Florida Media's Solo Practitioners

Without much effort, says Justin Sayfie, his ‘Sayfie Review’ generates revenue in the six figures. [Photo: Eileen Escarda]

» Aggregating Politics

After leaving Tallahassee and his position as former Gov. Jeb Bush’s communications director, Justin Sayfie found he missed receiving e-mail news updates that a clipping service compiled for the governor’s staff. Sayfie, a Fort Lauderdale attorney, created a website called SayfieReview.com, where he compiled a daily menu of political stories that he gleaned from the websites of newspapers around the state for others who might be interested.

“It was just something I did in my underwear at 5:30 in the morning and never thought about it again for the rest of the day,” says Sayfie. “But to other people it became more significant than I ever would have imagined.”

Six years later, Sayfie says he has 20,000 regular readers, and the site has attracted advertising from trade groups and law, lobbying and PR firms. Without much effort, he says, the site generated just over six figures in 2008, and he’s hired a full-time editor.

Sayfie also now offers an online TV program about Florida issues and politics, “Power Play.” Co-produced by Ron Sachs Communications, a PR firm, the program is one example of the strange-bedfellows world the upheaval in the newspaper industry has created: On the program, Sachs interviews capital bureau journalists from competing papers for a news product run by Sayfie, a GOP fund-raiser and donor.

» In the Courthouse

Scott Barancik

Scott Barancik, a reporter who spent eight years writing about business and litigation for the St. Petersburg Times, wasn’t so sure he wanted another newspaper job when the Times laid him off in May. But he did want to keep doing what he loved: Digging up stories at the courthouse. Within weeks of his pink slip, Barancik started a company called baylawsuits.com, which pores through Tampa Bay-area lawsuits and compiles the most newsworthy into a tipsheet for subscribers. Two newspapers and a TV station have signed up.
» On Healthcare

Carol Gentry

Carol Gentry, a longtime health reporter at several large dailies in Florida and at the Wall Street Journal, two years ago launched the free FloridaHealthNews.com, a non-profit sponsored by the Florida Health Policy Center. Her original reporting on issues such as Cover Florida — the state’s market-based plan to cover the uninsured — beats the newspapers on lots of days.

» On the Field

Steven Isbitts

Steven Isbitts, a former Tampa Tribune reporter, and his freelancer friend Lee Diekemper had always kicked around the idea of a site for hard-core Tampa Bay Buccaneers fans that brought together every mention of the team. They launched JoeBucsFan.com in July 2008. They now get about 10,000 unique visitors a month, which has been enough to sell ads and hire a freelancer and two salespeople. “The sports fan is loyal to the team, not to the publication,” says Isbitts. “To serve the reader, give them everything you can about the Bucs, including your own best commentary and writing.” In January, they launched JoeBoltsFan.com for fans of the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team. Coming later this month: JoeRaysFan.com, covering the Tampa Bay Rays.

» On the Environment

Bruce Ritchie

Bruce Ritchie, an environmental reporter at Florida newspapers for the past 15 years, was laid off from the Tallahassee Democrat in December but kept covering the beat on his blog, Florida Environmental News (bruceritchie.com). Ritchie is researching business models for a statewide environmental news service.

» On State Government

David Royse

David Royse, a 10-year veteran of the Associated Press bureau in Tallahassee, left last year to run NewsServiceFlorida.com, a subscription-only product owned by State House News Service of Boston. The service offers in-depth coverage of the Florida Legislature and regulatory agencies.