The News Collaborative of Central Florida (NCCF), a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida, is launching a new show, “Talking Central Florida.” Hosted by local journalist Steve Mort, the weekly radio and podcast program explores key issues in Central Florida through conversations with the local journalists who cover them. The first episode aired on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. on Central Florida Public Media’s radio frequencies 90.7 FM and 89.5 FM. It’s also be available onYouTube and all podcast platforms.
“Local journalists across Central Florida are doing important work, and this show creates the time and space to focus on that reporting,” Mort said. “Plus, it gives people a better understanding of the critical issues shaping their communities and lets them get to know the journalists covering them.”
Mort has traveled on assignment with PBS Newshour, reported for Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver and covered Washington D.C. and the United Nations for a variety of international news outlets. Most recently, he was the host and executive producer of WUCF’s NewsNight for six years until the show was discontinued in 2025. “Talking Central Florida” preserves an important forum for regional reporting while advancing NCCF’s mission to support a strong, accessible local journalism ecosystem.
The program is made possible through funding support from Central Florida Public Media, the Orlando Sentinel, the Winter Park Voice and the Central Florida Foundation. Oviedo Community News’ leaders and reporters will appear on the show to discuss local issues and its episodes will be posted to OCN’s website, in its newsletter and on its social media accounts in an effort to bring OCN readers another way to learn what’s going on in their community and the region, making it even more accessible to Greater Oviedo and Winter Springs.
“At OCN, we prioritize meeting our readers where they are and this exciting show will allow our nonprofit newsroom to serve our audience in a different way as well as reach new audiences, expanding our public service news,” said Oviedo Community News Editor-in-chief Megan Stokes. “You’ll not only get to hear from our reporters but also from other local news organizations who are members of the Collaborative, who are doing good work in the community.”
The launch of “Talking Central Florida” reflects how NCCF’s work is expanding in 2026. Since launching publicly in Jan. 2025 with a shared reporting effort on the local impacts of Florida’s Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping law (House Bill 1365), NCCF partners have collaborated to share more than 100 stories, extending the reach of that reporting across Central Florida. This year, NCCF has secured $50,000 in support from the Collaborative Journalism Resource Hub and the Central Florida Foundation, onboarded its first dedicated team member and teamed up for joint election coverage. The new show helps put our news reporting in context through conversation, helping you to better understand how we do what we do, why we do it, and what it all means.
“‘Talking Central Florida’ represents an important milestone for the News Collaborative of Central Florida,” said Judith Smelser, NCCF task force chair and president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media. “It says a lot when news organizations are willing to work together to offer local residents an easy, approachable way to access trusted local reporting and information from professional journalists across our region. Central Florida Public Media is proud to be the show’s broadcast partner.”
Editor’s note: This announcement has been updated with a new name for the show since the initial launch.
About News Collaborative of Central Florida
News Collaborative of Central Florida is a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida. It grew out of the Central Florida Journalism Ecosystem Summit, created in 2024 by Central Florida Public Media, Central Florida Foundation and Oviedo Community News. Confirmed participants in NCCF’s 2026 collaborative election coverage include Central Florida Public Media, LkldNow, Ocala Gazette, Orlando Sentinel, Osceola News Gazette, Oviedo Community News, VoxPopuli, Winter Park Voice and WKMG News 6.
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