2021
IMPACT REPORT YOUR DONATIONS. OUR STORIES. LIVES TRANSFORMED.
2021 PULITZER PRIZE WINNER LOCAL REPORTING
Letter from the Editor and Vice President
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Mission statement
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Impact story of the year
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Impact stories
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Reporting in the time of COVID
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Visual journalism Award-winning sports
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Together, we inspire
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Audience impact
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Community voices
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Partnerships & collaborations
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A special Connection A note from the Chairman ~ Paul Tash
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Thank You
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Ref lections
Our journalists shine light in dark corners. And it makes a difference for our community.
As you flip through this report, consider the impact our reporting had in 2021, including how the Times exposed dangerous conditions at a Tampa lead smelter, prompting more than $800,000 in fines from federal and county regulators.
Mark Katches EDITOR/ VICE PRESIDENT
Providing distinctive journalism is our hallmark. Times’ reporters have covered every aspect of the pandemic, from our physical health to the health of our economy, our schools; our cultural institutions; and our professional sports franchises that have experienced a phenomenal wave of success. We’ve also alerted you about the persistent failures of the state’s unemployment reimbursement system and the environmental catastrophe at Piney Point. We do this important work because our community counts on us, needs us. In June, a Times investigation about a controversial Pasco County police initiative won the Pulitzer Prize, our 13th as a news organization. Reporters Kathleen McGrory and Neil Bedi exposed how the Sheriff’s Office profiled and harassed residents.
Their series, Targeted, sparked multiple investigations, legal challenges and — ultimately — reforms. With our latest Pulitzer, the Times became the only news organization to have won journalism’s most prestigious prize three times in the Local Reporting category. This says so much about who we are: A locally owned news organization determined to tell the story of Tampa Bay. And we’ve done it like no one else can. From all of us at the Times, we want to express our deep gratitude for your support. As our industry continues to change, grants and donations have helped us diversify our revenue sources with the goal to serve you better — and for generations to come. You’ve been there for us. And we are here for you. Thank you!
Mark Katches Editor and Vice President
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Mission statement Our mission as a news organization traces back to our founding in 1884: to report the truth and contribute to an informed society. That mission depends on maintaining our credibility within the community. To earn the trust of readers, staffers of the Tampa Bay Times have an obligation to be accurate, fair and ethical in all aspects. These policies outline fundamental guidelines for our journalists. While situations will certainly arise in this evolving industry that require a case-by-case analysis, these standards are part of a core effort to uphold the integrity and reputation of the Times. “When we turn to history we can draw inspiration from those who risked their necks and their economic lives to keep the free press free. Every year newspapers are cited for Pulitzer prizes and other awards in recognition of spectacular crusades and courage. But we have an even greater daily triumph of American journalism in helping to fulfill less spectacular but imperative needs. Without these self-government can not endure.” ~ Nelson Poynter, Nov. 4, 1961
Our Purpose:
Every day, we try to bring something illuminating to light - whether we are detailing the impacts of the deadly coronavirus, chronicling civil unrest, or holding political leaders to account. Ethics Policy: The Tampa Bay Times appreciates donations and financial assistance from individuals, foundations and sponsors who seek to support our journalism. The Times always retains editorial independence. Our financial supporters do not dictate the stories we pursue and are not involved in reporting and editing those stories.
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Poisoned
Impact Action has been taken at the highest level of government. OSHA conducted a six-month review that led to the highest penalty in recent memory. The county’s environmental commission proposed a fine that is its largest in history. Citing our series, a national public health organization, meanwhile, called for changes to federal rules to make workplaces nationwide safer for workers.
Times reporters knocked on the door of a lead factory worker’s home in Pasco County. When they announced why they were there, the wife of the factory worker, and the mother of a lead-poisoned child, burst into tears. Finally, someone cared to hear their story. For the next 18 months, the reporters worked meticulously. They interviewed dozens of current and former workers. They amassed thousands of pages of medical files. They became experts in the science, even earning certifications as lead inspectors. And they manually built databases from internal documents that showed that hundreds of Gopher Resource workers had been exposed to extreme amounts of lead. The impact has been resounding. After not inspecting the plant for five years, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration arrived, confirmed our findings, ordered repairs and issued a fine. In early 2022, the county proposed more than $500,000 in additional fines. The county offered free lead screening to members of the community. And the company has attempted to fix some of its more glaring issues.
