Freelance Guidelines

Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is always seeking qualified, talented freelancers. If you're interested in freelancing for us, please follow these guidelines.

1. If you haven't already done so, familiarize yourself with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. In features, culture, food, and music, we try not not cover the same subject or topic in a two-year period unless there is a compelling new angle. Regular columns are written by staff or dedicated freelancers. Most other formats are open to freelancers. Please note standard article lengths and take them into consideration when pitching a story.

2. Send a brief cover letter, resume, two relevant writing samples, and at least one story pitch to the appropriate editor. Email queries are encouraged. If your writing samples are archived on the web, you may include links rather than the full text. If they don't paste the content of any attachments into the body of the email. If we are interested, we will respond via email. Patience, persistence, and politeness pay off.

Email your news freelance submissions to:
Ray Roa, Editor-in-chief

3. Editors occasionally assign pieces to freelancers, but successful freelancers also generate interesting story ideas. Pitch early and often.

4. For new writers, we might assign an article on "spec," which means you turn in a completed article. If we like it, we publish it and pay you. If we don't, then the piece does not run and there is no kill fee.

5. When you begin freelancing for us, you will receive additional instructions on topics including deadlines, pay rates, pay schedules, and CL's policies, including a code of ethics.

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Newsletters

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Photos: A look at progress on Tampa’s Elev8 Fun indoor amusement park opening in Citrus Park this summer

Tampa is about to get an indoor amusement park when Elev8 Fun opens in May. The entertainment center concept is currently under…

By Chelsea Zukowski

Elev8 Fun has 18 holes of glow-in-the-dark mini-golf with a Caribbean pirate theme in a clear nod to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
34 slides

Country star Luke Bryan lowers the price on his Florida beach house

Country singer and "American Idol" judge Luke Bryan is still looking to sell his Florida house. Located in Santa Rosa Beach, the…

By CL Staff

Country star Luke Bryan is selling his Florida beach house
58 slides

These vintage photos show how much Tampa's streetcar has changed

In 1885, Tampa’s Streetcars became the first in the entire state, and according to Hillsborough County Senior Planner Diego Guerra they crisscrossed…

By Tyana Rodgers

Streetcar in front of 7th Avenue barn, side view featuring safety messages and slogans in Tampa, Florida on April 19, 1927.
Photo by Burgert Brothers via Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System
26 slides

Photos: Under surveillance, students call for state attorney to drop charges against USF protesters

Students rallied in downtown Tampa on Wednesday afternoon, demanding the State Attorney for Florida's 13th District (SAO13) drop charges against four University…

By Ray Roa

Students outside the office of the State Attorney for Florida's 13th District in Tampa, Florida on March 15, 2023.
48 slides

Digital Issue

March 16, 2023

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