Professional Experience

September 2018 to present: Investigative Reporter at WINK News

Previously worked as a multimedia journalist at WCJB TV20 News, WUFT-TV and WUFT-FM in Gainesville, FL; and as an investigative intern at WPLG Local 10 News in Miami, FL

Member of National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) and Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)

Awards & Recognition

2019 Excellence in Broadcast News Award for Transportation / Traffic Series reporting, Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists (FABJ) – “Waiting in the Dark”

2019 NATAS Suncoast Regional Emmy Nomination for Education / Schools News reporting– “Waiting in the Dark”

2019 Young Journalist Award for Broadcast, Press Club of Southwest Florida

2019 Sunshine State Award for Multimedia Feature, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) – “You Are Now Live” (2nd Place)

2019 Excellence in Innovation in TV, Regional Edward R. Murrow Awards, RTDNA – “Locked Out Florida”

2018 Awards for Photo Essay & Short Hard News Feature, Florida Associated Press Broadcasters (now FABJ) College Contest

News Philosophy

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.” — Ida B. Wells

Hobbies, Interests & Community Involvement

Sara is a big fan of live theater and performing arts, traveling to faraway places, volunteering, playing roller derby, Gator football, spoiling her nieces and nephews, and cuddling up next to her dog Mickey.

Education

Master’s in Mass Communication and Bachelor’s in Telecommunication News from the University of Florida

Go Gators!

Governor says ‘call’ for unemployment help; claimants say there’s no answer

Unemployment is top of mind for hundreds of thousands of people in Florida as the Department of Economic Opportunity scrambles to get payments out. The DEO’s dashboard on Tuesday showed that more than half of claims have not been paid, and Gov. Ron DeSantis said the DEO is looking on social media and watching the […]

DEO claims unemployment benefits paid, but some still in limbo

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is requesting an official investigation into the state’s unemployment system after countless problems have left people struggling during the pandemic. Fried said the state has spent 110 million in taxpayer dollars dealing with just some of the unemployment system’s failures. So many of you have reached out to WINK News, […]

Many in SWFL wait for benefits, while governor says unemployment improving

The state’s unemployment website continues to leave many people in the region and throughout the state frustrated and without any payments. Florida says it has paid over 425,000 claims, which is about 45% of all claims. We continue to look at what’s being done to get people their money. A Tallahassee judge recently received 1,081 […]

‘Ineligible’ unemployment filers can apply for federal help

If you filed for unemployment through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and were deemed ineligible, there may be some hope for you – but there’s a catch. You may still qualify for federal assistance, but you’ll have to reapply for benefits if you applied through the DEO on or before April 4. Tara Di […]

Some declared ineligible for unemployment without explanation

The state of Florida says 387,000 people have received unemployment benefits since March 15, and more people can expect money soon. The unemployment website went down over the weekend to help the state process more payments, but some people are learning their claims are ineligible. Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday that more money is coming, […]

Florida updates unemployment system to process self-employed claims

Robert Kantor of Punta Gorda is a ride-share driver who’s been trying to apply for unemployment since March 16. “I cannot drive because I’m at high risk for coronavirus,” Kantor said. Friday, Kantor’s status finally changed from “completed” to “submitted.” As a gig worker, he’s supposed to be eligible for federal benefits. But he’s starting […]

Some early unemployment applicants still waiting as others receive benefits

As of Thursday, 17 percent of unique unemployment claims submitted in Florida have been paid, but the rest are left waiting. What’s the holdup? And why are some people who applied later getting their money first? “I have logged over 6,432 calls to DEO since March 21,” said Heather Dickerson. The unemployment system is leaving […]

Retroactive payments approved, people still frustrated with shoddy unemployment website

More than a month after massive layoffs and furloughs, people in Florida are still waiting for their unemployment benefits. Some progress has been made – more than 108,000 claims have been paid – but that’s only about 16 percent of the total claims submitted since March 15. People are upset and frustrated over the application […]

New head of DEO working to revamp unemployment system, promises change

There’s new oversight at the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity in an effort to revamp the unemployment system. WINK News Investigative Reporter Sara Girard spoke with Sec. Jonathan Satter, the person put in charge of making sure people are getting the assistance they are applying for. The governor asked Sec. Satter to get the results […]