Will Brown Reporter email

Will Brown is a Report for America corps member focusing on race, poverty and inequality for Jacksonville Today.

He previously reported for the Jacksonville Business Journal. And before that, he spent more than a decade as a sports reporter at The St. Augustine Record, Victoria (Texas) Advocate and the Tallahassee Democrat.

Over his 15-year career, Brown has won awards for breaking news, social media and photography. And in 2020, he contributed photographs for WFSU News/Health News Florida’s national Murrow Award-winning series “Committed: How and Why Children Became the Fastest Growing Group Under Florida’s Baker Act.”

Brown has an undergraduate degree from Florida A&M University and a master’s from the University of South Florida. In his spare time, he enjoys reading and soccer. He lives in Clay County with his wife and son.

Featured image for “JAXPORT says it’s too early to judge the effect of tariffs”
Jacksonville is Florida's largest container port. The Blount Island Marine Terminal, pictured in October 2021, is undergoing more than $70 million in investment to help the port process as many as 2.3 million containers on an annual basis. | Photo by Will Brown
2 days ago

JAXPORT says it’s too early to judge the effect of tariffs

No shippers have canceled at JaxPort since the Trump administration announced 10% across-the-board tariffs.…

Featured image for “UF Health reaches agreement with UnitedHealthcare”
UF Health's Brentwood facility. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 22, 2025

UF Health reaches agreement with UnitedHealthcare

UF Health announces people with employer-sponsored commercial plans as well as Medicaid are in network under the agreement with UnitedHealthcare.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | How does Jacksonville’s immigration ordinance work?”
Andrea Reyes is a Jacksonville immigration attorney who expects a local ordinance that can send undocumented immigrants to jail for up to 60 days will be challenged in court. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 17, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | How does Jacksonville’s immigration ordinance work?

Jacksonville Today reader Susan A. wants to know whether police can use the new local immigration law to stop anyone…

Featured image for “4 Duval teachers honored for career excellence”
Nicola Gibson, and English Language Arts educator at Annie R. Morgan Elementary, is one of four Duval County educators who received the 2025 Gladys Prior Awards for Career Teaching Excellence on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 15, 2025

4 Duval teachers honored for career excellence

The teachers were surprised Tuesday with the Gladys Prior Award for Career Teaching Excellence.…

Featured image for “How Jax Journey Forward strives to reduce crime”
Jacksonville City Hall
April 15, 2025

How Jax Journey Forward strives to reduce crime

Some Jaxsons think the Jacksonville Journey Forward will lower crime and eradicate long-standing disparties.…

Featured image for “City launches kids’ Minecraft challenge to help plan Jacksonville’s riverfront”
James Weldon Johnson Park has been digitized as part of a "New Jax City" world that was created in Minecraft Education to spur Jacksonville students to learn about coding and urban planning. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 14, 2025

City launches kids’ Minecraft challenge to help plan Jacksonville’s riverfront

The three-week New Jax City challenge invites second-graders through college sophomores to design Jacksonville’s riverfront in Minecraft.…

Featured image for “How OysterFest restores Trout and Ribault rivers”
Oysters could be a key to revitalizing and restoring the Trout River. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 10, 2025

How OysterFest restores Trout and Ribault rivers

OysterFest is a community festival spotlighting an oft-neglected tributary of the St. Johns River.…

Featured image for “NIH cutbacks stifle research at Florida’s universities”
Florida A&M University is Florida's only public historically Black university. | Alejandro Santiago, WFSU Public Media
April 9, 2025

NIH cutbacks stifle research at Florida’s universities

Florida A&M, the state’s only public historically Black university, will lose funding for cancer research.…

Featured image for “UF Health Flagler settles 8-month stalemate with Aetna”
April 1, 2025

UF Health Flagler settles 8-month stalemate with Aetna

UF Health Flagler announced it will be back in network with Aetna, meaning lower costs for patients.…

Featured image for “American Beach residents want Nassau County to ban beach driving”
American Beach residents say beach driving could harm loggerhead and green sea turtles. Residents plan to sue to block driving on the beach. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
April 1, 2025

American Beach residents want Nassau County to ban beach driving

Residents say beach driving puts wildlife at risk and makes it harder for dunes to recover from storms.…

Featured image for “Brentwood residents decry treatment by City Hall”
Robert Flornoy is a Northwest Jacksonville resident who says the city of Jacksonville disenfranchised residents by turning a proposed liquor store into a small business center, against the wishes of Brentwood residents. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 28, 2025

Brentwood residents decry treatment by City Hall

Residents say the city has a history of breaking promises and ignoring wishes in the Brentwood neighborhood.…

Featured image for “Match Day 2025: Local med schools fill doctor shortages”
Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine students celebrate the announcement of where they will be matched for their medical residencies. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 21, 2025

