The mission of Florida Traffic is to keep Florida residents and visitors informed with up-to-date traffic news, including accidents, road closures, construction updates, best gas prices, safety tips, as well as any transportation and travel-related content that will be helpful to your Florida driving experience. We have divided this site into nine Florida regions to help you connect faster with the news that will be most relevant to wherever you are.
On this site, we uphold key values important to reporting the news, including honesty and transparency, citing sources, etc. We see our site and mission as a “work in progress”, pursuing improvement and growth through learning, risk-taking, listening and engaging, with the hope to become more effective and expand our reach and positive impact in Florida.
While publishing articles primarily focused on traffic, transportation and travel in Florida, we also publish articles and ads that we believe will benefit drivers and passengers alike, including tips on auto repairs, physical therapist options for recovery after an accident, advice on what to do in case of collision, the latest automobile technology, road trips and unique places to visit in the state, etc. We do accept guest posts on occasion, and at times publish opinion pieces as well as product- or general-issue based articles. The opinions expressed in these posts are not necessarily to be understood as shared, nor products/services endorsed by FloridaTraffic.net staff, owners, nor it's parent company, Connell Publishing, LLC simply because we have published it. We believe in providing a variety of points of views and opportunities, as well as encouraging the exploration and/or dialog it hopefully creates for our readers.
Click here for our Content and Advertising Policy and Practice, or scroll to bottom of page for details.
TEAM
Denise Connell is the publisher and co-owner of FloridaTraffic. With a BA in Interpersonal Communication from the University of Central Florida and an MA in Religious Studies from La Sierra University in California, Denise has served the Central Florida community since 1992 through organizational leadership, teaching, writing, motivational speaking, and life-design coaching. She has led and guided businesses, non-profit organizations, departments, teams, and individuals in finding their vision and creating a better world. Denise’s focus has always been on inspiring change for more passionate, purposeful, and difference-making kind of living. It is her hope that as publisher of this site she will be able to serve residents and visitors of Florida by providing traffic and travel news that will help make their everyday a bit more informed and hopefully less stressful. Denise is also publisher and co-owner of The Apopka Voice.
Reggie Connell is the Managing Editor of FloridaTraffic. Reggie started his journalism career in 1981 with the St. Pete Times working the desk as well as writing for the sports department. He attended the University of Florida and served as a journalist on two of the student newspapers there, The Independent Florida Alligator and The Student Leader. Having won awards for his writing and editing, and with a few years of additional business experience in insurance and mortgage sales, Reggie soon bought and ran City Magazine in Altamonte Springs, serving as publisher and managing editor there, while also writing and publishing his first book in 2014, Falconland, an historical novel on the life of the 13th century King Frederick. While working on the sequel to Falconland, Reggie took on the managing editor role for The Apopka Voice in 2015, and just two years later became its owner. Reggie will continue serving as the managing editor for both sites, contributing to Florida's growth and prosperity via honest, ethical and quality journalism.
The parent company for both FloridaTraffic and The Apopka Voice is Connell Publishing, LLC.
QUESTIONS & SUGGESTIONS
Questions about our news site or advertising? Suggestions or ideas? Feel free to email or call us. We’d love to connect. 407-415-6218; info@FloridaTraffic.net.
CONTENT and ADVERTISING POLICY and PRACTICE
Content and advertising policy and practice for Connell Publishing, LLC, and for all websites associated with us.
We are committed to providing accurate, balanced, and thoughtful coverage of news and events. Our goal is to engage, inform, educate, and inspire our audience with trustworthy content. This content policy outlines the standards and principles that guide our editorial decisions and ensure our commitment to fairness, non-partisan politics, and content that maintains respect and tastefulness.
- Commitment to Fairness
We strive to present news and information in an unbiased and objective manner. Our editorial team works to ensure all sides of an issue are represented fairly, providing context and insight into different perspectives. We do not favor any political party, ideology, or special interest group, and we make a concerted effort to avoid promoting any agenda. Our reporting includes both sides of an issue whenever possible, allowing our readers to make informed decisions.
- Non-Partisan Politics
We do not align with any political party or movement. Our goal is to inform our audience with facts, not to push a political agenda. Our news stories, commentary, and opinion pieces are designed to offer diverse viewpoints and perspectives. We maintain strict boundaries between our reporting and editorial content, ensuring that our news coverage remains free of partisan influence.
- Eliminating Bias
We work to eliminate any potential biases from our news coverage by adhering to journalistic standards and practices. We remain vigilant against subtle forms of bias, such as selective omission, sensationalism, or the framing of issues to manipulate public opinion. We encourage a culture of transparency and correction, and any mistakes in our reporting will be openly acknowledged and corrected.
- Content in Good Taste
We are committed to ensuring that all content published on our site adheres to a high standard of professionalism and respect. We do not publish content that includes hate speech, personal attacks, obscene, coarse or inflammatory language. All commentary and opinions should be expressed respectfully, even when engaging in passionate discourse. We respect the diversity of our audience and believe that differing opinions can be expressed in a manner that contributes to thoughtful discussion rather than division.
