Tampa Trubine-Lite VS SP Times

I doubt most folks in this area receive and actually read both Bay area papers each morning. I can’t say I read each word for word, but I surely do browse through both each morning before work.

Anyone who does read the Tribune daily know of the many changes that have been made in recent months. According to Publisher Janet Coats, the changes all relate to reduced budgets the result of lost readership and advertising.

In its heyday a few years back, the Trib could hold its own against the Times. And while the Times always boasted as being ranked in the nation’s top 10, I never thought the Tribune far behind.

Until recently.

Over the past few months, the Trib has changed its print format, laid off a number of reporters and staffers, and last week, reduced the physical size of the paper by one inch and also created one inch margins on each page. The result has been to again change the print format

What is left of the Tampa Tribune is a news summary service. Local stories are summations of police reports or new releases, no depth, no meat. Reporters must have little time to get quotes. The Business section has shrunk…as has Sports. We no longer see the Most Active Stocks or most of the golf scores. Even Hillsborough school board meeting news is covered better by the Times.

I wish I had kept count of all the breaking Buddy Johnson stories that ran first in the Times, then read the same Buddy-lite news the next day in the Tribune. I guess the Lou Grant days with Rossi and Animal covering the news are over at the Tampa Tribune. I know the Tribune still has many good reporters.

What a shame. It coulda been a contenda.


The local media just reported that the sterling minds on the Tampa City Council have a conundrum. First, with so many vacant houses and failed businesses, water use and revenues are down. Now, with water conservation practices in place, further water use is down, as are revenues. This net effect is a $13 million loss this year.

That quick mind John Dingdongfelder is quoted at saying, “We’re doing a better job on conservation. Now we’re going broke on the water stuff.” Added Mary Mullet-hern, “It’s better for us not to use our water than it is for us to make money off it.” REALLY?

That forward thinker and perpetual politician Tom Scott had the best idea, “We’re going to have to figure out a way to make an adjustment. We can’t continue to lose $13 million a year.”

No Schmidt Sherlock

posted by admin @ 7:48 PM