Tampa Trib apparently makes deal with Tallahassee paper for FSU coverage

On the heels of the Tampa Tribune debacle in laying off a dependable reporter and leaving a prominent beat -- Florida State -- uncovered, there's word on the hack wire that the newspaper will cover FSU sports by purchasing it from the Seminoles' hometown paper, the Tallahassee Democrat.

I said "purchase."

These are not sister newspapers. Tally is owned by Gannett; Tampa is owned by Media General. From what I am told, this is a contractual deal with cash involved. More details as they become available.

Thoughts? Comments?

 

We've done it before with pro and college content from another paper outside our chain in Northeast Ohio. Of course, it's not quite the same because we're a small-sized paper, not a major metro like the Tribune.

 

I'm sure the Democrat's FSU writer will see his salary increase as a result of his paper's business move.

 

This is bullshit! Why the hell couldn't they kept Scott Carter there and just paid that? That would be cheaper in the end, right? Maybe I'm naive.

 

C'mon budcrew,

you know they aren't going to pay that much for the coverage. Between salary and benefits and expenses to cover games, the Trib was probably paying 80k per year.

I'm guessing they won't pay the TD even 25 percent of that.

 

I'd bet money that you're right. I would guess $10K.

 

I guess that does make sense... I understand there's "business arraignments" and all that, it just sucks.

 

and the writer will see none of it. I hope I'm wrong.

 

And I'm sure that Tally will willingly give up breaking news and exclusives...

 

I've never heard of that type of deal where the writer would get anything significant. The company's rationale is that he wouldn't be doing any more work than he already is.

Years ago I worked for a place that syndicated some of its stuff on the wire, and I guy I knew pretty well came in to interview for one of the major beats. He confided that he was a bit disappointed with the initial offer and I told him, sarcastically, "Don't forget the big one-fifty you get for each story we send out on the wire." His eyes lit up -- he's thinking gamer, notes every day, that's an extra $1,500 per week! I said, "Oh shit. I meant one dollar and 50 cents per story." It was in the Guild contract.