Match Day 2025: Local med schools fill doctor shortages

Graduates in Jacksonville are moving on to residencies and might eventually plug a need for doctors in Florida.…

Featured image for “Sporting Jax hires director of soccer as club’s kickoff nears”
Mark Warburton was announced as director of soccer for Sporting Club Jacksonville on Thursday, March 20, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 20, 2025

Sporting Jax hires director of soccer as club’s kickoff nears

Mark Warburton comes to Jacksonville’s new soccer club after an accomplished career in the United Kingdom.…

Featured image for “PHOTO ESSAY | Scenes from the greens at the 51st Players Championship”
J.J. Spaun hits his approach at No. 18 within 30 feet of the hole during the final round of The Players Championship on Sunday, March 16, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 16, 2025

PHOTO ESSAY | Scenes from the greens at the 51st Players Championship

Experience The Players through the eyes of Jacksonville Today’s Will Brown.…

Featured image for “PGA Tour’s presence in St. Johns County viewed as stabilizing presence amid LIV Golf negotiations”
PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan addresses reporters during his annual press conference ahead of 2025 Players Championship on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 11, 2025

PGA Tour’s presence in St. Johns County viewed as stabilizing presence amid LIV Golf negotiations

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan addressed the future of men’s professional golf on Tuesday before The Players Championship.…

Featured image for “The Players Championship 2025: 9 things to know before you go”
The 18th hole at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most challenging on the course. | Noah Hertz, Jacksonville Today
March 7, 2025

The Players Championship 2025: 9 things to know before you go

The Players Championship tees off next week at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.…

Featured image for “Union Terminal Warehouse opens to fanfare on Jacksonville’s Eastside”
Columbia Ventures Development Manager Ryan Akin says more than 350,000 work hours went into renovating the Union Terminal Warehouse. The 330,000-square-foot building was repurposed as part of a $72 million renovation. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
March 6, 2025

Union Terminal Warehouse opens to fanfare on Jacksonville’s Eastside

The 112-year-old warehouse has been reborn as a mixed-use space combining businesses and mixed-income residences.…

Featured image for “ASUN college basketball tournaments move to Jacksonville”
Jacksonville University's Donovan Rivers (33) roars in celebration following the Dolphins' win over Eastern Kentucky inside Swisher Gymnasium during a 2025 ASUN Basketball Tournament quarterfinal on Monday, March 3, 2025. | Submitted, Jacksonville University Athletics
March 5, 2025

ASUN college basketball tournaments move to Jacksonville

The ASUN conference’s Jacksonville games will begin in 2026, with the announcement coming after the ASUN moved its headquarters from…

Featured image for “UF Health and United Healthcare remain at odds”
UF Health's Brentwood facility. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 27, 2025

UF Health and United Healthcare remain at odds

Nearly 75,000 people are paying more for medical care because UF Health and United Healthcare have not reached an agreement.…

Featured image for “New Longshoremen’s contract is good news for Jax”
Jacksonville is Florida's largest container port. The Blount Island Marine Terminal, pictured in October 2021, is undergoing more than $70 million in investment to help the port process as many as 2.3 million containers on an annual basis. | Photo by Will Brown
February 26, 2025

New Longshoremen’s contract is good news for Jax

The Longshoremen estimate the contract will bring at least $25 million of additional wages into the local economy.…

Featured image for “To boost early childhood literacy and health, Duval is sending doctors out with books”
The city of Jacksonville recognized 20 students for their participation in the inaugural River City Readers program during a event Jan. 27, 2025, at City Hall. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 24, 2025

To boost early childhood literacy and health, Duval is sending doctors out with books

A literacy program will use a federal grant to place books in the hands of mothers almost immediately after they…

Featured image for “Johnnie Mae Chappell honored 61 years after her murder”
Shelton Chappell, left; Jacqueline Williams and Alonzo Chappell are among the surviving children of Johnnie Mae Chappell. Racists murdered their mother March 23, 1964, nine days after Jacqueline turned 13. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 21, 2025

Johnnie Mae Chappell honored 61 years after her murder

A memorial marker now stands where racists gunned down the 35-year-old Black woman on March 23, 1964.…

Featured image for “#AskJAXTDY | Who is responsible for municipal decision-making?”
Jacksonville City Hall
February 18, 2025

#AskJAXTDY | Who is responsible for municipal decision-making?

A Jacksonville Today reader wonders which decisions fall to the mayor and which to City Council.…

Featured image for “‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ highlights Jacksonville’s past and promise”
Members of the Lift Every Voice and Sing Children’s Choir as well as The Ritz Voices are captured moments before they sing Lift Every Voice and Sing as part of a 125th anniversary celebration for the song inside The Bethel Church on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. | Will Brown, Jacksonville Today
February 13, 2025

‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ highlights Jacksonville’s past and promise

On its 125th anniversary, “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is being celebrated with five days of events and programming.…