The recent Thanksgiving holiday was a time to reflect on blessings, and this is at the top of our list: The Orlando Sentinel’s broad base of supportive readers who value deep-dive journalism, and care about the stories the powerful would like to keep hidden.
Throughout the year, that comes through in messages that support our work — and people who are critical of it, particularly those who say “That’s not enough. I want to know more.”
For most papers, “more” isn’t on the agenda. It’s different here. Our readers are an essential part of that.
That’s why, three years ago, the Sentinel established its Community News Fund campaign, where tax deductible contributions give us the resources we need to tell these stories. We’ve been astounded and grateful at the number of readers who show their support.
We should make one thing clear: We are not asking anyone to divert money they would otherwise contribute to many worthy organizations that are fighting against poverty and homelessness, or working to save our fragile environment and support arts and culture. We care deeply about these causes as well, and they rely on generous contributions for their survival.
However, most contributions to the Community News Fund are less than $100. They stay right here in Central Florida, and go directly toward supporting and augmenting our efforts to tackle those stories — such as our Toxic Secret series. Sentinel reporters spent months digging though byzantine layers of records and interviewing experts about dangerous, undetected chemicals in Seminole County water supplies. We uncovered information unknown even to many local elected officials — and gave readers access to data about their own drinking water that they should have had decades ago. The fund covered the cost of the graphics and maps that helped tell those stories in such a compelling way, and helped us pay for expensive books that were donated to Seminole and Orlando libraries.
From the editor: You can help Orlando Sentinel continue our important journalism
Before that, the fund helped us unravel the statewide web of deceit and election interference that had a nexus right here in Central Florida. We’ve also had the resources to push back against local and state officials who, increasingly, are blocking access to public records that reveal misspent tax money and self-dealing.
But the value of individual contributions goes beyond that. It puts local and state officials on notice: Floridians expect them to be held accountable, and they depend on the Sentinel and other news organizations to fight for them.
That’s a critical message in today’s climate. Florida was once considered a national leader in transparency — but state and local governments are demonstrating increased lawlessness and defiance of Government in the Sunshine laws. In coming months, News Fund resources will expand the ways we can fight to make public records accessible and reveal back-room machinations that benefit a few at the expense of many.
At times, fighting these battles can seem like an exercise in futility, particularly in an era where attacking investigative journalism is a standard part of politicians’ playbooks — and many have gone even further, blocking information that was once provided routinely. Most notably, it took us more than three months to get an official response to basic questions about a new office in the state Department of Education — including salary data and budget figures that should have shown up in publicly accessible databases.
Our readers encourage the Sentinel’s reporters and editors in ways that can’t be measured by dollars alone, through the messages that often accompany fund contributions. Here’s a sampling from the past year, and some from years past:
By any journalistic standard, “Toxic Secret,” is a reminder to the public that this is what great journalism can and should attain.
We greatly appreciate the Sentinel getting to the truth behind so many stories. Thank you!
By shining light in dark places you help keep integrity in our community.
We’re glad to help continue the outstanding investigative reporting and local journalism.
We need investigative reporting now more than ever.
Messages like this — with or without contributions attached — gives us the heart to keep fighting, to keep acting as your watchdog, to keep looking for ways to tell stories in ways that make sense for our communities and for our readers. Thank you; we are more grateful than words can say.
To learn more, visit supportfloridajournalism.com/newspaper/orlando-sentinel. That will take you to the nonprofit Florida Press Foundation, which distributes donations back to the paper you designate.
The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Opinion Editor Krys Fluker, Editor-in-Chief Julie Anderson and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. Contact us at insight@orlandosentinel.com.
