In the Tampa Bay news ecosystem, there are few bylines as active as Mark Parker’s.
For nearly five years, his work covering municipal issues carried much of St. Pete Catalyst, and now, after a short stint freelancing (with one byline at Creative Loafing Tampa Bay, in full disclosure), Parker is now editor-in-chief at a new, non-paywalled publication.
Tampa Bay Reporter is published by “Fast Pitch” organizer and venture capital firm founder Scott Kelly and has been online since late-September. In that short time, Parker, unsurprisingly, has published nearly 50 stories on his own, covering everything from St. Pete’s connection to a lawsuit involving the rapper Drake, the St. Pete mayoral race, breweries, cemeteries, and more.
The pub officially launches with a party in St. Pete where Kelly and Parker will share their plans and meet readers while a Bon Jovi cover band takes the stage.
This article appears in Oct. 22 – 28, 2026.
