As dual Editor-in-Chief for Florida’s largest regional newspapers, Anderson oversees:
Journalists and PR professionals should note Anderson’s particular interest in stories that intersect with First Amendment protections, particularly those involving access to government proceedings or educational institutions. Her recent editorial stance on AI ethics suggests growing interest in technology’s impact on civil liberties.
We’ve followed Julie Anderson’s three-decade career as she evolved from a medical reporter at the Omaha World-Herald to one of Florida’s most influential editorial voices. Her early work covering public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic established her reputation for meticulous fact-checking and human-centered storytelling. This foundation propelled her into leadership roles at Tribune Publishing, where she now serves as Editor-in-Chief of both the Orlando Sentinel and South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“Watchdog journalism isn’t just our job – it’s our constitutional responsibility. The First Amendment exists precisely to empower this crucial oversight of power.”
In this 2023 PBS interview, Anderson dissects the digital transformation of newsrooms while defending traditional journalistic values. She reveals how the Sun Sentinel’s investigative team exposed systemic failures in school security protocols prior to the Parkland shooting – work that would later win the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. The discussion provides rare insight into editorial decision-making during crises.
This institutional profile highlights Anderson’s advocacy for preserving local news ecosystems. It details her innovative approach to maintaining investigative teams despite industry-wide budget cuts, including cross-newsroom collaborations that have become a model for regional publishers.
Demonstrating her range, this 2025 piece with OSV News combines Anderson’s signature investigative rigor with profound cultural sensitivity. The article traces how a small Catholic community processed trauma through collective ritual, while simultaneously investigating law enforcement’s response timeline to the shooting.
Anderson prioritizes stories that reveal how national issues manifest in Florida institutions. A successful 2024 series on emergency healthcare disparities originated from a pitch about Medicaid reimbursement rates, which her team expanded into an examination of hospital board decision-making. When approaching her with policy topics, always include specific local stakeholders and public records access strategies.
Her team’s award-winning coverage of condo safety reforms stemmed from a developer’s proposal to improve building inspection processes. Pitches should identify tangible policy outcomes or community initiatives emerging from recent news events, particularly those involving public safety or government oversight.
Anderson’s Pulitzer-winning Parkland coverage succeeded by centering school safety workers and local officials rather than national pundits. Successful pitches identify stakeholders excluded from official narratives, especially municipal employees, frontline responders, and career civil servants.
While not a tech reporter, Anderson frequently publishes analyses of how emerging technologies affect Floridians’ civil liberties. A recent AI ethics series examined facial recognition usage in Palm Beach County schools, sparked by a teacher’s union proposal.
Her team’s investigation into wrongful convictions paired DNA analysis with archival research into 1980s prosecutorial tactics. When pitching court stories, include both contemporary legal experts and historical specialists who can identify patterns.
The Sun Sentinel’s Parkland school shooting investigation remains the gold standard for accountability journalism. By combining FOIA requests with survivor testimonials, Anderson’s team revealed critical security lapses that prompted statewide school safety reforms.
Recognizing her editorial leadership during Hurricane Elsa coverage, this honor underscores Anderson’s commitment to disaster reporting that prioritizes utility over sensationalism. Her team’s real-time debris removal maps became essential tools for emergency responders.
Anderson’s series examining press freedom challenges in Florida school boards influenced national debates about journalist access to public institutions. The work combined statistical analysis of meeting restrictions with profiles of student journalists.
