Tallahassee, Fla. - WFSU Public Media Program Director for News, Tom Flanigan, has been named the Florida Farm Bureau's 2020 Newsperson of the Year.
The Farm Bureau, which bills itself as the state's largest general agricultural organization, cited Flanigan's outstanding coverage of Florida's farm families and production agriculture. Noted specifically was his involvement in WFSU's weekly "Perspectives" talk show, which he hosts, and the regular inclusion of agricultural topics such as beekeeping, cattle, and the farmers' role in food bank donations.
“Mr. Flanigan’s support of Florida agriculture is invaluable to the agricultural community and the mission of the Florida Farm Bureau as the voice of agriculture,” said Leon County Farm Bureau president Sharon Spratt, who nominated Flanigan for the award.
It’s the latest in a line of achievements for WFSU Public Media’s storied program director who has built a reputation as the central “voice” of WFSU.
“Tom is our community conscience,” said Kim Kelling, Content Director for WFSU. “The stories he covers highlight everything from the everyday person to the CEO. His stories remind us of what it means to be part of a place – a community, and how each of us can make a difference and why we should care. This is such a well-deserved honor for Tom.”
Flanigan joined WFSU in 2006. In his current role, he acts as both a supervisor and consultant in the station's newsroom operation. His journalism career included commercial radio news departments at stations in Maryland, Texas, and Florida — and he plays a mean set of drums.
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WFSU Public Media provides quality public broadcasting services to the north Florida and south Georgia areas. WFSU Public Media is both an NPR and PBS member station, with TV and FM housed together in one building near Innovation Park. In Panama City, WFSU Public Media is known as WFSG-TV and WFSW-FM. WFSU Public Media also provides community engagement and educational services.