Rick Mayer
Digital ProducerI’m the online producer for Health News Florida, a collaboration of public radio stations and NPR that delivers news about health care issues.
This is an important position at WUSF. In 2019, the typical U.S. family spent about 11 percent of its annual income on health care, so it stands to reason issues of cost, quality, access and innovation are consequential to all Floridians. Then COVID-19 came along, and the weight of these matters gained exponentially. I take our reporting on these topics quite seriously, as I’m sure you do, too.
Literally growing up in newsrooms and a little serendipity along the way prepared me well for the post. Here’s the abridged version: I’m a Tampa guy, graduating from H.B. Plant High and thrust into the world with my USF degree rolled tightly in hand. From there, it was three mostly sleepless decades as an editor at The Tampa Tribune, then developing and managing an online journal serving physician executives. There’s also my side job editing a statewide health magazine.
And being married to a longtime hospital nurse/case manager helps; dinner conversation often gives me a feel of what’s happening on the front lines. The good and not-so-good.
Of course, my time isn’t always spent flailing in the health news vortex. You’re actually more likely to find me breaking down the Bucs, Bulls or Bolts after a game, taking Oodle the poodle to the dog park or tinkering the backroom piano while vicariously reliving my former life as a musician. (Remember, kids: Parents of percussionists have plenty of patience. Plenty!)
Contact Rick on Twitter @rmayer2361 or by email at Mayer1@wusf.org.
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No restaurants are slated to close. Hooters of America said franchisees or licensing partners would continue to operate all locations. Those franchisees include the Clearwater founders, who own locations in Tampa Bay. -
The basketball will be championship caliber, of course, but don't forget the week's fan festival, concert in the park, pregame parties, and speakers brought in to help empower and equip women in sports and business. -
In an interview with Chris Russo on SiriusXM, commissioner Rob Manfred reiterated that "we believe in the market" and remains hopeful the Trop will be ready for the Rays in 2026. -
Capacity at the Rays' temporary Tampa home will be just over 10,000, about 40% of Tropicana Field’s configuration of 25,025. Nevertheless, it's the 19th straight year the team has sold out the home opener. -
In a matter of five days, workers are preparing the Yankees' spring training site to become the Rays' home for the 2025 season. The Rays say Friday's opener against Colorado is sold out. -
Hodgson comes to the Bulls after quickly turning around the Red Wolves. USF’s announcement called the 37-year-old Hodgson “one of the nation's top recruiters and a rising head coach.” -
Monday's state average of $2.97 was down 13 cents from a week ago, according to AAA, but it quickly rose a day later. -
Protesters in Sarasota call ongoing immigration enforcement policies ‘a slap in the face of America’People gathered at the New College of Florida as border czar Tom Homan appeared with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf to discuss immigration policy. -
After a decade of planning and four years of construction, the traffic switch will occur early Tuesday, weather permitting, on the $865 million, eight-lane span over Old Tampa Bay.
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When roll call was taken, commissioners Leo Longworth, Gary Ball and Laura Simpson decided to stick with fluoride. Tanya Tucker and Mayor Trish Burdin-Pfeiffer voted no.
