Mark Rochester

Sarasota

Executive Editor at Sarasota Herald-Tribune

Executive Editor, Sarasota Herald-Tribune

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Articles

Rebuttal: upholding facts in reporting on Bradenton police chief incident

1 week ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

A recent guest opinion column by Bradenton Police Chief Melanie Bevan in this publication regarding our investigative reporting on the circumstances surrounding a 2019 incident requires a response. While we acknowledge the chief's perspective, we stand by our reporting and believe it's crucial to address the inaccuracies and misrepresentations presented in her column.
Bradenton officials breached public trust by never looking into traffic accident involving the police chief.

3 weeks ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

Six years ago, on a day meant for celebration, a shadow fell over the DeSoto Grand Parade in Bradenton. A police-owned SUV, driven by the city’s police chief, backed up and struck a woman and a small child, causing serious injuries, the victim claimed. The details, revealed through a recent investigation by theSarasota Herald-Tribune, paint a stark picture of a system that prioritized secrecy over transparency, leaving a community reeling from a profound breach of trust.
Beyond the byline: why Herald-Tribune leadership wants to talk with you

1 month ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

In a fractured information landscape, the role of local journalism has never been more crucial. Yet, too often, the work of news organizations remains shrouded in mystery, perceived as a distant, even impersonal, process. At the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, we believe it’s essential to bridge that gap, to step out from behind our desks and engage in meaningful dialogue with the community we serve.
Preventable drunk driving accidents claim hundreds of lives each year.

1 month ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

The Sarasota Herald-Tribune's recent report on Florida's second-highest ranking in drunk driving fatalities among Southern states wasn't a mere recitation of grim statistics. It was a clarion call, a necessary exploration of a pervasive public safety crisis that continues to claim lives and shatter families.
At the Herald-Tribune, we’ve seen a few familiar faces depart in the last year,

1 month ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

The newsroom hums a little less these days. Another desk sits empty, another computer screen glows with a generic screensaver. Here at the Herald-Tribune, we’ve seen a few familiar bylines depart in the last year, each one taking with them a piece of our collective knowledge and experience. Most recently, we said goodbye to Derek Gilliam, whose insightful reporting on development and growth issues became a staple for our readers.
Is drag racing a public safety problem in Sarasota? Herald-Tribune investigates

2 months ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

In recent weeks, the Herald-Tribune has received numerous calls and emails from concerned residents about the increasing presence of drag racing on city streets. Many readers expressed fears that these late-night races are a dangerous nuisance, disrupting neighborhoods and posing a threat to public safety. In response to these concerns, the Herald-Tribune attempted to determine the extent of the problem and whether it is indeed on the rise.
Of the roughly 1,200 daily newspapers in the country, fewer than 10 have top editors who are Black.

2 months ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

Mark J. RochesterExecutive EditorThe news hit Dallas like a late summer storm: Katrice Hardy, executive editor of the Dallas Morning News, is stepping down. For many, this is more than just a personnel change at a local paper. It’s a stark reminder of the persistent diversity problem plaguing the American media landscape, and a significant loss for aspiring journalists of color. Hardy’s presence at the Dallas Morning News was more than just a title.
'Right to be forgotten' not enough reason to alter previous stories.

2 months ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

In the digital age, the internet often feels like a permanent record, a sprawling archive of every tweet, every photo and every news story ever published. This permanence can be a double-edged sword.
Season of Sharing sets historic mark for 25th annual campaign | Opinion

2 months ago | heraldtribune.com | Roxie Jerde |Mark Rochester

Roxie Jerde and Mark J. RochesterSarasota Herald-TribuneGreat achievements are accomplished through the collective efforts of many individuals contributing their best. From the Pyramids of Giza to the Human Genome Project, many hands and minds made for successful results and, in doing so, altered the future for an untold number of people.
Local journalists must resist the pressures to conform, maintaining the highest ethics

2 months ago | heraldtribune.com | Mark Rochester

The recent turmoil at the Washington Post, a once-unassailable bastion of American journalism, serves as a stark warning. It signals a troubling trend: the erosion of independent, investigative journalism, particularly at the local level. For decades, local news outlets have been the eyes and ears of their communities, holding local politicians, businesses, and institutions accountable. They've exposed corruption, uncovered wrongdoing, and given voice to the voiceless.