Veteran health reporter Bob LaMendola of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel not only made a significant contribution to Health News Florida this week, he's written a fund-raising note to other journalists.
Here it is:
Dear fellow journalists:
I don’t know about you, but I can’t keep up with all the news on my beat any more. Too many sources, reports, meetings, blogs, tweets and assorted whatnots to monitor.
Thank heaven for Health News Florida. I rely on its newsletter every morning to make sure I stay up to speed and don’t miss things. A lot of us on the health beat would be in trouble without it.
I know how tough times are in journalism, just as you do. So I salute reporters who are struggling to do solid reporting online without a corporation to back them up.
Our friend Carol Gentry, who launched Health News Florida over four years ago, now needs our help. The foundation grants that helped underwrite her efforts are expiring, and it’s time for readers to step up. Especially readers who know how hard it is to cover the health care industry.
So do like I do and please, make a donation today by clicking here.
Sincerely,
Bob LaMendola
Bob, I'm grateful for those kind words, for your having taken the time to send them. I know just how little time you have these days as the ranks of newspaper reporters grow thinner and thinner.
I hope reporters around the state -- in fact everyone who values journalism -- will take your advice.
--Health News Florida is an independent online publication dedicated to public-service journalism. We publish Letters to the Editor. Carol Gentry, Editor, can be reached at 727-410-3266 or by e-mail.