Wilkine Brutus
Wilkine Brutus is a multimedia journalist for WLRN, South Florida's NPR, and a member of Washington Post/Poynter Institute’ s 2019 Leadership Academy. A former Digital Reporter for The Palm Beach Post, Brutus produces enterprise stories on topics surrounding people, community innovation, entrepreneurship, art, culture, and current affairs.
Brutus is also the podcast host of A Boat A Voyage, a 5-episode journey inside the mind of his Haitian mother's refugee experience. After amassing millions of views on his YouTube channel, particularly during his 5-year stint in South Korea, he was eventually invited to speak at Twitter Headquarters for Scripps Howard School's symposium on digital media, alongside Google Ventures, Bloomberg, Ebony Magazine, and LinkedIn. He's also a 2018 member of Poynter Institute's Power of Diverse Voices. And he was a scheduled speaker at SXSW 2020 for the Media & Journalism convergence track.
In 2016, he was the star of an international viral video about the nature of human touch; republished by the New York Post, the video, shot in Jeju Island, South Korea, currently sits at 6 million views on Facebook. The video encapsulated his "human interconnectedness" theme on his YouTube channel.
Other appearances include the Philadelphia Inquirer, WHYY(NPR affiliate), WPTV NewsChannel 5, the Karen Hunter Show on SiriusXM, The Decision podcast with Alex Kapelman, MTV, BET, Ebony Magazine, Miami New Times, Okayafrica, Okayplayer, Complex, L'Union Suite, and other media outlets.
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Florida has the majority of police departments supporting the Trump administration’s mass deportation efforts. But, as fear spreads among immigrants of various legal statuses, many worry that close work with ICE officials puts in jeopardy the foundation that law enforcement relies upon to keep communities safe: trust. -
Gov. Ron DeSantis held another roundtable with local law enforcement as he seeks to introduce his own immigration laws in the face of opposition from state lawmakers. -
Commissioners voted unanimously to contribute federal COVID relief funds on the $60 million crisis center. However, a long construction timeline is a point of contention for county leaders. -
Florida has launched a new contract fraud prevention portal, a pilot program aimed at protecting those affected by Hurricane Milton. -
A state prosecutor will lead the probe under the supervision of Attorney General Ashley Moody, who said that beginning a simultaneous investigation with the FBI "doesn't mean it's a turf war." -
Production companies and film commissions say they are again finding their way in Florida, despite a lack of a state incentive program which has kept shoots and talent away since the likes of Oscar-winner 'Moonlight' and hit series 'Dexter.' Apple TV+'s upcoming 'Bad Monkey,' shot almost entirely in South Florida, and smaller productions are bucking the trend. -
There is no more state funding for the arts in Florida after Governor Ron DeSantis cut 32 million from the state budget. Now arts organizations are scrambling to make ends meet.
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In a statewide effort to safeguard children, photos of children in foster care who are available for adoption will no longer be publicly available. A new law adds extra privacy layers. -
Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in grants for cultural and museums statewide. Arts leaders say the industry pumps nearly $6 billion into Florida's economy. -
The country’s largest festival showcasing films by Black storytellers returns to Miami Beach for its 28th year. The ABFF features independent works from some of the hottest talents from Denzel Washington to actress and writer Issa Rae.
