Independent journalist Ted Lund appeared Friday morning on Morning Magazine with Nick Wright on U.S. 1 Radio to discuss his Above the Fold Substack, the resurgence of independent reporting, and several developing stories in the Florida Keys.
Wright, filling in for longtime host Joe Moore, welcomed Lund — a veteran of multiple Keys news outlets — for a wide-ranging discussion touching on media trends, air travel disruptions, and public accountability in local government.
“This is likened to the penny press,” Lund said, describing Substack as a return to journalism’s roots when individuals could freely publish and distribute their own work. “For years, large corporations and wealthy individuals took over media. We’re seeing that make a turn for the better.”
During the interview, Lund reported that more than 800 flights had been canceled nationwide as of Friday morning due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. While major airports such as Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, and Chicago were affected, he noted that Key West International Airport had no delays or cancellations at that time. Travelers were advised to check flight status at EYW.com and arrive at least two hours before departure due to TSA staffing delays.
Wright and Lund also discussed local stories featured on Above the Fold, including a guest column by former Monroe County School District Food Services Director Emmanuel Gomez alleging mismanagement within the department.
“That’s one of the things that’s great about journalism — there’s always somebody with a story,” Lund said. He added that Gomez’s claims could attract attention from the State Attorney’s Office and possibly the Monroe County Grand Jury.
As the segment closed, Lund thanked Wright and U.S. 1 Radio for spotlighting local reporting and credited a recent on-air mention by Katrina Nichols for driving triple-digit subscriber growth to Above the Fold.
