Editing WTSP (section)

===News operation===
WTSP presently broadcasts 30 hours of locally produced newscasts each week (with five hours each weekday, two hours on Saturdays and three hours on Sundays). Channel 10's on-air staff during its early years included [[Dick Crippen]], who originally served as weathercaster and then sports anchor (and had also hosted a children's program on the station, ''Space Station 10''); Marshall Cleaver, Al Stockmeyer, Art Johnson, who served as news anchors; and Karol Kelly as a weather anchor. Cleaver was the original news anchor for much of the 1960s and early 1970s, when the station's newscasts were called ''NewsNight''. In 1975, former WFLA-TV anchor [[Arch Deal]] became the station's news director and co-anchored ''[[Eyewitness News]]'' with Cleaver. Cleaver was removed in 1977, and Deal continued to anchor until channel 10's newscasts were rebranded as ''Action NewsCenter'', a format similar to the newscasts on [[WTHR]] in [[Indianapolis]] at the time, with former WTVT anchors Rod Challenger and Gary Rebstock along with Rick Moore. WLCY broadcast the first 5:30&nbsp;p.m. newscast in the Tampa Bay market during the late 1970s up until September 15, 1980, when the newscast was moved to 6 p.m. Beginning in 1979, [[Don Harrison]], [[Wally Kinnan]] and Dick Crippen became the new anchors of channel 10's evening newscasts. Ratings surged, making the Tampa Bay market more competitive.

In late 1982, news anchor Don Harrison left WTSP to become an anchor for CNN2 (now [[HLN (TV channel)|HLN]]). John Wilson and Liz Ayers replaced Harrison as anchor. On January 9, 1983, Sheryl Browne joined Wilson at the anchor desk on ''Action News'', rounding out the station's main anchor team. Longtime WTSP chief [[meteorologist]] [[Dick Fletcher]] joined the station in March 1980 and became famous for his forecasting during [[Hurricane Elena]] in 1985. Award-winning reporter Mike Deeson, legendary sports anchor Ken Broo and feature reporter Bill Campbell, famous for his "Campbell's Corner" segments, bolstered the station in the 1980s. WTSP became the second Tampa Bay area station to launch an hour-long 6 p.m. newscast in 1986 (rival WTVT had been the first to do so many years earlier and WTSP attempted it in an effort to pass WTVT to the top of the local news ratings; however, the effort only lasted until 1987).

However, the station's reputation suffered a serious blow when in the fall of 1988, new assistant news director Michael Shapiro, previously employed at WTVT, began surreptitiously spying on and deleting files from WTVT's newsroom computer system via an unchanged temporary password. Additionally, Shapiro apparently broke into WTVT news director Jim West's office and copied sensitive information from West's computer. By January 1989, the case was being covered by the national news media. Charges were brought against Shapiro and WTSP's news director Terry Cole, but ultimately both sides agreed to settle; Shapiro and Cole were both fired that April.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://big13.com/Spy%20in%20The%20Newsroom/bytes_1.htm|title=Spy In The Newsroom|website=big13.com|access-date=May 6, 2019|archive-date=May 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190505165700/http://www.big13.com/Spy%20in%20The%20Newsroom/bytes_1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/20/us/2-get-probation-in-computer-crime.html|title=2 Get Probation in Computer Crime|date=May 20, 1989|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 6, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506132348/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/20/us/2-get-probation-in-computer-crime.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/11/us/2-accused-of-computer-crimes-in-tv-rivalry.html|title=2 Accused of Computer Crimes in TV Rivalry|date=May 11, 1989|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 6, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506132347/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/11/us/2-accused-of-computer-crimes-in-tv-rivalry.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/23/Station-agrees-to-out-of-court-settlement/6910611899200/|title=Station agrees to out-of-court settlement|website=UPI|language=en|access-date=May 6, 2019|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506132345/https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/05/23/Station-agrees-to-out-of-court-settlement/6910611899200/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Cole was replaced by Mel Martin, who set out to restore the station's credibility and improve morale; as part of this effort, on June 4, 1989, the newscasts were rebranded as ''NewsCenter 10'', concurrent with the debut of a 5 p.m. newscast. Longtime anchor John Wilson left the station in September 1993 for WTVT (staying there until his retirement in 2014), and Pat Minarcin replaced him as lead anchor shortly afterwards alongside Sue Zelenko; this team stayed in place through the station's switch to CBS.

In January 1998, Reginald Roundtree replaced Pat Minarcin as the lead male anchor of WTSP's newscasts (by then, known as ''10 News''); Minarcin later sued the station for age discrimination. On October 14, 2002, the station launched a new news format and image, with a new red color scheme (teased in promos stating "You'll be seeing red") and slogan ("Enjoy it, we do.") used in promos, as well as a new 4 p.m. lifestyle show, ''Life Around the Bay''; a new, state-of-the-art digital newsroom was also constructed for WTSP's news staff. In 2005, the station debuted "Vortex", a powerful new forecasting tool. On January 14, 2008, WTSP became the third station in the Tampa Bay market (behind WFTS-TV and WFLA-TV) to begin broadcasting its local newscasts in [[high-definition television|high definition]]; with the conversion came a brand-new news set (designed by Jack Morton Design/PDG), graphics and music package. In September 2008, Chris Suchan replaced morning meteorologist Anna Allen, who had been at the station since 2004. Soon after, [[Tammie Souza]] was named chief meteorologist, taking longtime chief meteorologist Dick Fletcher's place after he died from a stroke in February. On October 9, 2008, WTSP began using Gannett's then-new standardized news music (composed by Rampage Music New York) and graphics package (designed by Gannett Graphics Group).

