The News Collaborative of Central Florida, a collective of independent local news outlets and aligned partners working toward a more informed and engaged Central Florida, is launching a new show, “Reportable.”
Hosted by local journalist Steve Mort, the weekly radio and podcast program explores key issues in Central Florida through conversations with the local journalists who cover them. The first episode will air on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 6:30 p.m. on Central Florida Public Media, 90.7 FM and 89.5 FM. It will also be available on OrlandoSentinel.com, YouTube and all podcast platforms.
“Local journalists across Central Florida are doing important work, and this show creates the time and space to focus on that reporting,” said Steve Mort, host of ‘Reportable.’ “Plus, it gives people a better understanding of the critical issues shaping their communities and lets them get to know the journalists covering them.”
Steve Mort, former host and executive producer for “NewsNight” on WUCF, is the host for the new “Reportable” podcast. (Courtesy WUCF)
Mort has traveled on assignment with the PBS Newshour, reported for Rocky Mountain PBS in Denver and covered Washington and the United Nations for a variety of international news outlets. Most recently, he was the host and executive producer of WUCF’s “NewsNight” for six years until the show was discontinued in 2025.
“Reportable” will preserve an important forum for regional reporting while advancing NCCF’s mission to support a strong, accessible local journalism ecosystem. The program is made possible through funding support from Central Florida Public Media, Orlando Sentinel, Winter Park Voice and the Central Florida Foundation.
In addition to financial support, the Sentinel will also be among the local media partners who share news stories with “Reportable.”
“We’re very excited to help launch this show in audio and video formats to help our community become better informed about important local issues,” said Orlando Sentinel Executive Editor Roger Simmons. “Trustworthy, reliable news and information is so important today, and ‘Reportable’ is another way try to deliver on that mission alongside our partners in the News Collaborative.”
The launch of “Reportable” reflects how NCCF’s work is expanding in 2026. Since launching publicly in Jan. 2025 with a shared reporting effort on the local impacts of Florida’s Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping law (House Bill 1365), NCCF partners have collaborated to share more than 100 stories, extending the reach of that reporting across Central Florida.
This year, NCCF has secured $50,000 in support from the Collaborative Journalism Resource Hub and the Central Florida Foundation, onboarded its first dedicated team member and aligned around joint election coverage. The new show highlights the NCCF mission of targeted collaboration by providing an important platform for local reporting and bringing that work to the region on a regular basis.
“’Reportable’ represents an important milestone for the News Collaborative of Central Florida,” said Judith Smelser, NCCF task force chair and president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media. “It says a lot when news organizations are willing to work together to offer local residents an easy, approachable way to access trusted local reporting and information from professional journalists across our region. Central Florida Public Media is proud to be the show’s broadcast partner.”