The Florida Department of Children and Families sent a cease and desist letter to the Orlando Sentinel, saying the Central Florida newspaper is “threatening or coercing” people to say things about Hope Florida.
DCF said they heard that reporter Jeff Schweers with the Orlando Sentinel was calling foster families in Florida and threatening or coercing them to say things about Hope Florida. “This is unacceptable,” they posted.
“The Hope Florida Foundation supported foster families with donations from non-taxpayer funded sources that allowed these families to repair and restore their homes following the hurricanes last year,” the Florida Department of Children and Families added.
Republican Governor Ron DeSantis reposted the cease and desist letter to the Orlando Sentinel on social media and added: “Bottom feeders gonna bottom feed…”
“Does the Florida print media cabal know no low in their obsessive pursuit of smearing Hope Florida? Now they’re intimidating foster families. Activism at its worst by the Orlando Sentinel,” posted Bryan Griffin, Communications Director for Governor DeSantis.
In response, the Orlando Sentinel pushed back. “This attempt to bully our newsroom away from a story is clearly intended to be chilling, but it won’t impact our reporting,” the Orlando Sentinel stated. They also noted that Hope Florida has faced scrutiny over funding and grants not just by the Orlando newspaper and Florida media, but also by state legislators.
West Orlando News agrees with the Orlando Sentinel in regards to not backing down from reporting, but where is this kind of investigative journalism and pressure on our actual local elected officials in Orlando and Orange County, specifically people like Mayor Buddy Dyer? In their own backyard, they are timid at best and usually defend rather than investigate local officials or city hall, with some critics noting it is because Democrats run Orlando and the Sentinel wants to take on Republicans. Who knows, but it has hurt the OS reputation in town, and a little pressure like this in Orlando should be their focus.
Sure, the First Amendment protects freedom of the press and makes sure news outlets like the Orlando Sentinel can report on government actions without censorship or threats. As the Sentinel is saying, this is vital for accountability and transparency. So why stop at the state level when Orlando officials, specifically Mayor Buddy Dyer, routinely shut down public records requests, refuse to comment publicly, refuse to answer follow up questions, and attempt to intimidate and threaten local media who are investigating them? The City of Orlando has routinely done to West Orlando News. The Sentinel never cared about that though.
The press serves as a watchdog to all government officials and agencies. DCF’s cease and desist letter to the Orlando Sentinel alleges unethical reporting and may attempt to halt coverage of an issue they are investigating, but it will not stop the reporting and likely only elevated the exposure of this specific issue. We all look forward to the reporting.
Here is a copy of the letter from DCF to the Orlando Sentinel:
