Foundations launch ‘nonpartisan’ Florida news agency
One of Florida’s largest foundations is forming a nonprofit news agency to increase coverage of statewide issues and their local impact. The Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice recently secured $352,000 from the Miami-based Knight Foundation to create a news Web site called the Florida Independent. Community Foundation leaders said the Florida Independent is being formed in response to the dwindling number of reporters covering state government in Tallahassee. Many newspapers are laying off reporters who cover the governor, Legislature…