Welcome to

Following the conclusion of the 2022 legislative session on March 11th, Mike Vasilinda stepped down daily  coverage of the Capitol to focus on other projects and managing his full service production company, Mike Vasilinda Productions. He can be reached at 850.445.5111 or mikev@mvptv.tv.

Capitol News Service continues to provide network live shots from its office at 311 North Adams street via the LTN Network.

On June 7, 2022 Mike was one of three recipients of the Legacy Award presented by the Florida Association of Broadcast Journalists at the FABJ’s annual meeting in Orlando.

Mike received a Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in Political Television Journalism in 2005 for his enterprising coverage of the controversial “Felons List” during the 2004 election cycle. Mike holds a Master’s of Science in Applied American Politics and Policy from Florida State University where he also earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Science with minors in economics and political science.

The 2022 legislative session, which was the 124th session since Florida became a state in 1845, marks the 49th legislative session Mike covered, which is 39.51% of all regular sessions since statehood. The high percentage is due to the fact that prior to 1968, the Florida legislature only met every other year.

Mike Vasilinda began his career covering Florida Politics while still a student at Florida State University. In January 1974, he founded what is today Florida Public Radio’s Capitol Report, a thirty minute weekly wrap up of legislative news. Soon thereafter, Ray Wise hired Mike to do freelance radio reporting. Mike is the longest continuously-serving member of the Capitol Press Corps, although Bill Cottrell was here in 1969, left, and returned.

In 1975, Capitol News Service was founded. Back then news was shot on 16mm film and had to be shipped to Tampa, Miami, and Orlando on a noon flight to allow for processing in time for the evening news. Jacksonville’s film was shipped via a Greyhound Bus.

Mike purchased video equipment in 1978 and switched from receiving 20 dollars for each story that was used to receiving a monthly retainer. Satellite delivery arrived in 1982.

1983 Mike purchased a Sony BetaCam, the 3rd such unit in Florida. The camera remained the industry workhorse into the 21st century. Today, Capitol News shoots all digital P2 High Definition cameras, Sony HDV, and the Sony F900 Cinealta.

Today, Capitol News Service provides high definition live shots via the LTN network and can field multiple crews and provides daily coverage to clients via a secure FTP site.

In addition to Capitol News Service, Mike is the president of Mike Vasilinda Productions (MVP), which is a full service video production company located in Tallahassee. The company produces award winning commercials, television shows, marketing and training video, and all things television.

Mike is married to Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda, a member of the Florida Bar and faculty member at Tallahassee Community College. On November 4, 2008 Michelle was elected to the Florida House of Representatives for District 9, which covers parts of Leon County. Michelle was re-elected on November 2, 2010, and again in November 2012 and 2014. Her constitutional term limits ended her House service on November 8, 2016.

Mike currently serves on the following Boards:

Florida Missing and Endangered Person’s Information Clearing House Advisory Board