Florida Trend

Florida Trend is a monthly magazine that is read by business executives, government officials, and civic leaders throughout Florida. Trend has an audited circulation of approximately 50,396 ^[1] copies each month with readership of approximately 250,000. The content includes articles about Florida businesses, leadership profiles, industry reports, and a popular news round-up titled "Around the State." There is additional coverage of Florida restaurants, resorts, professions, the environment and politics.^[2]

Founded in 1958, Florida Trend was the nation's first regional business magazine, a field now served by dozens of titles in states and cities across America. Trend's readers are a veritable who's who of Florida leaders—85% of Trend's subscribers are executives, managers, owners, and professionals. They have an average age of 56 years, average income of $230,000, and average net household worth of $1.97 million.^[3]

In addition to the 12 monthly issues of Florida Trend, the organization publishes numerous speciality annuals such as Business Florida^[4] for the state's economic development interests, Florida Small Business^[5] to help individuals start and grow companies, Research Florida^[6] on the innovation at universities and technology companies, Legal Elite^[7] highlighting the top attorneys in Florida, and Florida NEXT^[8] magazine providing education and career guidance to high school students.

Florida Trend has expanded its popular website FloridaTrend.com^[9] to include a database of business information about the state. For example, the site's section titled "Top Rank Florida" contains lists of companies, industries, colleges and politicians as ranked by income or revenue, size, category and more. The magazine's website also provides two free daily e-newsletters (Daily Pulse & Afternoon Pulse) to online subscribers. The e-newsletters summarize that day's top business stories in Florida and include articles on government, politics, environment, public policy and executive lifestyle.

Florida Trend offers statewide rankings and statistical information on many topics. Every December, the magazine reviews and rates top dining spots in Florida. Florida Trend awards the best with a "Golden Spoon."^[10] The annual "Economic Yearbook" offers insights into Florida's population by age, income, projected population and more.^[11] The Florida Trend 350, which publishes in June, ranks Florida's top public and private companies by revenue. There is also an annual list of "Florida's Best Companies To Work For"—featuring "Best Companies" ranked by the results of a voluntary, anonymous survey administered to employees of small, medium and large companies in Florida.^[12]

Florida Trend has won numerous national and regional awards including the Gerald Loeb award and the Society for Professional Journalists' Green Eyeshade awards^[13] for investigative reporting and commentary. In 2011, Florida Trend won two Green Eyeshade awards — first place for general news reporting for "Medical Makeover" and second place for investigative reporting about Florida's role in international adoptions. Also in 2011, the Alliance of Area Business Publications (AABP)^[14] honored Florida Trend with two Gold awards, four Silvers and two Bronze awards. The AABP national contest included 487 entries from 55 publications.

Trend is based in St. Petersburg, Florida and has additional news and advertising offices in other cities around Florida. Trend is owned by the Times Publishing Company, which is also the parent of the Tampa Bay Times, Florida's largest newspaper. The Times is in turn owned by the Poynter Institute, a school for journalists founded by Nelson Poynter.

Florida Trend is a member of BPA Worldwide, Magazine Publishers Association, Alliance of Area Business Publications, which prominent members include Crain Communications Inc. and Casiano Communications, and Florida Magazine Association.

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