CL: In your time either in Tampa or Tallahassee, what stories are ones that stand out for you, for whatever reason?
JZ: Specific stories don't stand out so much as experiences I've been lucky to have as a reporter. Some particularly memorable moments in recent years were counting sea horses with researchers at Fort DeSoto, traveling with John McCain during the 2008 presidential election, being on the field during half time at the Super Bowl in Tampa and watching Rick Scott make his public image transformation.
3) You are well respected in Tampa Bay, which has made you a valuable reporter at the paper. To what do you attribute your success to?
JZ: I think some of the qualities that allowed me to succeed as a reporter are being curious, persistent, fair and kind. A natural curiosity made it easy to ask questions about how things work, what people are thinking and why they do what they do. When working on a story, I called multiple people incessantly to get information, and asked the same questions in different ways, sometimes of the same source, to get the best, most honest responses. Being fair and kind helped me develop good relationships with my sources even if a story might be unflattering, and, actually, especially in those cases. I always tried to be conscious of how people would feel about having their lives, thoughts and mistakes revealed to the masses. I also tried not to take cheap shots at people and write about topics that I thought readers should be aware of to help them assess the work our elected leaders were doing.
CL: You became one of the paper's more prolific bloggers, posting stories to the Bay Buzz and Buzz Blog. Without criticizing others, why do you believe that you were so prolific there, and others with the paper haven't been?
JZ: I was able to get the hang of blogging because I'm not afraid of technology, I have the energy to multi-task and do things quickly, and I, personally, am always impatient for immediate and new information so I understood that readers want that, too. Twitter is even more intense, more rapid fire and adds yet another level of communication to a reporter's repertoire. I didn't start tweeting until I got to Tallahassee, and I became fascinated by the digital political community. It's a unique microcosm.
CL: Times employees recently got hit with a 5% pay cut for 5 months. Are you concerned about the industry and/or the viability of the paper, and did that play any part in you leaving the industry?
JZ: The most recent pay cut wasn't a huge contributing factor, but certainly it was part of my thinking when considering whether to leave the newspaper. We're in a tough economy, and newspapers have had the double hit of the recession and technological changes in news delivery that will remain even after the economy recovers. I have faith that the newspaper industry will adjust to the new environment, although I believe daily printed papers will eventually disappear. But journalists play an essential role in our society and are critical to democracy. The desire for good reporting that holds power brokers, businesses and elected officials accountable will never go away. How that information is delivered, though, is changing.You can't even buy a St. Petersburg Times in Tallahassee, so for the past nine months I've read newspapers almost exclusively on my computer and iPhone. I have faith that newspapers will figure out a business model that allows them to generate the revenues necessary to support the people who provide content. But it's going to take a while, five or 10 years. I'm 48 with a daughter in college, and am not particularly interested in struggling financially while the industry figures it out. If I was 28 or 58, I'd probably feel differently.
CL: Why do you want to work at the Aviation Authority/TIA (Besides the fact that you'll be getting a nice raise from your current salary?
JZ: I am lucky that I am going from working for one of the best newspapers in the country to one of the best airports in the country. Whenever I travel, I am always so amazed at how much better Tampa International is then other airports. Just last week, I was flying home from Boston and listening to three women behind me talking about how awesome the Tampa airport is. So it's a facility I can be proud of working for. And in these difficult times, I can feel good about working for a huge driver of our local economy. TIA keeps 24,000 people working and has a $2.4 billion economic impact. The new executive director, Joe Lopano, is totally cool, and we have similar energy. So I think it will be fun working with him, and exciting to be part of his efforts to bring in more international flights and make TIA an even better airport. Just like working at the newspaper, I'll be helping to make the Tampa Bay community, which has been my home for 30 years and that I deeply love, an even better place to live.
CL: How did you like working/living in Tallahassee?
JZ: I loved every minute in Tallahassee. It's a beautiful city, more southern than tropical, with lots of hills and trees and wonderful parks. There are a surprising number of great restaurants, and I was a nut for cheap, fresh Appalachicola oysters. I may have to make road trips to Tally just for that. The Legislative session was a huge rush, so exciting and busy in the Capitol.
CL: What's the best part about this move for you? Or are you ambivalent?
I'm excited about a new challenge in a new job and working someplace that plays such a huge role in the Tampa economy. I am also glad to be moving back to Tampa where I have family and dear friends. But, of course, it's bittersweet. I truly loved being a reporter and was so very proud to work for the St. Petersburg Times with some of the most brilliant journalists in the country. I was in awe of my co-workers every day, and it's a big leap to leave a profession that I have found so meaningful and fulfilling. Still, I'm confident this next chapter in my life will also be a growth experience and provide a different type of meaning and fulfillment.
