Here is a curated media contact list of 60 Florida journalists, editors, and editorial desks seeking press releases or pitches.
Note: In the journalism industry, beats frequently overlap. While these contacts have been categorized to best fit your requirements, many food writers cover both restaurants and cafés, and travel editors often cover both traditional hotels and experiential hospitality.
🍽️ Restaurants (15 Contacts)
These contacts focus on dining reviews, chef profiles, new restaurant openings, and culinary trends.
Carlos Frías – Food & Dining Editor, Miami Herald
Focus: Restaurant news, James Beard award-winning coverage in South Florida.
Contact: cfrias@miamiherald.com
Helen Freund – Senior Food & Dining Critic, Tampa Bay Times
Focus: Restaurant reviews and major dining trends in the Tampa Bay area.
Contact: hfreund@tampabay.com
Nicole Lopez-Alvar – Food & Drink Editor, Miami New Times
Focus: Restaurant openings, local eateries, and dining news in Miami.
Contact: nicole.lopez-alvar@miaminewtimes.com
Faiyaz Kara – Restaurant Critic, Orlando Weekly
Focus: Honest restaurant reviews and culinary scene deep-dives in Orlando.
Contact: fkara@orlandoweekly.com
Michelle Stark – Food & Dining Editor, Tampa Bay Times
Focus: Restaurant news, the "Top 50 Restaurants" list, and food features.
Contact: mstark@tampabay.com
Olee Fowler – Contributor / Former Editor, Eater Miami
Focus: High-level South Florida restaurant industry news and brand narratives.
Contact: olee@oleefowler.com
Amy Drew Thompson – Food & Dining Reporter, Orlando Sentinel
Focus: Central Florida restaurant openings, reviews, and chef interviews.
Contact: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Mike Mayo – Dining Critic, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Focus: Broward and Palm Beach county restaurant reviews and dining columns.
Contact: mmayo@sun-sentinel.com
Liz Balmaseda – Food & Dining Editor, The Palm Beach Post
Focus: Palm Beach dining, upscale restaurants, and local food news.
Contact: lbalmaseda@pbpost.com
Lauren Titus – Editor, Edible Northeast Florida
Focus: Farm-to-table restaurants, sustainability, and local chefs in Jacksonville.
Contact: lauren@ediblenortheastflorida.com
Gretchen Scott – Publisher / Editorial Desk, Edible South Florida
Focus: South Florida food culture, local agriculture, and restaurant sourcing.
Contact: info@ediblesouthflorida.com
Cooper Levey-Baker – Dining Editor, Sarasota Magazine
Focus: Sarasota and Manatee county restaurant reviews and food news.
Contact: cooperl@sarasotamagazine.com
Mark Spivak – Food & Wine Editor, Naples Illustrated
Focus: Fine dining, luxury restaurant experiences, and wine in Naples.
Contact: mspivak@naplesillustrated.com
Ray Roa – Editor-in-Chief / Food Desk, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Focus: Tampa Bay food scene, independent restaurants, and cultural dining.
Contact: rroa@cltampa.com
Virginia Chamlee – Food Writer, Jacksonville Magazine
Focus: Northeast Florida dining guides, restaurant profiles, and chef features.
Contact: mail@jacksonvillemag.com (ATTN: Dining)
☕ Cafés (15 Contacts)
These contacts focus on casual dining, coffee shops, bakeries, breakfast spots, and lifestyle/neighborhood news.
Meaghan Habuda – Assistant Food & Dining Editor, Tampa Bay Times
Focus: Casual eats, cafes, bakeries, and local food roundups.
Contact: mhabuda@tampabay.com
Virginia Gil – Editor, Time Out Miami
Focus: Best coffee shops, brunch spots, and daytime neighborhood hangouts.
Contact: virginia.gil@timeout.com
Laine Doss – Food Writer / Editor, Broken Palate (Former Miami New Times)
Focus: Casual food news, unique cafe concepts, and spirits.
Contact: Pitch via Broken Palate website / LinkedIn
Pamela DeLoatch – Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville)
Focus: Community eateries, coffee culture, and local bakeries.
