Florida Trend, the monthly magazine covering state business and politics, is touting in its daily email an “exclusive” story about a new marketing agreement between developer Jeff Vinik and the University of South Florida.
“The school (has) signed a 10-year, $29-million marketing partnership with Vinik’s newly formed Tampa Bay Entertainment Properties to sell sponsorships, produce Bulls’ radio programs and bring Lightning-style entertainment to USF sporting events.”
That’s the kind of news item any media organization in the region would like to break. But Florida Trend has it as an exclusive.
Florida Trend is owned by the Times Publishing Company, which is also the parent company of the Tampa Bay Times. Vinik acknowledged in July that he was one of four previously unnamed individuals who helped provide a $12 million loan to the Times.
So, to bottom line this, a magazine is touting an “exclusive” story — and a very positive one at that — about the business interests of the individual who just threw a lifeline to the magazine’s publisher.
None of this, by the way, is disclosed in the Trend’s “exclusive” story.
You have to give it to Vinik — his $2 million investment in the Times is already paying dividends.
