Florida’s first population contraction since World War II is now affecting how advertisers see the Tampa-St. Petersburg market for the upcoming television season.

Nielsen Media Research said four of Florida’s major television markets – Tampa, Miami, Fort Myers and Tallahassee – are down in the overall ranking of designated market areas because of declines in domestic migration.

The following represent city-, county-, and regional-level news stories around the state relating to the BEBR Population Program's recent release of the April 1, 2009 preliminary population estimates.

Brevard's population dipped last year - Florida Today - August 24, 2009
UF: Polk Is Losing People - The Ledger - August 22, 2009

Lourdes Manso-Harris has job-hunting on her holiday shopping list. Crossed off the list for now: a laptop computer, a new TV, a vacation.

Manso-Harris was recently laid off by a national financial services company. Her husband is still working, and she has specialized skills that have already attracted interest from other employers. But finding the right job could take time, so delaying major purchases seemed like a good idea for the Miramar family.

''We put off a lot of things,'' Manso-Harris said.