Contact: pdeloatch@jacksonville.com
Gisel Abrahams – Managing Editor, Fort Lauderdale Magazine
Focus: "Light bites," local cafe spotlights, and lifestyle food features.
Contact: gisel@flmag.com
Katie Farmand – Editor, Edible Orlando
Focus: Artisan coffee roasters, local bakeries, and community cafes.
Contact: katie@edibleorlando.com
Celia Almeida – Senior Editor, Culture, Miami New Times
Focus: Neighborhood culture, cafe pop-ups, and community spaces.
Contact: celia.almeida@miaminewtimes.com
Jesse Scott – Freelance Food & Travel Writer (Miami-based)
Focus: Lifestyle eateries, brunch, and trendy Miami cafes.
Contact: jesse.scott@thrillist.com / Freelance pitch
Kyla Fields – Digital Editor, Creative Loafing Tampa Bay
Focus: Tampa coffee shop openings, food trucks, and casual breakfast joints.
Contact: kfields@cltampa.com
Romy Ellenbogen – Features Writer, Tampa Bay Times
Focus: Local trends, neighborhood cafes, and day-in-the-life spots.
Contact: rellenbogen@tampabay.com
Amanda M. Gomez – Local Editor, Miami Herald
Focus: Community-centric news, neighborhood cafe openings.
Contact: agomez@miamiherald.com
Shelby Reynolds – Food & Dining Reporter, Naples Daily News
Focus: Collier County cafes, breakfast spots, and local coffee culture.
Contact: shelby.reynolds@naplesnews.com
John Thomason – Managing Editor, Boca Magazine
Focus: South Florida lifestyle, daytime eateries, and casual dining.
Contact: john.thomason@bocamag.com
Food & Drink Desk – Boca Raton Tribune
Focus: Local bakery openings, coffee shops, and community dining.
Contact: news@bocaratontribune.com
Editorial Desk – Venice Magazine (Fort Lauderdale)
Focus: Fort Lauderdale lifestyle, cafe culture, and casual chic dining.
Contact: info@venicemagftl.com (ATTN: Food/Lifestyle)
🏨 Hotels (15 Contacts)
These contacts focus on luxury resorts, boutique hotels, accommodations, and standard travel tourism.
Arlene Borenstein-Zu Salinas – Travel Editor, South Florida Sun Sentinel
Focus: South Florida travel, hotel reviews, and staycations.
Contact: aborenstein@sun-sentinel.com
Terry Ward – Freelance Travel Writer (Based in Florida)
Focus: Florida resorts, family travel, and luxury hotels (writes for CNN, AFAR).
Contact: Pitch via personal website/LinkedIn
Connie Lee – Travel Editor, Miami Herald
Focus: Caribbean and Florida travel, hotel industry news, and tourism.
Contact: clee@miamiherald.com
Vickie Chachere – Executive Editor, Florida Trend
Focus: Business of hospitality, hotel development, and state tourism.
Contact: vchachere@floridatrend.com
Richard Bilbao – Tourism/Hospitality Reporter, Orlando Business Journal
Focus: Hotel developments, theme park resorts, and hospitality business.
Contact: rbilbao@bizjournals.com
Gigi Wood – Managing Editor, Tampa Bay Business Journal
Focus: Tampa hotel openings, real estate hospitality, and commercial tourism.
Contact: gwood@bizjournals.com
Christina Thomas – Freelance Travel Writer & Publisher, Go Epicurista
Focus: Luxury travel, bucket-list hotels in Central Florida.
Contact: christina@goepicurista.com
Cheyenne MacDonald – Travel Writer / Desk, Miami Magazine (Modern Luxury)
Focus: Luxury accommodations, five-star resorts, and Miami hotel news.
Contact: Pitch via Modern Luxury portal
Florida PR Desk – Visit Florida (Official Tourism Marketing)
Focus: Industry press releases regarding new hotels and state tourism.
Contact: pr@visitflorida.org
Allison McCarthy – Senior Editor, Key West Citizen / Local Magazines
Focus: Florida Keys hotels, boutique guesthouses, and island resorts.
