After 25 years leading Florida’s statewide open government channel, Beth Switzer retired from her role as Executive Director of The FLORIDA Channel earlier this year. This week, the Florida House of Representatives approved a resolution honoring Switzer for her work.
“Our constituents back home have learned to rely on The FLORIDA Channel for monitoring our work in state government,” said House Speaker Chris Sprowls. “Through her leadership, Beth helped create the state-of-the-art public affairs programming that is Florida’s primary source for live, unedited coverage of key state government activities that shed light on issues that are critical to our state.”
The FLORIDA Channel began its statewide coverage in 1996, coinciding with that year’s legislative session. Switzer helped grow the channel into providing coverage of the executive, judicial and legislative branches—allowing for the broadcasts of press conferences, court hearings, and committee meetings to go statewide.
The FLORIDA Channel, known informally as Florida’s own version of C-SPAN, has given Floridians a front-row seat to the inner workings of state government, and Switzer herself has interviewed governors, agency heads, and lawmakers for decades in a style that’s both informative, and engaging. In addition to being a formidable force in government, Switzer has also endeared herself into the hearts, and stomachs, of people inside and outside of the process.
“Beth also makes really good cookies,” said Sprowls, speaking from personal experience. “If you haven’t had them, they’re fantastic.”
And so is Beth!