Bad News in St. Pete?

Crap, I know at least one person there in sports.

 

Any update?

 

Brett McMurphy tweeted that FSU beat guy Brian Landman had been let go. Considering there's been nothing from him all week with them headed to the ACC title game, I'm assuming that's accurate. He'd been with the Times for at least two decades.

 

Since there is a prep job open on the other board, is it possible this isn't a budget issue? Just because they're hiring doesn't mean they're not cutting elsewhere to save money, but it does raise an eyebrow.

 

St. Pete is going to use Orlando's FSU content.

 

Landman had been at the Times since 1986.

 

Looks like they used an Andrew Carter story earlier in the week.

 

This news is confirmed. (Not that it hadn't been already.) The move was made without an announcement, but Mrs. Reformedhack works in the newsroom there and, after being away from the office for a while, was not able to independently verify the report until yesterday.

For what it's worth, the Times has been selectively paring its roster of long-time employees. Read into that what you will.

 

Well that effin sucks. I like Brian. Good dude.

 

It will be interesting to see what will happen if FSU rises again to national title contender and all these papers don't have a beat writer in Tallahassee.

Hell, unless something has changed, Tampa hasn't had a writer in Gainesville since Staples went to SI.