TBO.com > News > News blog Reports
- Dockery schedules announcement rally
- Frank files for D57 House seat
- It’s official: Eikenberg is Crist campaign manager
- McCollum: I’m focused on running against Sink
- McCollum: I’ve got Jeb
- Dockery, on her decision to run for governor
- Oil drilling forum gets rolling; few lawmakers show
- Today’s number, four: An intersection of golf and signage
- Halloween at the White House
- Bud Chiles won’t run for CFO
- Today’s number, zero: Melaleucas on Florida’s list of champion trees
- Scozzafava withdrawal from NY race may boost Rubio
- Today’s number, 90: Swine flu questions for TBO
- Highest-paid Polk County employees include four elected officials
- Dockery announcing decision next week; no comment on report she’s running
A brief programming note: I have taken a non-journalism job in Tampa and will be leaving the Tribune and TBO.com a week from Friday.
I do not know what the paper/TBO plan to do about staffing the Polk office after I leave. But I do know that Polk has developed a pretty high profile in the Tampa office, particularly on line, but also in print. There’s a lot going on out here, and my bosses and colleagues have come to realize that, I think. And we continue to have Jennifer Leigh, one of the best TV journalists working in Florida today, as our resident Channel 8 reporter out here in Polk. So I’m optimistic.
I am also planning to remain in reporting and commentary as an amateur, taking advantage of the excellent online media infrastructure that has been built here over the past two years. I hope that will allow me to maintain a voice in Polk politics and media. Who knows, I may even be able to offer Tom Palmer the same helpful critiquing service he has so generously provided to me and others over the past year or so.
Stay tuned and thanks for reading. I’ll have something mushy to say later.
I heard CSX and FDOT are throwing a “Go Away” party at Jeb’s house.
Sorry to see you leaving the “professional” world of journalism. Make sure you keep your promise to retain your amateur status.
Awww, shucks Billy! I hate to see you go, but glad to know you’ll still remain “plugged in” to the community. Best of luck!
Good luck. Glad I was able to help you.
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Posted by Daniel Gilbert, AL on 06/17 at 04:13 PM
Billy you will be greatly missed. I wish you the best. Also so that you know, people in Alabama are actually making fun of me being from Polk County. Yes in AL they know of Polk. I have been asked if I knew the fighting cheerleaders many times now. The best is when I was at an establishment that serves my favorite refreshment and a guy said hey polk boy have they caught those monkey’s yet.
We will miss you.