Tampa Bay Business Journal/Bloomberg Media to team up for special issues during RNC

Bridgette Mill, publisher of the Business Journal, said she was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Bloomberg during the RNC, calling the media company "an incredible brand to align with."

The news of that journalistic partnership wasn't the lede for the news conference. No, that was to announce that the Tampa Bay Host Committee would be partnering with Bloomberg for panel discussions featuring CEOs from the region and highlighting the advantages of Florida's business community.

RNC Host Committee CEO Ken Jones said the nature of the panel discussions is still being developed at this time, but said they figure to feature health care, national defense, technology and the economy.

Some of the biggest people in the Tampa business community were at Friday's news conference, including some who are working on a different project aiming to bring attention to local businesses called Front Row Tampa Bay.

Jones said the two groups weren't in competition. "The message is still the same. Come to Florida, come to Tampa. Spend lots of money, and come back as soon as you can."

Jones, a Republican who once worked for former Kansas U.S. Senator Bob Dole, has insisted that his job is not about partisanship but about bringing economic vitality to the Bay area. He said he hoped the Democrats would come to Tampa in the future for a political convention, as well as having the Republicans return.