Tampa Bay Times

The Tampa Bay Times, called the St. Petersburg Times until 2011, is an American newspaper published in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It has won fourteen Pulitzer Prizes since 1964, and in 2009, won two in a single year for the first time in its history, one of which was for its PolitiFact project. It is published by the Times Publishing Company, which is owned by The Poynter Institute for Media Studies, a nonprofit journalism school directly adjacent to the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus.

"St. Petersburg Times" redirects here. For the weekly newspaper in Russia, see The St. Petersburg Times (Russia).
Not to be confused with Tampa Times.

Tampa Bay Times
The January 1, 2012, front page of the first edition of the Tampa Bay Times.
TypeDaily newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
Owner(s)Times Publishing Company
Founded1884 (1884)
LanguageEnglish
Headquarters490 First Avenue South
St. Petersburg, Florida 33701
United States
Circulation102,266 Average print circulation[1]
ISSN2327-9052 (print)
2641-4643 (web)
OCLC number5920090
Websitewww.tampabay.com

History
Logo of the St. Petersburg Times in 2009

The newspaper traces its origins to the West Hillsborough Times, a weekly newspaper established in Dunedin, Florida, on the Pinellas Peninsula in 1884. At the time, neither St. Petersburg nor Pinellas County existed; the peninsula was part of Hillsborough County. The paper was published weekly in the back of a pharmacy and had a circulation of 480. It subsequently changed ownership six times in seventeen years.[2] In December 1884, it was bought by A. C. Turner,[3] who moved it to Clear Water Harbor (modern Clearwater, Florida).[2] In 1892, it moved to St. Petersburg,[2] and by 1898 it was officially renamed the St. Petersburg Times.[4]

Tampa Bay Times newspaper rack

The Times became bi-weekly in 1907, and began publication six days a week in 1912. Paul Poynter, a publisher originally from Indiana, bought the paper in September 1912 and converted to a seven-day paper, though it was rarely financially stable. Paul's son, Nelson Poynter, became editor in 1939 and took majority control of the paper in 1947, and set about improving the paper's finances and prestige. Nelson Poynter controlled the paper until his death in 1978, when he willed the majority of the stock to the non-profit Poynter Institute.[2] In November 1986, the Evening Independent was merged into the Times. Poynter was succeeded as editor by Eugene Patterson (1978–1988),[2] Andrew Barnes (1988–2004),[2] Paul Tash (2004–2010; chair of the Times Publishing Company since 2004 and the Poynter Institute since 2007)[5][2] Neil Brown (2010–2017),[6] and Mark Katches (2018–present).[7]

On January 1, 2012, the St. Petersburg Times was renamed the Tampa Bay Times; this stemmed from a 2006 decision of a lawsuit with Media General, at the time the publishers of the Times' competing newspaper, The Tampa Tribune, which allowed that paper to keep its exclusive right to use the name of its defunct sister paper, The Tampa Times, for five years after the decision.[4]

As the newly rechristened Tampa Bay Times, the paper's weekday tabloid tbt*, a free daily publication and which used "(* Tampa Bay Times)" as its subtitle, became just tbt when the name change took place.[4] The St. Pete Times name lives on as the name for the Times' neighborhood news sections in southern Pinellas County (formerly Neighborhood Times), serving communities from Largo southward.

Logo of the free tabloid tbt* in 2018
Logo of the free tabloid tbt* in 2009

The Times has also done significant investigative reporting on the Church of Scientology, since the church's acquisition of the Fort Harrison Hotel in 1975 and other holdings in Clearwater. The Times has published special reports and series critical of the church and its current leader, David Miscavige.[8]

In 2010, the Times published an investigative report questioning the validity of the United States Navy Veterans Association, leading to significant reaction and official investigations into the group nationwide.[9]

On May 3, 2016, the Times acquired its longtime competitor The Tampa Tribune, with the latter publication immediately ceasing publishing[10] and Tribune features and some writers expected to be merged into the Times.[11] As reported by other local media outlets in the Tampa Bay area at the time of this acquisition, for many years the Tampa Tribune was considered to be the more conservative newspaper in the region, while the Tampa Bay Times was thought of as more liberal.[10]

The Times' purchase of The Tribune also allowed its circulation area to be expanded into Polk County, placing it in competition with other newspapers such as The Lakeland Ledger and The Polk County Democrat, as well as into the south central region of the state known as the Florida Heartland. In the case of the latter, the Times published Highlands Today, which was a daily news supplement of The Tribune for readers in Highlands County.[12] The Times sold the paper in 2016 to Sun Coast Media Group.

