Like most local news media right now, our readership is at an all-time high, but revenues are at a new low.
Since we are a free publication and website, 100% of Creative Loafing Tamp Bay’s revenue comes from locals being able to gather in public — in restaurants, bars, theaters, museums, parks and at our own events and festivals. We've always loved bringing people together and our livelihood depends on it. But now, everything has changed. Advertising revenues from restaurants, bars, theaters, concerts, festivals and retail have completely dried up. And our “side hustle” of events isn’t going to do the trick while we are all practicing healthy social distancing.
To ensure that we can continue to keep our doors open and deliver local news to you for free, we have launched the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club. This donation-based membership group has been created to build a community around our readers and strongest supporters at a time that local media across the country has been struggling, and to help underwrite our work in the face of the devastating loss of revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
We are asking, if you believe in what we do and want to see us continue doing it, that you consider showing your support financially, and join us. We want to meet you at the next local concert or town hall. We want to see you in local restaurants and your favorite Tampa bars. And most of all, we want you to keep reading, and we want to keep informing you, our community, about what’s going on in this city that we call home.
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay is committed to keeping our print and digital products free, and now we’re asking the community we serve to support the local journalism you deserve and have come to expect. This campaign has been in the works for some time, but present circumstances have increased our urgency. Once this passes, we want to make sure we’ll still be here with you. And we appreciate your support.
How do you join? It’s simple -- donate to our Editorial team by clicking on the donate button above or below. You can choose a one-time or recurring monthly donation, in any increment to fit your budget.
What’s in it for you? As if the warm and fuzzy feeling that comes with knowing that you’re supporting local journalism wasn’t enough, you’ll receive exclusive content, perks and swag throughout the year.
At a time when local reporting is critically important, support from our readers is essential to our future. If you’re able to, please join the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club today.
$15-$50 | Covers the cost of three reporters' notebooks or filing a public records request.
Thank you! Thank you! We will think of you when going after that next hard-news story, and you will be added to our exclusive Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club email list for exclusive invitations to special events, special offers for members, and insider info on what’s going on behind the pages of Creative Loafing.
$72 or $6 per month | Covers the cost of attending and covering City Council and County Commission meetings.
Receive a branded car magnet, your name listed as a member in a printed edition of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and on cltampa.com, and a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay membership card which can score you perks. You’ll also be added to our exclusive Press Club email list for exclusive invitations, special offers, and insider info about Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
$120 or $10 per month | Pays for a single copy of the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay for the year.
Each individual paper costs us around $2 to produce, and we give it away for free! Receive a print of cover artwork from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, a branded car magnet, your name listed as a member in a printed edition of the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and on cltampa.com, and a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club membership card which can score you perks. You’ll also be added to our exclusive Press Club email list for exclusive invitations, special offers, and insider info about Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
$240 or $20 per month | Covers the cost of producing and sending our three email newsletters each week.
Receive an invitation to the Best of the Bay Party, a print of cover artwork from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, a branded car magnet, your name listed as a member in a printed edition of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and on cltampa.com, and a Creative Loafing Tampa BayPress Club membership card which can score you perks. You’ll also be added to our exclusive Press Club email list for exclusive invitations, special offers, and insider info about Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
$480 or $40 per month | Covers the cost of a cover illustration created for one of our special issues, such as Best of the Bay or City Guide.
Receive a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay insulated water bottle, an invitation to the Best of the Bay Party, a print of cover artwork from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, a branded car magnet, your name listed as a member in a printed edition of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and on cltampa.com, and a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club membership card which can score you perks. You’ll also be added to our exclusive Press Club email list for exclusive invitations, special offers, and insider info about Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
$960 or $80 per month | Covers the cost of posting our content to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for one week.
Receive a Creative Loafing T-shirt or garment, a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay insulated water bottle, an invitation to the Best of the Bay Party, a print of cover artwork from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, a branded car magnet, your name listed as a member in a printed edition of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and on cltampa.com, and a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club membership card which can score you perks. You’ll also be added to our exclusive Press Club email list for exclusive invitations, special offers, and insider info about Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
$1,920+ or $160+ per month | The cost to distribute the publication for one week.
Receive an invitation to private event with dinner and drinks with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay staff, a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay T-shirt or garment, a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay insulated water bottle, an invitation to the Best of the Bay Party, a print of cover artwork from Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, a branded car magnet, your name listed as a member in a printed edition of the Creative Loafing Tampa Bay and on cltampa.com, and a Creative Loafing Tampa Bay Press Club membership card which can score you perks. You’ll also be added to our exclusive Press Club email list for exclusive invitations, special offers, and insider info about Creative Loafing Tampa Bay.
Provide a one-time or monthly contribution using the button below:
Other ways to support Creative Loafing Tampa Bay:
Follow us on Apple News, Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter
Subscribe to our newsletters
Advertise with Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Support local businesses and our advertisers.
Note: Membership perks will be received at intervals within 4-6 weeks of members hitting the total amount for the qualifying perk in a 12-month period. Those who make one-time donations should expect to receive gifts within 4-6 weeks from contribution.
*Please note that your support of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s journalism does not constitute a charitable donation and does not qualify for a tax deduction. If you have any questions about contributing to Creative Loafing, please contact us at policy(at)cltampa.com.
