Melissa Ross

Melissa Ross is the award-winning host and producer of the statewide public affairs radio program The Florida Roundup, which is heard each week on NPR member stations across the Sunshine State.

The show features newsmakers and journalists and focuses on issues of importance to listeners throughout Florida. TFR is the winner of a 2022 Florida Newscasters Award and a 2022 Society of Professional Journalists Florida’s 1st place award for Best Public Affairs Show.

Melissa also is the recipient of an Edward R. Murrow Award for her participation in the statewide public media project, "Class of COVID-19," which looked at education issues in Florida during the coronavirus pandemic. And she hosts a daily local talk show in Jacksonville, "First Coast Connect," which has won five national awards from PRNDI, Public Radio News Directors, Inc.

Melissa also served as executive producer on the Emmy award-winning documentary film, "The 904: Shadow on the Sunshine State." This project examined Jacksonville's status as Florida's murder capital, and received a limited theatrical distribution.

Melissa came to WJCT in 2009 with 20 years of experience in television broadcasting, including stints as an anchor, reporter and host in Cincinnati, Chicago, Orlando and Jacksonville. During her years in broadcast television, she won four regional Emmys for news and feature reporting.

Prior to joining WJCT, Melissa spent three years in the corporate communications field at Jacksonville’s Dalton Agency. During her stint at Dalton, she was cast in the HBO film Recount, playing- what else- a reporter!

Married with two children, Melissa is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism/Communications.