USA TODAY Network bolsters FLORIDA TODAY journalism

FLORIDA TODAY, part of the USA TODAY Media Network

Starting today, you’ll see those words associated with the FLORIDA TODAY flag, which runs across the top of our website and newspaper.

That statement speaks to the strength of the brand of FLORIDA TODAY and floridatoday.com as a the best source of timely, meaningful, in-depth local news, plus a dynamic connection to a nationwide network of journalists and marketers at USA TODAY, which was conceived and piloted here in Brevard, and dozens of local news organization across the country.

You see that every day in the USA TODAY content that’s part of our floridatoday.com digital feeds and the daily newspaper.

You see lots of examples of the strength of the network on our pages and digital sites. Investigative stories about unchecked rape kits began as a USA TODAY investigative project, but were published with local stories by FLORIDA TODAY. We shared stories across the network on Black Friday, too. Stories have flowed local to national, too, with our award-winning investigative and enterprise work by Jim Waymer on the Indian River Lagoon coming from here to the network, as did our enterprise reporting on the so-called Shawshank Fugitive by Rick Neale and J.D. Gallop.

The collaboration led to journalism that was more in-depth and rich with context than it could be without the collective effort. It informed you of the news in Central Florida, across Florida and across the nation. Dots were connected, associations made. With national, regional and local perspective at our fingertips, the path to solutions is more easily traveled.

Our brand, FLORIDA TODAY, part of the USA TODAY Media Network, embodies our commitment to bring you an intensely local news report — to be the top source of news, information and advertising — and connect you with the power and strength of thousands of journalists and marketers throughout our network.

Gannett introduces USA TODAY NETWORK, uniting local, national properties