Boston – with ambitions to grow the local NPR and PBS services to keep pace with the growth of Southwest Florida. WGCU has embarked on a five-year plan to grow the NPR and PBS portfolio of programs with a new emphasis on locally originated content. Their expansion has started with the local radio newsroom, investigative reporting, and in-depth reporting on the website and through podcasts. Before spending two decades in public media, Corey gained experience in New York, Philadelphia, Boston, Hartford, and Providence, working in commercial television for Universal, Paramount, and Tribune.
Jim Schwartzel
Jim Schwartzel is President of Sun Broadcasting, Inc. and Gulfshore Life Media, LLC. These entities own and operate numerous local radio, TV and publishing businesses in English and Spanish. Jim sits on the Florida Association of Broadcasters board and recently won the Pete Weitzel Friend of the First Amendment Award in recognition of his stand to the Florida legislature on behalf of free speech and the media. He was born and raised in Southwest Florida.
Related Background Stories:
- Roshni’s boss Sarabeth Berman, CEO, was quoted in this recent Judy Woodruff story on PBS News Hour. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-connections-between-decline-of-local-news-and-growing-political-division
- CBS 60 Minutes story, “Uncovered,” reported on how $1.5 million was raised to support investigative reporters in the Carolinas. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-uncovered-project-and-the-survival-of-south-carolina-newspapers/
Registration will begin at 11:30 a.m. and lunch will follow at noon. Tickets are $45 for members and $55 for guests. We encourage you to pre-purchase your ticket on Eventbrite. Or to pay at the door, reserve your spot by sending an email to RSVP@pressclubswfl.org. We look forward to seeing you there!