Justine Griffin is the Economy & Growth Editor at the Tampa Bay Times, where she oversees coverage of Florida’s healthcare systems, business ecosystems, and economic policy. With over a decade of experience, she has mastered the art of translating complex issues—from Medicaid reforms to tourism economics—into compelling public narratives.
Justine Griffin’s journalism career began in the heart of Florida, where her roots in Pasco County shaped her understanding of community-driven storytelling. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, she honed her skills at the St. Augustine Record and Orlando Business Journal, mastering the art of concise, impactful reporting. Her transition to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune marked a pivotal shift toward investigative journalism, where her 2014 special report, The Cost of Life, brought national acclaim for its raw exploration of egg donation.
This deeply personal narrative dissected the ethical and emotional complexities of egg donation, blending memoir with investigative rigor. Griffin interviewed medical professionals, recipients, and donors, weaving their stories into a critique of the fertility industry’s opacity. The piece’s multimedia format—featuring video diaries and interactive graphics—set a benchmark for immersive journalism, sparking statewide debates on donor rights.
In this 2024 op-ed, Griffin analyzed the PR missteps surrounding Catherine, Princess of Wales’s health disclosures. She argued that overprotective messaging eroded public trust, using case studies from corporate and political crises to advocate for transparency. The article underscored her ability to bridge healthcare reporting and media strategy, offering actionable insights for communicators.
Griffin’s reporting on Florida’s healthcare system has exposed gaps in rural medical access and pharmaceutical pricing. Her 2023 series on mental health parity laws combined data analysis with patient narratives, prompting legislative hearings. By foregrounding marginalized voices, she redefined health equity reporting in the Southeast.
Griffin prioritizes stories that connect statewide policies to everyday Floridians. For example, her 2022 investigation into tourism tax allocations revealed how funds intended for infrastructure were diverted to marketing campaigns. Pitches should emphasize hyperlocal data and human-centered angles, particularly in underserved regions like Pasco County.
She gravitates toward medical breakthroughs that affect patient costs or access. A 2021 piece on telemedicine startups highlighted how rural clinics adopted AI diagnostics during COVID-19. Successful pitches will align with her interest in tech-driven solutions to systemic inequities.
While Griffin covers macroeconomic trends, she avoids speculative analyses. A rejected pitch on cryptocurrency’s impact on Florida’s GDP lacked concrete examples of community effects. Instead, focus on measurable outcomes, like her 2020 report on minimum wage hikes and small-business survival rates.
“Griffin’s work reminds us that journalism is both a mirror and a hammer—it reflects reality, then challenges us to reshape it.” —Sunshine State Awards Committee
At PressContact, we aim to help you discover the most relevant journalists for your PR efforts. If you're looking to pitch to more journalists who write on Health, here are some other real estate journalist profiles you may find relevant:
