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Times buys Tampa Trib

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by BDC99, May 3, 2016.

  1. YankeeFan

    YankeeFan Well-Known Member

    There are no advertising dollars.

    Thought experiment: you're the VP of advertising for a retailer/consumer product, give me your rationale for spending ad dollars with the Tampa Bay Times.

    I'm not even sure why a car dealer or supermarket would spend money with the paper.

    Internet advertising is cheaper, better targeted, more effective, quicker, and easier to to gauge the effectiveness.
     
  2. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Among everything else yesterday, the Times mentioned that their Tampa news section in the paper will be called the Tampa Tribune. I can't imagine that went over too well in some circles.
     
  3. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    Other than a few cocked eyebrows, it didn't really land for a lot of Tribune folks. They're of the mindset that the Tribune died yesterday. The Times bought the name, but they didn't buy the spirit or the history of the scrappy newspaper.

    The new Tribune, as I understand it, will be the umbrella name for the neighborhood sections coming out twice a week. The labeling is sure to be weird, though: "The Brandon edition of the Tampa Tribune, a publication of the Tampa Bay Times."

    Ridiculous. Just let the old lady die already.
     
  4. playthrough

    playthrough Moderator Staff Member

    Right. Hearing Paul Tash (in his usual wooden self) sell that in a video yesterday was an eye-roll. It's the Tampa Bay Times but it pays heritage to the St. Pete Times and Tampa Tribune names with news sections carrying those names ... uh-huh. Just let it go.
     
  5. 1HPGrad

    1HPGrad Member

    Speaking strictly about sports, assuming they grab Fennelly, that alone will strengthen the Times' section.
    In theory the Times has two upper level salary slots open: SE and pro writer.
    I know they brought in a big hitter for SE interview. Maybe they were waiting on this before hiring him.
    We'll know soon enough, I suppose.
     
  6. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    I wouldn't mind seeing the Tribune survive as a weekly/Sunday section, even if it's inside the Times, that keeps the Trib's flavor, some of its personalities and a separate editorial voice. Similar to how the Las Vegas Sun exists via the Review-Journal. But that won't happen, because it's obvious the Times believes it has to kill the Tribune in some vengeful, Sicilian way.

    Slapping the name on its neighborhood sections is both lip service and a slight.
     
    Mr. Sunshine likes this.
  7. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    I've got my ear to the rails. I know offers were made to some people last night, but I don't know of any from Sports.

    Tash was on the local news/talk radio station this morning, and it didn't sound like he made a lot of offers. Of course, that could be his public position.
     
  8. reformedhack

    reformedhack Well-Known Member

    On local radio just now, Joe Henderson (former sportswriter turned metro columnist) related what Tash told Tribune staffers about layoffs:

    "There will be very few people in the lifeboat."
     
  9. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    Yes, they said the higher circulation will provide a boost, but it will be minimal I would guess. Too much duplication on the advertisers to make much of a dent.
     
  10. Riptide

    Riptide Well-Known Member

    What a tool. He talks in terms of the Times being the rescue squad.
     
  11. BDC99

    BDC99 Well-Known Member

    The url for the stories on the purchase? tampabay. com/allforone
     
  12. wicked

    wicked Well-Known Member

    Yeah, the people in St. Petersburg sure know how to gloat.

    Having worked at the smaller half of a two-paper market, I empathize much more with the Trib folks than the Times management's douchebaggery.
     
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