The Times received $8.5 million in federal loans from the Paycheck Protection Program by July 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. By this point, they had reduced delivery to two days per week. They had also cut 11 journalists' jobs through layoffs expected before the pandemic.[13]

PolitiFact.com
Main article: PolitiFact.com

The newspaper created PolitiFact.com, a project in which its reporters and editors "fact-check statements by members of Congress, the White House, lobbyists and interest groups…"[14] They publish original statements and their evaluations on the PolitiFact.com website, and assign each a "Truth-O-Meter" rating, with ratings ranging from "True" for completely true statements to "Pants on Fire" (from the taunt "Liar, liar, pants on fire") for false and ridiculous statements. The site also includes an "Obameter",[15] tracking U.S. President Barack Obama's performance with regard to his campaign promises. PolitiFact.com was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2009 for "its fact-checking initiative during the 2008 presidential campaign that used probing reporters and the power of the World Wide Web to examine more than 750 political claims, separating rhetoric from truth to enlighten voters."[16] The Times sold PolitiFact.com to its parent company, the Poynter Institute, in 2018.

Awards and nominations
Year Award Work Recipients Category Result
2022 Pulitzer Prize For a compelling exposé of highly toxic hazards inside Florida’s only battery recycling plant that forced the implementation of safety measures to adequately protect workers and nearby residents. Corey G. Johnson, Rebecca Woolington and Eli Murray Investigative Reporting Won[17]
2021 Pulitzer Prize For resourceful, creative reporting that exposed how a powerful and politically connected sheriff built a secretive intelligence operation that harassed residents and used grades and child welfare records to profile schoolchildren. Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi Local Reporting Won[18]
2019 Pulitzer Prize For impactful reporting, based on sophisticated data analysis, that revealed an alarming rate of patient fatalities following Johns Hopkins' takeover of a pediatric heart treatment facility. Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi Investigative Reporting Finalist[19]
2016 Pulitzer Prize "For exposing a local school board's culpability in turning some county schools into failure factories, with tragic consequences for the community. (Moved by the Board from the Public Service category, where it was also entered.)" Michael LaForgia, Cara Fitzpatrick and Lisa Gartner Local Reporting Won[20]
"For a stellar example of collaborative reporting by two news organizations that revealed escalating violence and neglect in Florida mental hospitals and laid the blame at the door of state officials." Leonora LaPeter Anton and Anthony Cormier of the Tampa Bay Times and Michael Braga of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune Investigative Reporting Won[21]