On April 1, 2009, WTSP fired longtime anchor Marty Matthews (who had been anchor of the station's 4 p.m. newscast and a feature reporter for the "Wednesday's Child" [[child adoption]] segment prior to her firing) due to budget cuts imposed by Gannett; Matthews had controversially been informed of her termination in a [[manila envelope]] sent to her by the station.<ref name="Anchor Marty Matthews out at WTSP-Ch. 10">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/04/marty-matthews-out-as-4-pm-anchor-at-wtspch-10.html |title=Anchor Marty Matthews out at WTSP-Ch. 10 |access-date=April 1, 2009 |work=Tampabay.com |archive-date=August 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100808023449/http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/04/marty-matthews-out-as-4-pm-anchor-at-wtspch-10.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> The previous year, WTSP fired weekend anchor Jennifer Howe, weekend meteorologist Randy Rauch and Anna Allen.<ref name="Anchor Marty Matthews out at WTSP-Ch. 10" /> The 4 p.m. newscast was later canceled, and Matthews' former co-anchor Dave Wirth became the station's lead sports anchor<ref name="blogs.tampabay.com">{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/05/wtspch-10-confirms-dave-wirth-will-take-over-as-stations-lead-sports-anchor.html |title=WTSP-Ch. 10 confirms Dave Wirth will take over as station's lead sports anchor |access-date=May 12, 2009 |archive-date=May 17, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090517113620/http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2009/05/wtspch-10-confirms-dave-wirth-will-take-over-as-stations-lead-sports-anchor.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (Wirth had been a sports anchor for the station for 20 years, until moving to the news desk in 2004<ref name="blogs.tampabay.com" />).

WTSP's news ratings at 11 p.m. increased during the May 2009 sweeps period, edging out WFLA for first place. In June 2009, the station entered into a [[Local News Service]] agreement with Fox-owned WTVT and Scripps-owned WFTS-TV to share news video for use in each of the stations' own reports.<ref>[http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/30900/fox-scripps-to-pool-news-in-3-markets Fox, Scripps to Pool News in 3 Markets] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103144355/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/30900/fox-scripps-to-pool-news-in-3-markets |date=November 3, 2013 }}, ''TVNewsCheck'', April 1, 2009.</ref><ref>[http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/32697/next-to-news-share-tampa-la Next To News Share: Tampa, L.A.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103145301/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/32697/next-to-news-share-tampa-la |date=November 3, 2013 }}, ''TVNewsCheck'', June 2, 2009.</ref> As part of this new arrangement, WTSP stopped using its helicopter "Sky 10" on August 1, 2009;<ref>[http://flnewscenter.com/?p=317 Sky 10 is officially grounded...] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923175317/http://flnewscenter.com/?p=317 |date=September 23, 2010 }}, Florida News Center, February 2, 2009.</ref> it, WTVT and WFTS began sharing a single news helicopter ("Action Air One") to cover news events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.flnewscenter.com/|title=WTVT & WFTS share Helicopter for news|access-date=December 6, 2006|archive-date=December 5, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205025751/http://flnewscenter.com/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 26, 2010, the station's newscasts reverted to the ''10 News'' branding, along with the resurrection of the station's previous logo. The about-face was the result of WTSP switching to a more-traditional news formula, as well as the fact that the "10 Connects" moniker was not understood by many viewers.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2010/07/citing-viewer-confusion-local-cbs-affiliate-changes-slogan-from10-connects-to10-news-.html |title=St. Petersburg Times: "Citing viewer confusion, local CBS affiliate changes name from 10 Connects to 10 News", July 29, 2010. |access-date=July 31, 2010 |archive-date=August 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801173125/http://blogs.tampabay.com/media/2010/07/citing-viewer-confusion-local-cbs-affiliate-changes-slogan-from10-connects-to10-news-.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In August 2010, veteran former WFLA-TV anchor Bill Ratliff joined the station as a political analyst. In February 2011, radio talk show host [[Bubba the Love Sponge]] began a nightly editorial segment, "Bring it on Bubba",  on WTSP's 11 p.m. newscast.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2011 |title=Bring It On Bubba - Pill Mills |url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/home/bring-it-on-bubba-pill-mills/67-388017455 |website=www.wtsp.com |access-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-date=March 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314005454/https://www.wtsp.com/article/home/bring-it-on-bubba-pill-mills/67-388017455 |url-status=live }}</ref> On September 12, 2011, WTSP debuted a half-hour news program at 9 a.m. as an extension of the station's existing weekday morning newscast, using the anchors and meteorologist of the earlier 5–7 a.m. news block.<ref>[http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/st-petersburgs-wtsp-ch-10-debut-9-am-newscast-monday St. Petersburg's WTSP-Ch. 10 to debut 9 a.m. newscast on Monday] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307221315/http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/media/content/st-petersburgs-wtsp-ch-10-debut-9-am-newscast-monday |date=March 7, 2012 }}, ''[[St. Petersburg Times]]'', September 8, 2011.</ref>

