We had the good fortune of connecting with Leon Fooksman and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Leon, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my own business was rooted in my love for storytelling and media. As a former newspaper reporter with 15 years of experience and someone who has spent the last decade specializing in digital marketing for nonprofits and businesses, I realized I had a unique blend of skills that could really make an impact. I wanted to return to my roots in media but also leverage everything I’ve learned over the past 40 years. When I came across the TAPinto franchise, it felt like the perfect opportunity to bridge my journalism background with modern, local media needs and build something meaningful in the community.

What should our readers know about your business?
The news industry today is incredibly competitive and full of challenges, but it’s also a vital space where I feel privileged to contribute. I’m the proud owner of TAPinto Coral Springs and TAPinto Coconut Creek, two hyperlocal news sites that are part of the TAPinto network, which boasts more than 100 franchisees across Florida, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.

When I launched just before the pandemic in 2020, I brought with me more than 15 years of daily newspaper experience and two decades of content marketing expertise, having worked with over 100 nonprofits and businesses. Running these sites has been anything but easy—I work 60-80 hours a week, juggling publishing news articles and collaborating with advertisers. Over time, I’ve built a strong team of writers specializing in local government, law enforcement, and healthcare coverage. Together, we’ve broken significant local stories, keeping our readers informed about their community.

What sets us apart is our dedication to unbiased, local journalism, especially at a time when many traditional media outlets are scaling back coverage and reducing staff. I want the world to know that local news matters, and it’s a privilege to help sustain it in a time when it’s needed the most.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Like many of my former newspaper colleagues who left the industry over the past two decades, I’ve always felt a strong pull to stay connected to the business of informing my local community. My love for journalism was shaped early on by my years as a street reporter at four daily newspapers and honed further during my time at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. These experiences, combined with the invaluable lessons I learned along the way, have kept me grounded and passionate about this ever-changing industry, despite the challenges it has faced.

Website: TAPintoCoralSprings.net and TAPintoCoconutCreek.net

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TAPintoCoralSprings, https://www.facebook.com/TAPCoconutCreek

Image Credits
Photo credit: TAPinto

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