Cortney Danielle Moore - Journalist

08/01/2025

I’m really proud to share this one. More than a year ago, I noticed a shift starting to happen—and now it’s here. From pitch to publication, this story was a long time coming, but worth every step. Persistence pays off when you spot the trend before it takes off. 👀🤖

Rise of the Robots: Hospitality embraces tech amid labor challenges >> See the full article below ⬇️

07/24/2025

I recently completed “Prompt Engineering 101 for Journalists,” a four-week course from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas that helped demystify how AI-powered large language models like ChatGPT (among others) can support reporting, research and storytelling.
The course broke down how to write better prompts—ones that actually get you useful results—and how to build templates for tasks like fact-checking, summarizing and backgrounding sources. We also explored how to connect these tools with no-code automation platforms to cut down on repetitive work and free up more time for actual journalism.
One of the most eye-opening parts was learning how to use AI responsibly—from understanding its limits to generating text, tables and images ethically while also being transparent about when and how these tools are used.
AI is evolving quickly, and it’s not always easy to keep up with. This course offered a solid, practical foundation for using these tools thoughtfully in a high-volume newsroom setting. Big thanks to the Knight Center for putting it together.

07/09/2025

I’m honored to be named a finalist in two categories for the Society for Professional Journalism Florida’s 2025 Sunshine State Awards:

🏆 Beat Reporting – Business & Consumer Affairs
🏆 Beat Reporting – Lifestyle & Trends

As a New York native who moved to Miami in 2021, it’s especially meaningful to have my work evaluated by out‑of‑state journalists—thank you to the judges for this recognition. I’m passionate about telling stories that reflect the business and lifestyle landscape of South Florida and beyond. I’m grateful for the opportunity to tell stories that matter—and to be distinguished among such talented peers. It’s an incredible feeling to be acknowledged for work that reflects the region I now call home.

Winners will be announced on Saturday, Sept. 6, at the NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale.

You can view the full list of finalists here: https://spjflorida.com/sunshine-state-finalists-2025/

07/09/2025

I recently joined my colleagues Brian Bandell and Ashley Portero on the "Business Breakdown" podcast to weigh in on some of South Florida’s most notable real estate moves — including which of three major transactions deserved the title “Deal of the Week.”

From an $88 million retail center sale in Doral to a shuttered Sears store in Boca Raton and a luxury tower in Downtown West Palm, we break down the numbers, strategy and impact. Light spoiler: This is the first time we all agreed.

In this episode, you'll also hear from Grant Cardone, who shares why he believes in going “10X” on both Bitcoin and South Florida real estate.

🎧 Listen here: https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2025/06/23/grant-cardone-10x-bitcoin-real-estate-miami.html

The CEO of Cardone Capital discusses how a popular cryptocurrency is reshaping his approach to multimillion-dollar property deals.

07/08/2025

Had a great time collaborating with Eman Elshahawy, my fantastic digital production colleague, on the promo for episode four of “The Business Breakdown with Brian Bandell.”

In this South Florida Business Journal exclusive, Florida Panthers CEO Matthew Caldwell shares insight into the team’s evolution in South Florida — and what it takes to build a Stanley Cup-winning franchise.

🎧 Tune in now: https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2025/06/09/stanley-cup-florida-panthers-ceo-matt-caldwell.html

07/08/2025

A little late in posting this, but back in May I completed “Satiric Infotainment in the Digital Age,” a two-week course from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas.

The course examined how satire is increasingly used to challenge traditional media narratives and shape political communication in democratic societies. It explored how journalistic and comedic practices can be combined to create sharp, thought-provoking content — like "The Daily Show," "Patriot Act," "SNL: Weekend Update" and other programs that blend reporting with pointed commentary.

We covered:

- The relationship between journalism and satire in the digital age
- How national and cultural context informs satirical storytelling
- Practical guidance from experienced satirists on writing and producing meaningful content

This was a very different approach from the objectivity emphasized in most traditional journalism classes. While I may not be able to apply these techniques in my current work, it was fascinating to study — and potentially helpful in the future. You never know where your career will take you.

Thanks to the Knight Center for another thoughtful and timely course.

07/08/2025

Belated but also exciting news! I had the opportunity to join my colleague Brian Bandell on his new podcast, "The Business Breakdown," for the South Florida Business Journal a few weeks ago.

The episode dives into how the ongoing tariff war is impacting hospitality businesses across Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties — from rising import costs to supply chain disruptions and shifting consumer habits. We also explored the drop in condo sales in the region and what that signals for South Florida’s real estate market.

It was a fun, insightful conversation, and I’m excited to see where Brian takes this new series. I’m thrilled to be part of this new chapter.

🔗 Give it a listen here: https://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2025/06/02/tariffs-cost-south-florida-business-100k.html

The newest episode of the "Business Breakdown with Brian Bandell" explores how tariffs are reshaping the manufacturing landscape for South Florida companies.

06/08/2025

So honored. Thank you ACBJ for the recognition and opportunity!

05/14/2025

Exciting news — I’m honored to share that I’ve received a 2025 Communicator Award of Distinction in the Food & Beverage category for my South Florida Business Journal video feature on Jimmy Butler’s BIGFACE coffee shop in Miami!

This project was both rewarding and challenging, and it reminded me why I fell in love with visual storytelling in the first place. Video production is what drew me to journalism — and this recognition means the world.

Grateful to the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts and the Communicator Awards judge committee for the honor, and to everyone who helped bring the story to life.

Watch the award-winning video here: http://bit.ly/4dfdQsF

04/28/2025

Read all about it if you haven’t already: The Florida cruise industry is showing signs of long-term growth and diversification, with major announcements this month from Carnival Corp. & plc (NYSE: CCL), Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH), and newcomer Crescent Seas.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Editor's note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal.

03/08/2025

Just wrapped up "New Digital Investigative Techniques to Supercharge Your Reporting" — a five-week course from the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas in partnership with ProPublica!

This deep dive into open-source intelligence reporting covered how to ethically analyze publicly available information to strengthen investigative journalism. I learned how to:

- Organize and manage digital assets for efficiency
- Use advanced search techniques to track down sources
- Geolocate images and videos using mapping tools
- Research people and companies through open databases
- Integrate AI tools for smarter searches and document analysis

A huge thank you to the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, ProPublica’s Craig Silverman, and award-winning freelance journalist Jane Lytvynenko for teaching me all the amazing tools that are out there to better cover breaking news and uncover hidden details or trends.

I can't wait to put these skills to good use!

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01/06/2025

After noticing retail chains, both large and small, increasingly shutting down locations nationwide, we decided to look into what’s really happening. Stores like Macy’s, 7-Eleven, CVS, and Big Lots are vanishing from South Florida.

To uncover the full story, I tracked hard-to-find store closure data and spoke to retail analysts, commercial real estate brokers, economic experts, and local marketing specialists who know the region best. What I found ties today’s closures to the retail apocalypse of the 2010s, the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and continual consumer trend shifts toward online shopping and luxury goods.

But here’s the interesting part—South Florida landlords aren't panicking. They see these challenges as opportunities. From new fitness concepts to boutique medical offices and specialty shops, they’re transforming these vacant locations into creative and profitable spaces that cater to the demands of today’s shoppers.

Check out my video for highlights, and read the full story in the South Florida Business Journal.

What trends are you noticing in your local retail scene? Let me know in the comments!