2014 Pulitzer Prize "For relentlessly investigating the squalid conditions that marked housing for Hillsborough County's substantial homeless population, leading to swift reforms." Will Hobson and Michael LaForgia Local Reporting Won[22]
2013 Pulitzer Prize "For helping reverse the decision to end fluoridation of water in Pinellas County." Tim Nickens and Daniel Ruth Editorial Writing Won[23]
2012 Pulitzer Prize Tim Nickens, Joni James, John Hill and Robyn Blumner Editorial Writing Finalist[24]
2010 National Headliner Awards "Inside Scientology" Thomas C. Tobin and Joe Childs Investigative reporting Finalist[25]
Florida Society of News Editors Gold Medal for Public Service Won[26][27]
Pulitzer Prize "For Their Own Good" Ben Montgomery, Waveney Ann Moore, and photographer Edmund D. Fountain Local Reporting Finalist[28]
2009 Pulitzer Prize PolitiFact.com Times staff, represented by Bill Adair, Washington bureau chief National Reporting Won[29][30]
Public Service Finalist[16]
"The Girl in the Window" Lane DeGregory Feature Writing Won[29][31]
"Winter's Tale" John Barry Feature Writing Finalist[16]
2007 Scripps Howard Foundation Human Interest Writing Lane DeGregory Ernie Pyle Award Won[32]
"A Republican vs. Republican Cellular Division" Wes Allison Raymond Clapper Award Won[32]
Pulitzer Prize "In His Own Defense" Christopher Goffard Feature Writing Finalist[33]
2003 Scripps Howard Foundation Human Interest Writing Kelley Benham Ernie Pyle Award Won[34]
2002 Scripps Howard Foundation "The Poison in Your Back Yard" Julie Hauserman Edward J. Meeman Award Won[35]
2000 Pulitzer Prize "Una Vida Mejor" Anne Hull Feature Writing Finalist[36]
National Reporting Finalist[36]
1999 Sigma Delta Chi "Deadly Rampage" Times staff Excellence in deadline reporting Won[37]
Investigative report of U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown Bill Adair and David Dahl Washington correspondence Won[37][3]
1998 Pulitzer Prize "Angels & Demons" Thomas French Feature Writing Won[29][38]
Investigative report of The Rev. Henry Lyons Times staff Investigative Reporting Finalist[39]
The "Tobacco" series David Barstow Explanatory Reporting Finalist[39]
1997 Pulitzer Prize Coverage of the 1996 St. Petersburg riot Times staff Spot News Reporting Finalist[40]
1995 Pulitzer Prize "Final Indignities" Jeffrey Good Editorial Writing Won[29][41]
"A Secret Life" Anne Hull Feature Writing Finalist[42]
1992 Pulitzer Prize "Life From Death" Sheryl James Feature Writing Finalist[43]
1991 Pulitzer Prize "A Gift Abandoned" Sheryl James Feature Writing Won[29][44]
1985 Pulitzer Prize Corruption in Pasco County Sheriff's Office Lucy Morgan and Jack Reed Investigative Reporting Won[29][45]
1982 Pulitzer Prize Coverage of drug smuggling in Dixie County, Florida Lucy Morgan Local General or Spot News Reporting Finalist[46]
1980 Pulitzer Prize Investigation of Church of Scientology operations in Florida Bette Swenson Orsini and Charles Stafford National Reporting Won[29][47][48]
Times staff Public Service Finalist[49]
1969 Penney-Missouri Award Women's section Marjorie Paxson General Excellence Won[50]
1964 Pulitzer Prize Investigation of Florida Turnpike Authority Martin Waldron and Times staff[51] Meritorious Public Service Won[29][52]

