The Tampa Bay Times announced upcoming leadership changes to the newsroom.
Managing editor of the Tampa Bay Times, Carolyn Fox, is leaving her post. She will be the executive editor of the Maine Trust for Local News, which includes newspapers in Portland, Maine, and other communities around the state. Her last day at the Times is Sept. 20.
“I couldn’t be more proud of what she has accomplished at the Times. And I’m grateful for every day I’ve gotten to spend with her in this special newsroom of ours,” said Editor Mark Katches.
Fox’s departure has led to several senior newsroom leadership changes. Michael Van Sickler will become the managing editor for news and engagement. Traci Johnson will be the managing editor for sports, production and visuals. Rebecca Woolington will be the deputy managing editor for investigations and Claire McNeill will be deputy managing editor for enterprise. Allison Ross will be the assistant managing editor for local news.
“It’s a fabulous team that Carolyn in large part has helped prepare for this day,” Katches said. “And they are ready to lead us into the future.”
Justo “Jay” Rey is the new vice president of advertising and marketing at the Tampa Bay Times. He is retaining his president and publishing role of Tampa Bay Newspapers within the Times Publishing Company. Morgan Peterson has been named Times Publishing Company’s director of philanthropy and communications.
“For more than 140 years, the Times has been the leading news organization in the state of Florida,” said Times Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. “With this leadership team, we are poised to embrace a new era, prioritizing digital growth, enhancing community engagement and continuing our commitment to producing quality journalism.”
In the newsroom, Van Sickler has overseen metro news teams since becoming assistant managing editor two years ago. His deep knowledge of the community will help chart future coverage.
Johnson has overseen the Times’ team of sports writers and her role was expanded eight months ago to include responsibility over our copy editor and design teams. Van Sickler and Johnson both have 20-plus years of journalism experience in the Times newsroom.
“That experience will serve us well,” Katches said. “They also are effective champions for finding innovative ways to serve our audience.”
Woolington and McNeill have spent several years as investigative editor and enterprise editor respectively, and are responsible for some of the most consequential signature journalism the Times has produced, including most recently, Deadly Dose and the Marked Man projects. In their new roles as deputy managing editors, they will continue to shape the Times accountability and narrative journalism.
Ross joined the Times as a reporter five years ago and most recently served as a senior editor for politics and government, overseeing our elections coverage and Tallahassee partnership with the Miami Herald. Ross adds the local government and culture reporting teams to her portfolio in this change.