Public Relations Chapter Presents Discussion on Community Journalism

March 10, 2023 – Sarasota

The Central West Coast chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association (CWC-FPRA) will present the professional development event “Community Journalism, Community Catalyst: West Coast Woman Celebration” on Wednesday, March 15, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The event – which is open to members and guests – takes place at the Benderson Family Finish Tower on Regatta Island of Nathan Benderson Park (5851 Nathan Benderson Circle, Sarasota).

The program will be both a celebration of and interactive discussion with Louise Bruderle, publisher of West Coast Woman.

As newsrooms become smaller and smaller, local news has taken a back seat to national headlines. Not for Bruderle or West Coast Woman, an independent, locally-owned publication that has kept the “community” in “community journalism” over its 35-year run.

Bruderle will share her decades of experience keeping a community newspaper thriving in an ever-changing media landscape. Whether a PR pro for a local nonprofit or national corporation, attendees will discover the value in hyper-local storytelling to reach their hometown – and regional – audiences in ways that enrich their lives, their commitment to our community, and their own organization’s role within it. 

“For most of our members, securing coverage within and about the local community is key to their role with their organization or business,” says Sheryl Vieira, president of CWC-FPRA. “Especially during Women’s History Month – and given Louise’s notable milestone anniversary of covering this community – we felt we could both learn from and honor her decades of success in our region.”

Tickets are $25/members, $30/future members; cost includes lunch. To register, visit cwcfpra.com/events. CWC-FPRA’s annual corporate sponsors are Caldwell Trust Company and Next-Mark, with additional financial support courtesy of Joe Curley, APR, CPRC. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties and Sir Speedy have graciously donated spaces and resources as in-kind sponsors.

CWC-FPRA meets monthly for professional development luncheons and networking. These events are designed to expose attendees to current public relations practices and developments in the communications industry. Visit cwcfpra.com for more information.