- Sensitivity to Diverse Audiences
Our content is created with awareness of the diversity of our readers. We strive to avoid content that is discriminatory or harmful to any group based on race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, or any other characteristic. We are committed to fostering a respectful space where all readers feel welcomed and valued.
- Transparency and Accountability
We are transparent about our sources, methods, and decision-making processes. If an article is based on opinion, analysis, or commentary, we will clearly label it as such. Our editorial team remains accountable to the public, and we welcome feedback or concerns about our coverage. Any conflicts of interest or affiliations are disclosed in an open and honest manner.
- Avoiding Conflicts of Interest: No Gifts or Event Sponsorships
To maintain the integrity and independence of our reporting, we prohibit editorial staff, reporters, and contributors from accepting gifts, compensation, or favors from individuals or organizations that may have a vested interest in the stories we cover. This includes, but is not limited to, accepting invitations to paid events, meals, or entertainment as part of a news coverage or industry gathering, as well as event sponsorships.
Our commitment to journalistic objectivity requires that our coverage be free from external influence, and we take necessary steps to ensure that no personal gain or undue advantage compromises our ability to report honestly. Invitations to events, such as press conferences, interviews, or product launches, will be considered only on their journalistic merit, and no individual within our organization will accept complimentary perks unless they are directly related to the work being done.
Additionally, if any potential conflicts of interest arise from relationships, financial dealings, or affiliations that could influence coverage, we will disclose them clearly to maintain transparency with our audience. By adhering to this policy, we safeguard our editorial independence and prioritize delivering news that is unbiased, accurate, and in the best interest of our readers.
- Accuracy and Timeliness
Our editorial team strives to provide timely and accurate reporting, ensuring that all information shared is current, reliable, and verified. We take the time to check our facts and sources carefully before publication, understanding that errors can undermine trust. If new information comes to light or a correction is necessary, we will promptly update or revise the content to reflect the most accurate version available.
- Respectful Discourse in Comments and Engagement
We encourage respectful engagement in our comment sections and on social media platforms. While we support open discussion and debate, we prohibit the use of abusive language, trolling, personal attacks, and other forms of disruptive behavior. We strive to maintain an environment where healthy conversations can take place without fear of harassment or disrespect.
- Content Moderation and Removal
We reserve the right to moderate or remove any content that violates this policy. Content that is deemed to promote violence, misinformation, defamation, or discrimination will be removed. We also reserve the right to suspend or block users who engage in harmful or abusive behavior on our site or associated platforms.
- Advertising, Sponsored Posts, and Links
We are committed to maintaining a clear distinction between editorial content and advertising or sponsored materials. While we rely on advertising to support our operations, we uphold strict standards to ensure that advertising, sponsored posts, and links do not influence or compromise our editorial integrity.
Advertising (banner ads, sponsored posts and links)
No matter the format in which an advertisement appears on our site, we do not allow advertisers to dictate, alter, or influence the editorial direction of our coverage, and our editorial team will remain independent from commercial interests. All advertisements accepted on our site must adhere to the same content standards outlined in this policy.
Sponsored Posts & Links
We accept guest posts (including paid sponsored posts), as well as guest opinion pieces on a wide range of topics, including politics and religion, as well as product- and/or general-issue based content and links. The opinions expressed in sponsored and guest content are not to be necessarily understood as shared by our team, nor products and services endorsed by us simply because we have published / run it. We believe in providing a variety of viewpoints and opportunities, as well as encouraging the exploration and dialog that this content and the advertisements hopefully create for our readers.
While we do accept guest and sponsored posts and sponsored links, we maintain editorial control over what is published and ensure that the content aligns with our values of fairness, respect, and accuracy. To the best of our ability, sponsored content will be relevant to our audience and will never be used to promote misleading or deceptive information.
Sponsored Links
We may occasionally include sponsored links within our content or on our site. Sponsored links will be used sparingly and only when they are deemed to be relevant and valuable to our audience, without compromising the journalistic integrity of the content. To the best of our ability, we will not accept sponsored links that lead to deceptive, misleading, or harmful sites.
No Editorial Influence
Our advertising and sponsored content/links policies are designed to ensure that there is no influence on our editorial decisions. All advertising and sponsored content/links are managed by separate teams from our editorial staff to preserve the independence and objectivity of our news coverage. Any content that is editorial in nature will be based solely on facts, research, and journalistic integrity, free from commercial pressure.
By clearly distinguishing between advertising, sponsored posts/links, and editorial content, we aim to maintain transparency with our readers and uphold the trust that is essential to our work. We are committed to ensuring that advertising does not compromise the quality, impartiality, or reliability of our news coverage.
12. Editorial Independence
Our editorial independence is central to our mission. We are not influenced by advertisers, sponsors, or any external interests when making editorial decisions. We are committed to maintaining a clear distinction between our news coverage and any commercial or promotional content.
By adhering to these principles, Connell Publishing, LLC, and all websites under its umbrella, aims to foster a responsible, fair, and thoughtful news environment where our readers can engage with content that is informative, accurate, and reflective of diverse perspectives. We welcome your feedback and remain committed to evolving and improving the quality of our reporting in service of the public good.
