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Tampa Tribune

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by reformedhack, Jun 6, 2011.

  1. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    A two-thirds decrease is pretty enormous, though. I can't imagine many papers had bigger percentages lost.
     
  2. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    Since reaching the high point in 1991, most of the Sports staff losses have come through trimming of the circulation area, in counties where the numbers were never terribly strong. That accounts for the loss of about two dozen writers and deskers, all told.

    Once upon a time, the Tribune's primary coverage area straddled Interstate 75 from Gainesville in the north to Sarasota in the south and went east as far as Polk and Highlands counties (with racks as far north as Valdosta, Ga., and as far south as Fort Myers). For the 14-county primary coverage area, there were 17 daily zoned sections -- each with its own local sports page, and a separate sports desk to produce those pages. On top of that, the Tribune had sportswriters stationed in Tallahassee, Orlando and Miami to cover pros, colleges and enterprise (and breaking news in a pinch).

    Today, for the primary circulation area remaining -- which is essentially Hillsborough and eastern Pasco counties -- there's a centralized local sports reporting team, a University of South Florida beat writer, beat writers for pro sports, and a handful of columnists. GA and national beat writers are all but gone, and the Tribune barters coverage of Florida and Florida State with other papers. And good luck finding a rack more than 30 miles from downtown Tampa.

    Times have changed.
     
  3. I can second the good thoughts for Tony Fab. Excellent motorsports writer, and a good guy. Hate to see good people get shafted in this business, but what else is new?
     
  4. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Tony was a pro's pro.

    I remember the times of which you mention, reformedhack, having been on the other side of the bay in the later years of that great Tampa/St. Pete rivalry. Like so many others it's just dying on the vine. Sigh.
     
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