In December 2012, WTSP became one of the first Gannett stations to implement a new standard graphics package designed by The Mill. The new graphics use a horizontal design influenced by website and [[mobile app]] designs, and utilize color-coded tabs to represent certain categories of topics—matching those used by then-sister publication ''[[USA Today]]''.<ref name=tvnc-newgraphics>{{cite web|title=Gannett Stations Clean Up Their Graphics|date=January 15, 2013|url=http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/64783/gannett-stations-clean-up-their-graphics|publisher=TVNewsCheck|access-date=January 16, 2013|archive-date=January 18, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118211615/http://www.tvnewscheck.com/article/64783/gannett-stations-clean-up-their-graphics|url-status=live}}</ref>

On April 18, 2017, WTSP underwent a significant re-launch of its news department, renaming its morning and late-night broadcasts ''10 News Brightside'' and ''10 News Nightside'' respectively. The new formats place a larger focus upon stories trending on social media; at the same time, new anchors were introduced for the morning news, including Jackie Fernandez (who previously worked at ABC affiliate WEWS-TV in [[Cleveland]]), [[Rob Finnerty]], and meteorologist Grant Gilmore (who came over from sister station [[WFMY]] in [[Greensboro, North Carolina]], also a CBS affiliate).<ref name="tbt-newformat">{{cite web|title=10News WTSP ditches traditional newcasts for viral focus, introduces new anchors|url=https://www.tampabay.com/features/media/10news-wtsp-ditches-traditional-newcasts-for-viral-focus-introduces-new/2320734/|website=Tampa Bay Times|access-date=April 19, 2017|archive-date=April 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419043812/http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/10news-wtsp-ditches-traditional-newcasts-for-viral-focus-introduces-new/2320734|url-status=live}}</ref> Now, ''Brightside'' is anchored by Caitlin Lockerbie, who started in the summer of 2019 coming from [[WATN-TV]] in [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]] and Frank Wiley who came in from WEWS in early 2021 after Finnerty left to join [[Newsmax]].<ref name="Caitlin Lockerbie's Bio">{{cite web|url=https://www.wtsp.com/article/about-us/team-bios/caitlin-lockerbie/67-4560be0b-cff5-494c-993f-32514194b41f|title=Caitlin Lockerbie's Bio|website=wtsp.com|date=June 17, 2019|accessdate=March 25, 2021|archive-date=March 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240314005426/https://www.wtsp.com/article/about-us/team-bios/caitlin-lockerbie/67-4560be0b-cff5-494c-993f-32514194b41f|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Notable former on-air staff====
* [[Bubba the Love Sponge]] – commentator (2011–2012)
* [[Michelle Caruso-Cabrera]] – reporter (1994–1998; later at [[CNBC]])
* [[Dick Crippen]] – sports director (1965–1981; later with rival [[WFLA-TV]] and [[Spectrum Sports (Florida)|Spectrum Sports]]; since retired)
* [[Mike Deeson]] – investigative reporter (1982–2017)
* [[Rich Fields]] – meteorologist<ref>[https://richfields.tv/meteorology RICH FIELDS - METEOROLOGY] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220302043403/https://richfields.tv/meteorology |date=March 2, 2022 }} Retrieved March 1, 2022</ref>
* [[Rob Finnerty]] – morning anchor (2016–2020; now a morning anchor for [[Newsmax]])
* [[Dick Fletcher]] – chief meteorologist (1980–2008; deceased)
* [[Gina Gaston]] – anchor/reporter (now at [[KTRK-TV]] in [[Houston]])
* [[Alita Guillen]] – reporter/substitute anchor (1997–1998; last at [[WBBM-TV]])
* [[Don Harrison]] – anchor (1979–1982; later with [[Headline News]]; deceased)
* [[Wally Kinnan]] – chief meteorologist (1978–1980; deceased)
* [[Dion Lim]] – evening anchor (2014–2017)
* [[Miles O'Brien (journalist)|Miles O'Brien]] – reporter (1984–1986; now a science correspondent for the ''[[PBS NewsHour]]'')
* [[Noah Pransky]] – investigative reporter (2009–2019)
* [[Simeon Rice]] – co-host of ''The Blitz'', local NFL pregame show for 2021 season
* [[Craig Sager]] – weatherman and sports anchor/reporter (1975–1976; later with [[Turner Sports]]; deceased)
* [[Tammie Souza]] – chief meteorologist (2008–2011; now fill-in for [[WBBM-TV]] Chicago and [[KYW-TV]] Philadelphia)