About

What Is Stet News?

Stet News is a nonprofit, independent news site focused exclusively on Palm Beach County, led by the local journalists who created it, dedicated to the communities it serves, and accountable to all.

(And in case you’re wondering what the word stet means: From Latin, meaning “Let It Stand.” Used by editors in print copy to indicate that a word or passage previously deleted should be retained.)

Mission

Provide accurate, fair and unbiased news and information that helps readers hold public officials accountable, encourages them to engage in civic life, and reflects the rich diversity of the communities we serve.

Why Stet News was created

Stet News was started to fill the gap in news and civic information left by the contraction of the county’s major newspaper and other community news and information sources.

With Palm Beach County’s growing population, now at more than 1.5 million residents, the need is greater than ever for strong local accountability reporting. Stet News makes the public aware of important decisions being made by government officials, businesses and other organizations that impact the health and wealth of residents and communities.

Studies show communities that don’t have steady, high-quality coverage have higher taxes, lower bond ratings, less voter turnout, less civic participation and more corruption. We believe a well-informed community is essential to making Palm Beach County a better place to live, work and play.

Original reporting

Since launching as a weekly digital newsletter in early 2023, Stet News has produced hundreds of original stories that otherwise would not have come to light. We also partner with WLRN public radio to distribute our content.

Ways we are serving the public:

• Alerting the public to major new commercial and residential projects.

• In-depth reporting on high-profile criminal cases and the justice system.

• Amplifying citizen voices on crucial actions taken by local governments, from annexation to development.

• Reporting on numerous government meetings and studies that would otherwise have gone uncovered.

• Injecting context and institutional knowledge into the public debate.

Team Members

Joel Engelhardt

Founder, Editor, Reporter

Joel’s award-winning newspaper career spanned more than 40 years. He worked as a reporter, editor and editorial writer over 28 years at The Palm Beach Post. Previously, he worked as a reporter and editor at newspapers in Greeley, Colo., and Peoria, Ill. He is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. Joel left The Post in December 2020. He lives in Palm Beach Gardens and volunteers on the board of NAMI Palm Beach County, an affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the board of the Palm Beach Gardens Historical Society.

Carolyn DiPaolo

Founder, Editor, Reporter

Carolyn is a lifelong community journalist. For 20 years, she oversaw some of The Palm Beach Post’s most consequential news and business stories, including the “Corruption County” reporting that led to multiple arrests of elected officials. Carolyn co-founded Stet in February 2023. She lives in West Palm Beach with her husband Bill and their dog Bulkington.

Liz Capozzi

Founder

Liz leads Stet’s audience engagement, programs and operations. Liz’s work spans 30 years in corporate, nonprofit and creative roles spanning project, strategy and management work. Liz and her husband live in Lake Worth Beach with their two dogs.

Pam Fine

Founder (served 2024)

As an early supporter, Pam played a valuable role in helping us establish Stet as a nonprofit during its first year and we are grateful for her contributions.

Community Advisory Board