Sun Sentinel: The Voice of South Florida Journalism
The Sun Sentinel is a cornerstone of journalism in Florida, serving as the primary daily newspaper for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. With a reach that extends into Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties, as well as statewide coverage, it stands as the fourth largest-circulation newspaper in the state of Florida.
Operating as a broadsheet daily, the publication is currently managed by General Manager Greg Mazanec (since November 2023) and Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant (since December 2024). The organization is owned by Tribune Publishing, which was acquired in May 2021 by Alden Global Capital and is operated through Digital First Media.
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Key Facts
- Founded: 1910
- Headquarters: Deerfield Beach, Florida
- Ownership: Tribune Publishing (Alden Global Capital)
- Reach: Primary coverage of Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties
- Notable Awards: Multiple Pulitzer Prizes for Public Service and Editorial Writing
- Spanish Edition: Publishes a weekly Spanish-language paper called El Sentinel
Evolution and History
The roots of the Sun Sentinel date back to 1910 with the founding of the Fort Lauderdale Weekly Herald. Shortly after, in 1911, the Everglades Breeze was established to promote Florida's agricultural growth. By 1925, the Everglades Breeze became the Sentinel, and both papers were consolidated into the Daily News and Evening Sentinel.
The publication underwent several transformations throughout the mid-20th century. In 1953, it was renamed the Fort Lauderdale News. By 1960, Gore Publishing acquired the Pompano Beach Sun, expanding it into the Pompano Sun-Sentinel. Following the acquisition of Gore Publishing by the Tribune Company in 1963, the papers eventually merged in 1982 to become the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel. To reflect its expanding regional reach, the paper adopted the name South Florida Sun-Sentinel in 2000.
Modern Branding and Digital Integration
On August 17, 2008, the newspaper underwent a significant rebranding, removing the hyphen from its name and introducing a new visual identity with a prominent "S" logo. This redesign aligned the paper with its sister publication, the Orlando Sentinel, and the CW affiliate WSFL-TV.
In recent years, the Sun Sentinel has aggressively integrated print and digital media. This includes the launch of the entertainment site SouthFlorida.com and the video channel SunSentinel Originals. These efforts earned the publication a spot on Editor & Publisher's list of "10 Newspapers That Do it Right." Additionally, the company has entered a printing partnership with Gannett to produce eight newspapers, including USA Today.
Journalistic Impact and Awards
The Sun Sentinel is recognized for its commitment to Public Service Journalism—reporting that aims to benefit the public interest by exposing systemic failures or injustices. This commitment has been recognized with two Pulitzer Prizes: one in 1985 for Editorial Writing regarding low-income housing in Dade County, and another in 2019 for its critical coverage of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
Other notable achievements include a 2013 gold medal for investigating reckless speeding by off-duty police officers and the Payne Award for Ethics in Journalism in 2004. The paper's photography and graphics departments have also received international acclaim, with the News Illustrated weekly graphic winning over 30 awards.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Average Print Circulation | 15,300 |
| Daily Circulation | 163,728 |
| Sunday Circulation | 228,906 |
| ISSN | 0744-8139 |
| Website | www.sun-sentinel.com |
Challenges and Controversies
The publication has faced a few high-profile challenges. In 2008, a technical display error on the website led a Bloomberg L.P. employee to mistake a six-year-old article about United Airlines' bankruptcy for current news. This caused a temporary stock market crash for the airline and triggered an SEC investigation.
Additionally, since 2018, the Sun Sentinel has restricted access to its website for users within the European Union to ensure compliance with strict data protection regulations (GDPR).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns the Sun Sentinel?
The Sun Sentinel is owned by Tribune Publishing, which was acquired by Alden Global Capital in May 2021 and is operated via Digital First Media.
What are the Sun Sentinel's main competitors?
Its primary competition includes The Miami Herald in Miami and The Palm Beach Post in Palm Beach County.
Does the Sun Sentinel offer content in other languages?
Yes, the publication produces a Spanish-language weekly newspaper called El Sentinel, which is distributed to Hispanic households in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Why can't some people in Europe access the website?
The website is currently unavailable to users in the European Union due to noncompliance with regional data protection regulations.
What is the Sun Sentinel's most recent major award?
The newspaper won a Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2019 for its investigative coverage of the failings surrounding the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.