The Central Florida Foundation (CFF) in Orlando has announced the launch of a local journalism collaborative consisting of 10 local news organizations.

The six-month collaboration will enable news organizations in the area to share and cross-publish their reporting. The initiative's first effort will be coverage of the local impact of Florida House Bill 1365, a recent law banning unauthorized public camping and sleeping, which went into effect on New Year’s Day, 2025. The collaborative is facilitated by CFF and led by Central Florida Public Media and Oviedo Community News. Born from a journalism ecosystem summit hosted this summer, the collaborative’s goal is to strengthen social capital and increase civic engagement.

“The Journalism Ecosystem Summit and, subsequently, this first collaboration among local news organizations are excellent examples of Central Florida as a leader in community innovation,” said Central Florida Foundation CEO and president Mark Brewer. “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.”

(Photo credit: Getty Images/Mihajlo Maricic)