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Impact 1,200 GRAVES ARE MISSING IN TAMPA. HOW DID THEY DISAPPEAR? Reporter Paul Guzzo likes to say that he has only one more cemetery story left. But after more than two years, he hasn’t stopped searching for the truth. His latest expose provided an account of what had happened at Tampa’s Italian Club Cemetery, where the graves of Black and Cuban residents were most likely covered over and forgotten.
THE NEW RECRUITS In 2020, the Times covered many protests inspired by the calls for racial justice. We heard from people who were angry and frustrated by the actions of police officers across the country, including, of course, former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, later convicted of George Floyd’s murder. Calls to defund police gained steam. Rank-and-file officers and chiefs alike decided this was no longer a job they could bear. So we asked ourselves: Who would want to be a police officer these days? And that led us to the St. Petersburg Police Academy. Times reporter Lane DeGregory and photographer John Pendygraft wanted to understand the kind of training recruits go through, the lessons they learn, and we wanted to see why someone would put themselves through this. Even in the best of circumstances, being a cop comes with risks and responsibilities that are sometimes life-and-death choices. 6
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ARRESTS AND EVICTIONS Reporters Christopher O’Donnell, Nathaniel Lash and Ian Hodgson’s investigation into the Tampa Police Department’s crime-free housing program prompted a response by city officials even before the story hit our front page. Their deep dive found that the program, which intended to get rid of major criminals, also had kicked entire families out of their homes over minor offenses. One day after the story published, civil rights groups and politicians asked Tampa Mayor Jane Castor to suspend or scrap the program. Two days later, Castor announced reforms.
FAILURE AT PINEY POINT Environmental reporter Zachary T. Sampson started writing about April’s Piney Point disaster in March — before it became the biggest environmental disaster Florida has seen in years. His first story explained how wastewater was leaking from the old fertilizer plant in Palmetto and how the state was going to let the owner discharge some of it into Tampa Bay to prevent a catastrophe. Two days later, Zack reported that a reservoir of polluted water could collapse. In April, it nearly did. Zack stayed on the story and then paired with reporters Bethany Barnes and Christopher O’Donnell on A Failure to Act, a deeper look, a deeper look at how the situation got to such a dire place.
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For many of us, 2020 felt like it would never end, a year marked by protests, a contested election and of course, a pandemic. We looked ahead to 2021 with the great hope that COVID-19 would be controlled by vaccines and herd immunity. But here we are, still living with this pandemic and its assorted variants, as scientists and politicians argue over the right way forward. As journalists, this subject has been challenging – and grueling – to cover. We have continued to take precautions in the field, but we know that covering a health crisis carries an element of risk. We have written thousands of stories about the pandemic and finished our tribute to those lost to the disease.
One thousand names One thousand stories We have focused heavily on trying to answer questions for our readers, like what they should know about the omicron variant and booster shots. We went into a COVID-19 ICU, to illustrate what medical professionals were dealing with. We’ve told inspiring stories of people who overcame the disease, like Amanda Hall. And we’re still tracking every week, as best we can, the data about cases and hospitalizations. Really, like all of you, we can’t wait for a time when we’re not writing about COVID-19. Until then, we know how critical it remains to keep the public informed about what’s happening in Florida and around the world. 8
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REPORTING IN THE TIME OF COVID Read about it here
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Visual Journalism At the Tampa Bay Times, our group of visual journalists are still producing thought-provoking and award-winning photographs and videos. Through evolving technology, industry challenges and even a pandemic, the team continues to make imagery that delights and engages our audience, with a common theme that does not change: great storytelling is still the secret to our success.
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Award-Winning Sports Our professional sports teams keep us busy in Champa Bay. In 2021, busy was an understatement, with a Super Bowl victory for the Bucs and yet another Stanley Cup title for the Lightning. Our sports reporters had it all covered, from preseason to boat parades.
