Speak Up, Tampa Bay, Tampa, FL 1996
Partners:
WTVT-TV (Fox)
Weekly Planet Alternative Paper
WMNF Community Radio
Tampa Chapter of National Conference
The partners sought to bring civic journalism to the Tampa Bay area through a series of four jointly sponsored town hall forums and the encouragement of smaller “kitchen table” discussions in citizens’ homes. The forums were aided by “Speak Up, Tampa Bay,” a group of citizens brought together as an advisory board on civic journalism to WTVT and the Weekly Planet. The group evolved into an independent body focused on engaging citizens in deliberative dialogue by hosting forums and small group discussions on Bay area issues and on connecting the media with citizens and their issues.
In addition to the forums, the partners inaugurated the Good Community Alliance, bringing together a group of civic organizations and social service agencies to share resources and work on joint projects. The Alliance included the partners and other media organizations and sought to improve coverage of activities and events that were the basis for much of the community’s civic life.
Contacts:
Ben Eason
President and CEO
Creative Loafing
1310 E. 9th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33605
TEL: (813) 248-8888
FAX: (813) 248-9999
EMAIL: ben.eason@creativeloafing.com