Poynter’s paper publishes first edition as Tampa Bay Times

The St. Petersburg Times officially became the Tampa Bay Times on Sunday, January 1. In a video showing the first editions with the new name coming off the presses, editor Neil Brown said, “We felt for a long time that the region we cover was bigger than one city.” The print edition published Saturday, Dec. 31 paid final tribute to the paper’s name since 1898. || Related: Gallery of historic St. Pete Times front pages

The first editions of the new Tampa Bay Times began rolling off the presses shortly before midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Editor Neil Brown (left) and CEO of Times Publishing Paul Tash (right) read the first edition of the Tampa Bay Times.

In anticipation of the change, new signs now hang in the building.