Mark Topkin RAYS REPORTER
John Romano SPORTS COLUMNIST
Rick Stroud BUCS REPORTER
The Rays had their best regular season ever, won the toughest division in baseball and introduced Tampa Bay to top prospect Wander Franco. But away from the diamond, beat writer Marc Topkin highlighted the mental stress that athletes can endure. And columnist John Romano regularly took Rays owners to task for their tumultuous relationship with the Tampa Bay fanbase. Beyond the gridiron, Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud was the only NFL writer to initially tackle the topic of fake vaccine cards and the Bucs. His dogged reporting
Matt Baker COLLEGES AND RECRUITING REPORTER
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uncovered that receiver Antonio Brown lied to the NFL about his vaccination status, and he posed a healthrisk to his team, ultimately leading to an NFL suspension and Brown’s downward spiral with the Bucs. The NFL told us that Rick’s story alone sparked their investigation. Rick also was the only reporter kicker Josh Lambo trusted to tell his story of verbal and physical abuse endured during his time at Jacksonville under coach Urban Meyer. The story likely was the final straw for the Jaguars, who fired Meyer just hours after our report published.
And no one had a better sense of the impact the pandemic had on not just our professional teams, but marquee events the Tampa Bay region hosts regularly, like Matt Baker. He routinely documented the monetary losses to Tampa Bay over the past two years, as well as the general oddness to holding major sports events in a time of protocols and social distancing.
Together, we inspire There are many ways to have an impact on the community. We have top-notch columnists who will make you laugh, and make you think, and are looking out for you. JOHN ROMANO I’ve been a beat writer and a feature writer. I’ve written metro columns and op-ed columns. And of all the jobs I’ve done in a newsroom, none can compare to being a sports columnist. Because, the way I see it, my job is to be your best friend on the next barstool. The guy who loves to dissect games, interpret moves, anticipate outcomes, talk trash and, every so often, shed a tear with you in sorrow or joy.
Engaging with our readers We continue to seek out opportunities to collaborate with our community, including forming
SUBSCRIBE TO STEPHANIE’S NEWSLETTER HERE:
Stephinitely
STEPHANIE HAYES This world can feel so heavy, especially lately. Need I list the reasons? My goal as a columnist is to inject a little levity into the room, like an aunt who is always breaking up fights between the cousins. I marinate on the absurdity of life, which I assure you, is plentiful. Going to the grocery store, doing a home renovation, trying to get through the 2020s without ending up a meme - these are tragically comical things. If I can make a reader laugh, I’ve succeeded. If I can make a reader think, I’ve done one better.
a Community Reader Panel, a group of about 50 readers who meet quarterly with senior leaders from the Tampa Bay Times newsroom. The group was created as a new way to interact with avid consumers of our news products and discuss. Read about it here
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Audience Impact With so many changes to the distribution and frequency of Tampa Bay Times’ publications, it would be natural to think its reach and impact has changed as well. However, Times publications reach roughly the same percentage of people in the Tampa Bay area today as they did six years ago, albeit in many new formats. Nearly one third of adults in the 10 counties in and around the fast-growing Tampa Bay area have read a Tampa Bay Times product in the past 30 days.
PERCENTAGE OF ADULTS WHO READ A TIMES PRODUCT 35% 29%
31%
28%
31%
31%
DIGITAL SUBSCRIBERS
21% 79%
BY LOCATION
As the website and app audience has grown, so have digital-only subscriptions. Nearly 28,000 people now subscribe to the Times solely for its digital products. The number continues to build. Digital subscriptions have allowed many subscribers who live outside the Tampa Bay area to pay for access. More than a fifth of all digital subscribers live outside the state of Florida.
PRINT + DIGITAL VALUE
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Source: Nielsen Scarborough Survey Data - Tampa Bay, 10-county market
What has changed dramatically is the format. While daily print readership has declined, the audience for tampabay.com, the e-Newspaper and associated apps have increased. There is also strong growth in newsletter subscriptions and consumption.
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Inside Florida Outside Florida
More print subscribers are taking advantage of the wealth of digital products the Times publishes. Today, nearly half of all print subscribers also read the Times’ digital products. For the past two years the Times has worked to inform subscribers of the full value included in their subscription. When print readers also engage digitally, it’s both a value to them and to the Times. Readers report higher levels of satisfaction in their subscription overall and tend to keep their subscription for a longer period of time. As a supporter of the Times and its mission, you can help us by spreading the word on the many ways the Times publishes its quality journalism.
