Janet Coats

Current

• Vice President for News, Florida Communications Group; Executive Editor, Tampa Tribune at The Tampa Tribune
• Executive Editor, Tampa Tribune at Media General

Past

• Board member at American Society of Newspaper Editors
• Executive Editor at Sarasota Herald-Tribune
• Managing Editor at Wichita Eagle

• Deputy Managing Editor at The Virginian-Pilot
• Reporter/Editor at DFW Suburban Newspapers

see less...

2 more...

Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia

Connections

79 connections

Industry

Online Media

Janet Coats’s Summary

I am a media executive focused on building sustainable audiences, leveraging communities of interest and leading the transition from traditional journalism platforms to a digital, social world.
I have supervised staffs of 300+ creative, diverse journalists, guiding their work under intense deadline pressure. I have balanced the need for immediate performance with the absolute requirement for accuracy in all details.
I have led change efforts that challenged work culture and the business status quo, focusing on the needs of audience in a rapidly changing media world.

Janet Coats’s Specialties:

Understanding and using audience metrics
Developing new products, from conception to successful market launch
Leading community outreach efforts for my organization, including frequent public speaking, writing columns, and organizing and leading customer advisory groups.
Staff development, including organizing continuing learning programs and managing difficult personnel issues.
Clear, fast writer.

Janet Coats’s Experience

• Vice President for News, Florida Communications Group; Executive Editor, Tampa Tribune

  The Tampa Tribune

  (Public Company; MEG; Newspapers industry)

  March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)

  I supervise newsroom operations for the Tampa Tribune, WFLA Channel 8 and TBO.com. Our newsroom, the Interactive Newsroom, focuses on a Web-first strategy that emphasizes interaction with the audience through social media.

• Executive Editor, Tampa Tribune

  Media General

  (Newspapers industry)

  July 2004 — Present (5 years 5 months)

  I started at the Tribune in July 2004 as managing editor and became executive editor in January 2005. My focus in this position has been leading the transition from a traditional newsroom focused on media platforms into a newsroom that focuses on audience and audience interaction. We have developed new products across all platforms to meet this goal, and we have moved to a Web-first strategy for all content.

• Board member

  American Society of Newspaper Editors

  (Non-Profit; Newspapers industry)

  April 2003 — April 2009 (6 years 1 month)

  I served two, three-year terms on the board of ASNE. I chaired two ASNE conventions (2004 and 2006). I have chaired ASNE committees focused on newsroom change, multimedia and internal communications. Committee work requires assembling a strong team of working journalists and actively managing that network to set and accomplish annual goals.

• Executive Editor

  Sarasota Herald-Tribune

  (Public Company; NYT; Newspapers industry)

  July 1997 — November 2003 (6 years 5 months)

  I began at the Herald-Tribune as managing editor and was promoted to executive editor in 1999. I supervised a newsroom that was an early adopter of multimedia strategies. My portfolio included a 6-edition daily newspaper, a 24-hour local cable news channel and a regional Website.

• Managing Editor

  Wichita Eagle

  (Newspapers industry)

  July 1994 — July 1997 (3 years 1 month)

  As managing editor, I led the newsroom's reorganization to a team-based structure that focused on putting all newsroom competencies within topical work groups.

• Deputy Managing Editor

  The Virginian-Pilot

  (Newspapers industry)

  November 1989 — July 1994 (4 years 9 months)

  I began at the Virginian-Pilot as a reporter in one of the paper's bureaus and advanced through editing positions to become deputy managing editor in charge of sports, features and weekend coverage.

• Reporter/Editor

  DFW Suburban Newspapers

  (Newspapers industry)

  January 1985 — August 1986 (1 year 8 months)

  I started as a reporter on a 5-person staff and was promoted to serve as city editor for two small newspapers in the DFW Suburban Newspapers group.

Janet Coats’s Education

• University of Missouri-Columbia

  1981 — 1984

Additional Information

Janet Coats’s Honors:

Five-time juror for the Pulitzer Prizes
Chair, 2006 Public Service Jury
Chair, 2007 Investigative Reporting Jury

Janet Coats’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch