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Free speech doesn’t feel as free anymore. The news media are becoming shackled by a lack of funding, direct attacks from public officials and a loss of support from the business community. How do you battle an aversion or indifference to news, a persistent belief in false narratives and general distrust? Is there anything we can do in Orange County to counteract these threats? The answer is yes, and we’re going to outline what is happening locally with free speech and a free press, and how we can fix some of these problems.
A Hot Topics Overtime will be held from 1:15-2 p.m. on the second floor of the events center to talk about the News Collaborative of Central Florida and the focus of participating media in 2026.


The moderator is Charley Williams, a former president of the League of Women Voters of Orange County. Panelists include Judith Smelser, president and general manager of Central Florida Public Media (formerly WMFE); Bob Shaw, a retired editor for the Orlando Sentinel who serves on the board of directors for the Florida First Amendment
Foundation, and Greg Herbert, a Greenberg Traurig attorney who specializes in media law.

Free speech doesn’t feel as free as it once did. News media are increasingly shackled by a lack of funding, attacks from public officials, censorship and a loss of advertising support from businesses. Popular comedy shows have been canceled. Employees have been punished for social media posts. And how do you deal with public indifference to news, a persistent belief in false narratives and distrust of American institutions?

Among the issues to be discussed at Hot Topics:
--How federal funding has been eliminated for public television and radio stations and what Central Florida Public Media is doing to cover that gap.
--How media can gain the trust of readers and viewers.
--Legislative initiatives this year that aim to speed up requests for public records and reverse or curb book bans in public schools.
--A pattern of state agencies and companies holding employees accountable for social media comments considered offensive.


Doors open at 10:30 a.m. at the Winter Park Events Center for a buffet lunch. The discussion starts at 11:45 a.m. at 1050 W. Morse Blvd. in Winter Park and ends at 1 p.m. Tickets are $30 for League members, $37 non-members.

 
Hot Topics is streamed live on the League’s Facebook page Facebook and an edited version will be available on the League’s YouTube channel, League of Women Voters Orange County - YouTube.

Visionary sponsors: Phil and Jennifer Anderson. Silver sponsors: Lyn and David Berelsman and Voting Voices — Michele Levy, Charley Williams, and Laurie and Richard Wack. Bronze sponsors: Alex and the Hon. Cynthia Mackinnon.