See also

Notes
  1. Turvill, William (June 24, 2022). "Top 25 US newspaper circulations: Print sales fall another 12% in 2022". Press Gazette. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  2. "Times History". Times Publishing Company. 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  3. "St. Petersburg Times History – From 1884 to present". St. Petersburg Times. 2007. Archived from the original on August 18, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2009.
  4. Deggans, Eric (November 1, 2011). "The St. Petersburg Times will become the Tampa Bay Times on Jan. 1". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on February 8, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  5. "Paul C. Tash | Times Publishing Inc". Archived from the original on March 30, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2017.
  6. http://www.tampabay.com/company/about-us/times-executives/bios/nbrown Archived October 21, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
  7. http://company.tampabay.com:2052/company/about-us/times-executives/bios/mkatches Archived January 12, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
  9. Casey, Dan; Sluss, Michael (May 16, 2010). "Fla. Contributor to Va. Campaigns Raises Questions – A Man Who Lived in Florida and Gave $67,500 to Virginia Campaigns Is Under Investigation". The Roanoke Times. Archived from the original on October 5, 2012. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
  10. Sunde Farquhar (May 3, 2016). "Tampa Bay Times buys, shutters Tampa Tribune". WFLA.
  11. "'Tampa Bay Times' buys, shuts down rival 'Tampa Tribune'". USA Today. May 3, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  12. "A note from our publisher". Highlands Today. May 4, 2016. Archived from the original on May 6, 2016.
  13. Izadi, Elahe; Barr, Jeremy (July 7, 2020). "Four takeaways from the PPP loans to media companies show the far-reaching toll of the pandemic". Washington Post.
  14. "PolitiFact.com". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
  15. "The Obameter". Politifact. Retrieved April 8, 2017.
  16. "2009 Pulitzer Prize Winners & Finalists". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  17. "Winner: Corey G. Johnson, Rebecca Woolington and Eli Murray of the Tampa Bay Times". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved May 9, 2022.
  18. "Winner: Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi of the Tampa Bay Times". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved June 11, 2021.
  19. "Finalist: Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi of the Tampa Bay Times". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  20. "Local Reporting". www.pulitzer.org.
  21. "Investigative Reporting". www.pulitzer.org.
  22. "JOURNALISM". www.pulitzer.org.
  23. "2013 Pulitzer Prizes - Editorial Writing". www.pulitzer.org.
  24. Staff (March 13, 2004). "Times writer's stories earn her 2003 Ernie Pyle Award". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3B.
  25. "2012 Pulitzer Prizes - JOURNALISM". www.pulitzer.org.
  26. Sentinel Staff Report (June 18, 2010). "Orlando Sentinel wins 17 awards from Florida Society of News Editors". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved June 18, 2010.
  27. Staff (June 18, 2010). "FSNE Gold Medal for Public Service". Florida Society of News Editors. Retrieved June 18, 2010. Inside Scientology – The St. Petersburg Times reporting on the Church of Scientology is in the finest traditions of American journalism. The reporting by Joseph Childs and Thomas Tobin stands out for the ways in which it held accountable the powerful.
  28. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 2010". Columbia University. Retrieved April 12, 2010.
  29. Nohlgren, Stephen (April 20, 2009). "St. Petersburg Times wins two Pulitzer Prizes". St. Petersburg Times. Archived from the original on April 22, 2009. Retrieved April 20, 2009.
  30. McElroy, Jack (April 26, 2009). "Paperless project claims a Pulitzer". Knoxville News Sentinel. p. 60.
  31. Young, Charles William (April 23, 2009). "St. Petersburg Times earns two Pulitzer Prizes for journalism". Congressional Record. p. E950–E951.
  32. Staff (March 10, 2007). "Scripps winners named". The Kentucky Post. p. A5.
  33. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 2007". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  34. St. Petersburg Times staff (March 13, 2004). "Times writer's stories earn her 2003 Ernie Pyle Award". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3B.
  35. Staff (March 2, 2002). "Two Times reporters earn national awards". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3B.
  36. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 2000". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  37. Staff (April 18, 1999). "Times earns national reporting awards". St. Petersburg Times. p. 3B.
  38. Leisner, Pat (April 16, 1998). "Indianapolis native wins Pulitzer Prize". Post-Tribune. Associated Press. p. B5.
  39. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 1998". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  40. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 1997". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  41. "Prizes honor wide range of stories; Winners of the 1995 Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism included stories of natural disaster, human tragedy and courage". Portland Press Herald. Associated Press. April 19, 1995. p. 7A.
  42. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 1995". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  43. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 1992". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  44. "Barberton native wins a Pulitzer". Akron Beacon Journal. Associated Press. April 10, 1991. p. A1.
  45. Marx, Gary (April 25, 1985). "Pulitzer winners: UCF student, St. Pete Times". Orlando Sentinel. p. A1.
  46. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 1982". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  47. Staff (April 16, 1980). "Pulitzer Prize board, for first time, names finalists in all categories". The Boston Globe.
  48. Stafford, Charles (1979). "Scientology: An in-depth profile of a new force in Clearwater" (PDF). St Petersburg Times. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2007. "The 1980 Pulitzer Prize Winner in National Reporting". The Pulitzer Prizes.
  49. "The Pulitzer Prizes – Finalists 1980". Columbia University. Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  50. Voss, Kimberly Wilmot; Speere, Lance (2007–2008). "Marjorie Paxson: From Women's Editor to Publisher" (PDF). Media History Monographs. 10 (1). Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  51. Staff (May 28, 1981). "Martin O. Waldron Is Dead at 56; Reporting Led to a Pulitzer Prize". The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  52. Garloch, Karen (April 1, 1988). "Observer wins Pulitzer Prize for coverage of PTL, Bakkers". The Charlotte Observer. p. 1A.

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