MORE IN THE FAMILY
While the Tampa Bay Times is the largest publication in our company, it certainly isn’t the only one. Times Publishing Company publishes a number of targeted newspapers, magazines and associated websites. For more than half a century, our Tampa Bay and Suncoast Newspaper division has served more than a dozen communities from the St. Pete Beach Beacon in south Pinellas County to the Brooksville Beacon in Hernando County. And we are growing! In 2021, the Carrollwood Beacon was added, marking the division’s first title in Hillsborough County, with more publications planned for the coming years. We serve the business community across the state with our award-winning Florida Trend magazine. The glossy print publication and website dive deep into the economic engines of the Sunshine State. Florida’s most influential business executives, government officials and local leaders from Miami to Tallahassee turn to Florida Trend’s insightful reporting on economic development, job creation and quality of life.
Learn more
A variety of our titles cover a wide range of lifestyle and career interests. Bay magazine beautifully illustrates the latest trends in food, fashion and decor distinctive to the Suncoast, while the weekly Thunderbolt serves the men and women at MacDill Air Force Base who honorably serve us all. The formats and frequencies may change, but the mission of the Times Publishing Company remains the same. To report with honesty, integrity and purpose for a better Tampa Bay. Thursday, October 1, 2020
Vol. 48, No. 40
The Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education program (NIE) serves educators, students and families in the Tampa Bay area by providing classrooms sets of the Tampa Bay Times plus award-winning original educational publications, teacher guides, lesson plans, professional development opportunities for teachers and much more – all at no cost to schools, teachers or families.
News/Features: page 2 Gold Star Family Day
Tampa Bay Times Newspaper in Education
2020-2021
IMPACT
NIE served 1,266 teachers at 512 public, private, alternative and home schools in Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco and Pinellas counties.
NIE provided more than 300,000 e-Newspaper licenses each week, for a total of 12,396,000 licenses.
NIE provided 406,000 print copies of the Tampa Bay Times
The Tampa Bay Times produces 24 consumer events annually, including home shows, boat shows, bridal shows, job fairs, senior expos, women’s expos and more. tampabayexpos.com The Times is the producer and promoter. We set, sell and stage these events throughout the region. We have helped to grow both small and large businesses. Presented by
In 2021, more than 1,400 local businesses participated in Timesproduced events and more than 100,000 people attended. Area brick-and-mortar businesses are the heartbeat of our community – we strive to help deliver ways for them to succeed.
News/Features: page 3
927th cops wrap training
News/Features: page 3 Virtual Fall Meeting
Week in photos: page 4 Images from the week
Spouses introduced to the mission - page 6 Photo by Staff Sgt. Adam R. Shanks
Community: page 11 Events, Chapel, more...
Presented by
Presented by
Presented by
Presented by
Presented by
tampabaybridalexpos.com
tampabayjobfair.com
tampabayholidaymarket.com
tampabayboatshows.com
tampabayhomeshows.com
Presented by
tampabayseniorexpo.com
Senior-leadership spouses with the 6th Air Refueling Wing speak with members of the 6th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron and 91st Air Refueling Squadron during an immersion tour at MacDill Air Force Base Sept. 24. The tour provided spouses, who may be new to the base, an in-depth look at the wing’s mission and familiarize them with base services and operations.
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CommunityVoices The Tampa Bay Times is a critical partner helping tell the stories of our children and families and connecting our mission to the greater Tampa Bay community. We were thrilled to be invited by the Tampa Bay Times to take a walk-through of their space to see what items might benefit Creative Clay’s studios. We came out with a donation of 30 beautiful cushy office chairs, two enormous dry erase white boards and a great cork board for our studios. The member artists at Creative Clay absolutely love the comfortable chairs and our teachers are enjoying the large white boards as well. Thank you, Tampa Bay Times, for all you do for our community. We are so very grateful!
Chris Steinocher President & CEO St. Pete Chamber
Kim Dohrman, CEO Creative Clay
The Tampa Bay Times is a vital component of the Tampa Bay Community. Having a newspaper that is of the stature and reputation as the Times helps our business community stay informed and connected. The traditional newspaper is stronger than ever with the Tampa Bay Times. Bob ~ Dr. Bob Rohrlack CCE, President & CEO
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“There’s a great sense of confidence and care we have as a Chamber due to our partnership with the Tampa Bay Times. They have helped ensure our new members are welcomed and seen by their community of readers and offer expert consultative marketing insights and support to our small business community. Every great community has a great newspaper and we’ve been blessed with the Times.”
