Reporters’ Workshop

Monday’s opening session includes a tour of the Florida Supreme Court building.

Presented by The Florida Bar Media and Communications Law Committee and the Florida Supreme Court.

This two-day, on-site event for journalists new to the legal beat or new to Florida features expert and distinguished speakers. Workshop topics include: covering high-profile cases, public records and Florida’s open government laws, libel law and defamation, lawyer regulation, and other current and relevant issues surrounding legal reporting.

The 2024 Reporters’ Workshop was canceled due to Hurricane Milton. Virtual workshops sessions will be offered throughout the coming months.

Hot Topics in Public Records

Webinar | May 21, 2025

During this virtual Reporters’ Workshop session, the panelists will discuss common challenges that reporters may encounter when obtaining public records from government agencies, clerks and courts. Panelists will share their insights from both the media and agency perspectives and offer tips to navigate those arenas.

Panelists for the session include:

• Susannah Nesmith, Goren, Cherof, Doody and Ezrol, P.A., Moderator
• Nolen “Drew” Bunker, Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics & Public Trust
• Clerk Laura Roth, Volusia County Clerk of Courts
• Scott Hiaasen, attorney with Coffey Burlington and a former newspaper reporter

High-Profile Case Study: Marsy’s Law

Webinar | Feb. 25, 2025

This virtual Reporters’ Workshop session covered the challenges of litigating cases in the public eye, discussed the progression of the case from the trial court to the Florida Supreme Court, and provided insight for media professionals on covering this issue.

Panelists for the session include:

• Daniela Abratt-Cohen, Thomas & LoCicero, moderator
• Mark Caramanica, Thomas & LoCicero, counsel to news media parties
• Joe Eagleton, Brannock Berman & Seider, appellate counsel for the City of Tallahassee
• Stephen Webster, Webster & Baptiste, trial court counsel for the Florida Police Benevolent Association and individual Tallahassee Police Department officers.

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