This won't be big news to anybody living where big-city newspapers have been charging a couple of quarters for years. But the Tampa Tribune has followed in the St. Petersburg Times' recent footsteps, increasing its single-copy price to 50 cents for a newspaper in all localities, Monday through Saturday.

The change started Monday, but many readers may not notice because the Tribune doesn't print its price on the newspaper's front page. John Schueler, president of Florida Communications Group (the Media General subsidiary that oversees the Tribune, WFLA-Ch. 8, TBO.com and all its other Florida outlets), said the price increase would not affect subscriptions, but would be effective anywhere you buy single copies of the newspaper.

The change was attributed to high fuel costs, with the newspaper trying to pull in extra revenue that can be diverted to their distribution network. If the rumors about the newspaper going to one section daily prove true, the Tribune will be implementing our recent history in reverse -- raising prices before slimming down the product.

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