Al Neuharth of the Gannett corporation started the paper in 1966, and some of the things he did with this newspaper presaged what he would later do at USA Today.

[2] In addition to its regular daily publication, Florida Today publishes three weekly community newspapers that are tailored for the North, South, and Central areas within Brevard County.

When Gannett (Gannett Florida) purchased the Cocoa newspaper from Marie Holderman in 1965,[5][6] it also acquired the Titusville Star-Advocate in the county seat to the north, and the tabloid weekly Eau Gallie Courier, the latter published from the Cocoa facility.

To guarantee advertisers a minimum circulation, Gannett delivered papers at no cost to all residences in Brevard County for the first two weeks of the newspaper's life; publication began on March 21, 1966.

Both the Titusville and Melbourne papers maintained their independence and continued to be printed at each publication's own facility.