Brittany Benner, Journalist

Hello there from Tallahassee!

Thank you for taking a minute to learn more about me.

I moved to the Sunshine State fall 2006. Why? Because I wanted to move somewhere warm!

I am a Chicago native and I love the Windy City... but after reporting in South Dakota for two years and growing up in the Chicago suburbs, I needed to move south.

Now I cover politics and statewide issues from Tallahassee for 10 Connects in Tampa as well as First Coast News in Jacksonville. I am a one-person bureau. If you want a story covered, I show up. Not with an entire crew; just me, my camera and a backpack full of gear. That's why I'm called a "backpack journalist." I shoot and edit all my own video, in addition to writing and reporting.

From the Legislative Session to elections, property insurance and taxes to budget cuts, there's plenty to keep me busy.

Here's how you can help me! While there's plenty happening here in Tallahassee, I'm always looking for story ideas that are relevant to you, your family, and your community. My job is to show 10 Connects followers how those statewide issues hit your pocketbook. So make sure to send me your thoughts, ideas, concerns, tips, feedback, etc.

When I'm not lugging my gear uphill to the capitol, you probably won't find me in Tallahassee. I love to travel! So far, I've been to Paris, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Bahamas, Mexico, and 40 of the 50 United States.

My absolute favorite is Italy, so far. I love the food, wine, lifestyle and breathtaking terrain from the Amalfi Coast to the flooded streets of Venice and the hillside vineyards in Tuscany.

And when I'm not traveling abroad, I'm visiting family across the country or soaking up the sun here in Florida. I'm a military brat so I'm not sure if I enjoy traveling so much because I grew up moving constantly or if I was born with the travel bug in my blood. I enjoy surfing at Anastasia Park, strolling the streets of St. Augustine, frequenting Disney, watching a shuttle launch, shopping in Destin, boating in the Gulf, dining at Avenue C in Apalachicola, visiting Thomasville, and tons of other unique areas throughout the Sunshine State.

Before I moved to Florida, I was a one-(wo)man-band with KSFY in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Population: 24,800... and that was the third largest city in the entire state! Don't worry, I found plenty of ways to entertain myself by hunting pheasants, running my first half marathon and taking flying lessons.

As a Chicago-native, I'm definitely a music fan and I love all kinds. I sure do miss that good ol' Chicago jazz and blues. I also love the arts, including opera, musicals (Les Miserables is my all-time favorite,) the Art Institute, dancing, running, and shopping Michigan Avenue.

I graduated from Columbia College Chicago. I also worked at the Assignment Desk at WMAQ. I also interned with Nesita Kwan in the Health Unit. Before that, I interned at WIFR in Rockford, IL. That's when I tried my first hand at shooting and editing video, reporting, writing, running teleprompter, busting scripts and just about every other job people didn't want to do. It taught me so much about the media, from the ground up.

Now that you know more about me, help me learn more about you and your story ideas by contacting me at bbenner@10connects.com. Email is always best since we live in the wonderful world of mobile technology.

Stories from Brittany Benner