Contact: amccarthy@keysnews.com
Ashley Keshigian Thomas – Publisher, Fort Lauderdale Magazine
Focus: High-end Fort Lauderdale hotel features and travel sections.
Contact: publisher@flmag.com
Taylor Meredith – Editor-in-Chief, Flamingo Magazine
Focus: Pan-Florida travel, luxury hotel roundups, and resort reviews.
Contact: info@flamingomag.com (ATTN: Travel)
Seth Kubersky – Tourism Columnist, Orlando Weekly
Focus: Theme park hotels, Central Florida resort news, and tourism.
Contact: skubersky@orlandoweekly.com
Arturo Arias-Polo – Travel/Culture Writer, El Nuevo Herald
Focus: Miami and Latin American focused hotel and travel coverage.
Contact: aarias-polo@elnuevoherald.com
Travel Desk – Sarasota Magazine
Focus: Gulf Coast resorts, luxury boutique hotels, and weekend getaways.
Contact: info@sarasotamagazine.com (ATTN: Travel)
🏕️ Experiential Hospitality Brands (15 Contacts)
These contacts focus on unique experiences: glamping, immersive dining, theme parks, wellness retreats, yacht charters, and pop-up events.
Gabrielle Calise – Culture Reporter, Tampa Bay Times
Focus: Immersive experiences, quirky local attractions, and experiential events.
Contact: gcalise@tampabay.com
DeWayne Bevil – Theme Park & Tourism Reporter, Orlando Sentinel
Focus: Theme parks, immersive attractions, and entertainment hospitality.
Contact: dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
Amanda Mesa – Nightlife & Entertainment Writer, Miami Herald / Miami.com
Focus: VIP experiences, experiential nightclubs, and pop-up events.
Contact: amesa@miamiherald.com
Natasha Yee – Senior Editor, News, Miami New Times
Focus: Cultural events, alternative hospitality, and unique Miami experiences.
Contact: natasha.yee@miaminewtimes.com
Cary Barbor – Arts & Culture Editor, Gulfshore Life (Southwest Florida)
Focus: Experiential arts, wellness retreats, and luxury lifestyle events.
Contact: cary.barbor@gulfshorelife.com
Matthew J. Palm – Arts & Theater Critic, Orlando Sentinel
Focus: Dinner theaters, immersive arts, and cultural hospitality.
Contact: mpalm@orlandosentinel.com
Falyn Page – Lifestyle Desk, WESH 2 News (Orlando)
Focus: Local experiences, weekend getaways, and experiential pop-ups.
Contact: falyn.page@hearst.com
Kelly Rogers – Editor, Orlando Family Magazine
Focus: Family-oriented experiential hospitality, glamping, and adventure parks.
Contact: kelly@orlandofamilymagazine.com
Culture Desk – Boca Magazine
Focus: South Florida yacht charters, luxury wellness retreats, and VIP events.
Contact: edit@bocamag.com
Events/Arts Editor – Jacksonville Magazine
Focus: Northeast Florida eco-tourism, outdoor hospitality, and unique stays.
Contact: mail@jacksonvillemag.com (ATTN: Things to Do)
Sarah Hollenbeck – Tourism Reporter, WFTS Tampa Bay (ABC Action News)
Focus: Experiential tourism, beach activations, and unique hospitality business.
Contact: sarah.hollenbeck@wfts.com
Miami Guide Desk – The Infatuation Miami
Focus: Highly curated, experiential dining and unique hospitality guides.
Contact: miami@theinfatuation.com
Destinations Editor – Florida Trend
Focus: Eco-resorts, adventure hospitality, and unique corporate retreat venues.
Contact: editor@floridatrend.com (ATTN: Destinations)
Features Desk – Ocean Drive Magazine
Focus: Ultra-luxury experiential Miami hospitality, exclusive member clubs.
Contact: Pitch via Modern Luxury editorial portal
Travel / Outdoors Editor – Tallahassee Democrat
Focus: Panhandle eco-tourism, glamping, springs retreats, and outdoor hospitality.
Contact: news@tallahassee.com (ATTN: Travel/Outdoors)
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