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Raising awareness of local news, the Beatles' real nowhere man

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It’s Local News Day, which highlights the work journalists do to keep their communities informed. On “Florida Matters Live & Local,” we sit down with Tampa Bay area newsroom leaders about the challenges facing community journalism. Then, we learn about a missing Beatle.

Why local news matters

(0:00) Bay area newsroom leaders discuss why community journalism is essential — and easy to overlook until it’s gone. They share how they consume news in a crowded media landscape and why the region benefits from this diverse ecosystem. The conversation also highlights industry challenges and the push to remind audiences that local news underpins a healthy democracy.

GUESTS:

  • Kristen Hare, Pointer’s faculty director of craft and local news
  • Ray Roa, Creative Loafing editor-in-chief
  • Julio Ochoa, WUSF news director

And now these days are gone

(36:00) Once upon a time, Ringo Starr got sick and a fill-in drummer got the gig of a lifetime with The Beatles. Then, he disappeared from the spotlight. We talk with a rock ’n’ roll detective who unpacks the wild story of Jimmie Nicol’s brief ride at the top.

GUEST:

  • Jim Berkenstadt, author of “The Beatle Who Vanished” and owner of Rock and Roll Detective, an entertainment consulting firm in Madison, Wisconsin.
I am the host of WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local, where I get to indulge my curiosity in people and explore the endlessly fascinating stories that connect this community.
As the executive producer of WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local, I aim to create a show and podcast that makes all Floridians feel seen and heard. That's also my assignment as a producer for The Florida Roundup. In any role, my goal is always to amplify the voices often overlooked.
Amelie was a reporter and producer for WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local, and a Report for America corps member from July 2025-August 2026.
Quincy Walters is a producer for WUSF's Florida Matters Live & Local,