Barbara Petersen: A Voice for Transparency & Accountability

The Press Club of Southwest Florida is proud to announce that Barbara Petersen, CEO of the Florida Center for Government Accountability (FCGA), will be the featured newsmaker speaker at our January 14, 2026, luncheon.

The luncheon will be held in the Seasons Room of the Clubhouse at Moorings Park, 120 Moorings Park Drive, off of Goodlette Road. You will need to show a driver's license or other ID when you stop at the gatehouse. The attendant will give you instructions to the clubhouse where ample parking is available.

At a time when transparency, accountability, and public trust are under unprecedented strain, Barbara Petersen has emerged as one of Florida’s most respected and persistent champions of open government. Her work sits squarely at the intersection of journalism, public policy, and democratic values, making her an ideal speaker for Press Club members and guests.

As CEO of the Florida Center for Government Accountability, Petersen leads a nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting taxpayers, strengthening public institutions, and ensuring government operates in the open. FCGA is widely known for its investigative research, data-driven reports, and legal advocacy to expose waste, fraud, corruption, and secrecy at all levels of Florida government.

Under her leadership, FCGA has played a critical role in:

• Challenging abuses of public trust
• Defending open records and open meetings laws
• Promoting ethical governance and fiscal responsibility
• Providing journalists with reliable data, context, and documentation essential to watchdog reporting

For journalists, Petersen’s work is especially valuable. Her organization often provides the deep research and accountability reporting tools that enable newsrooms to pursue stories that might otherwise remain hidden from public view. The FCGA, under Barbara’s leadership, publishes The Florida Trident, which showcases the FCGA’s investigative reporting. The publication is free.

Barbara Petersen brings decades of experience in government transparency, public policy, and civic engagement. Before leading FCGA, she served for 25 years as President of the First Amendment Foundation, advancing ethics reform, open government advocacy, and public accountability, earning a statewide reputation as a principled and persistent advocate for the public’s right to know.

Her work reflects a belief shared by the Press Club: democracy functions best when citizens are informed, institutions are accountable, and the press is free to do its job without obstruction or intimidation.

Petersen’s appearance comes at a critical moment for journalism and civic life in Florida and beyond. From public records access to government secrecy, from accountability gaps to attacks on the press, the issues she confronts daily are central to the Press Club of Southwest Florida's mission.

Her remarks will offer:

• Insight into the current state of government transparency in Florida
• Perspective on emerging threats to accountability and open records
• Guidance on how journalists, citizens, and civic organizations can push back effectively

The Press Club is honored to welcome Barbara Petersen as our January newsmaker speaker. We encourage members, journalists, students, and community leaders to join us for a timely, informative, and energizing discussion. This is an event you won’t want to miss!

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