(Stephanie’s column) Thank you so much for the reminder that joy still exists and there is beauty and comfort in ordinary things. Lisa Johnson
“Academy Prep is transforming the lives of underserved middle school students in our community. Thanks to our partnerships with organizations like the Tampa Bay Times, our scholars were able to have productive and stellar academic years even through the daunting protocols necessitated by the pandemic. Our scholars have continued to maintain success through high school, postsecondary school and throughout their careers because of the opportunities made available to them through our partners.” Gina Tanase Burkett, Head of School Academy Prep St. Pete
Partnerships & Collaborations You might have seen some of those stories.
More and more, the Tampa Bay Times is building community and media partnerships and relying on grant funding to make our newsroom stronger. We’re thankful to those organizations that have put dollars and faith in us, including the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg. The local nonprofit, focused on race equity, has provided grant funding for two reporting positions at the Times, one on health equity and one on systems and race. Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
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A Special Connection Looking back on a long career at this newspaper, I take great pleasure in many things that have happened, but I am most proud of something that didn’t happen. I came to the Times as a reporter in 1978, the year that Nelson Poynter died. He was the last individual to own this company, and he was incredibly farsighted about the future of newspapers.
And this community still has an independent news company that cares first and foremost about the people and the future of Tampa Bay. It has not always been easy to preserve that extraordinary legacy. A corporate raider, the Great Recession and the internet economy have all presented themselves as challenges. This is not a business for the faint of heart.
Mr. Poynter recognized that when their owners died, local newspapers often wound up in the hands of chains, and he wanted the Times to remain independent and rooted here in Tampa Bay. So, Mr. Poynter did something generous and bold: when he died, he gave the Times away.
Look around the Florida landscape. Every newspaper of any size has changed hands, some more than once, many just in the last five years. All of them are owned by corporations based outside Florida, some of them hedge funds.
Winner of 13 Pulitzer Prizes Forty-four years after his death, the Times is still owned by a journalism school that Mr. Poynter created, based in St. Petersburg.
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The exception is your newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times. Since Mr. Poynter died, it has become the leading news organization in Florida, branching out from print to digital forms of journalism, keeping our focus on Tampa Bay. Thanks to the Times, local kids have stronger teeth and healthy futures because there is fluoride in the drinking water. The people of Clearwater know that Scientologists have bought up properties throughout downtown, while the church’s plan is shrouded in mystery. Police in Tampa and Pasco County scaled back aggressive programs that targeted poor
people and minorities. And our children’s hospital has a heart surgery program that can help sick babies, not hurt them. The impact of the Times on this community goes back more than a century. The chain of parks that stretches along Tampa Bay in St. Petersburg is a civic treasure that traces directly to the crusading journalism of an early Times editor. Perhaps our reporting today will have such influence that lasts for generations. Our work would be impossible without the support from you, our friends. Subscriptions and advertising remain the lifeblood of our business, but during these last few years, donations have helped provide a margin of excellence for journalism at the Times. On behalf of all my colleagues at this extraordinary place, I thank you for your generous support, and I hope you will take real pleasure in the difference you are making – not just at the Times, but in the Tampa Bay region that all of us call home.
Paul Tash, Chairman
Dear Tampa Bay Times community, We asked for your support in 2021. You answered by giving. Your generosity was humbling. Here in Tampa Bay we have a vibrant news ecosystem, with more ways to read our journalism than ever. The community turns to us to get information on their favorite sports teams, what to do and where to eat, but also how to stay safe and healthy in a pandemic. Our news reporting has a huge impact on civic affairs and we strive to approach every story with independence and fairness. Through various campaigns, grants and partnerships you have helped us raise more than $750,000 to support our journalism. We continue to strive to reach our goal of raising over $1 million to fund our investigative team, which we will use to carry on our role as an important watchdog for this community.
Here are ways you can make a tax-deductible donation: www.tampabay.com/donate Send a check to: Tampa Bay Times Journalism Fund/Investigative Fund c/o Poynter Institute 801 Third Street South St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Your support of the Tampa Bay Times ensures our region will continue to grow and prosper. Thank you! 2021 Pulitzer Prize winner for local reporting - Targeted
Annica Keeler Director of Development and Community Relations
Read about it here
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TOGETHER WE ARE THE TIMES.
