Neil Brown named president of Poynter Institute

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Neil Brown has been named president of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies.

"I am honored to join Poynter, where imagination and integrity have been hallmarks in helping journalists get better at what they do and stay relevant in how they do it," Brown said. "In these exciting, unsettling and complicated times, Poynter's leadership and creativity are needed more than ever and I'm grateful for the chance to work with great professionals who are making a difference to journalism – and our democracy – every day." 

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Brown joined Times Publishing Company in 1988 as managing editor of Congressional Quarterly, a former Times affiliate. He came to the Tampa Bay Times as its world editor in 1993 and assumed a series of leadership roles, including managing editor and executive editor. Brown became the paper's editor in 2010. 

Under Brown's leadership, the Times has won six Pulitzer Prizes in the last eight years and launched PolitiFact, the fact-checking website that has been replicated nationally and inspired similar efforts worldwide. Brown is a member of the Pulitzer Prize Board. He also is a former board member of the American Society of News Editors. 

Widely regarded as an innovator and deft editor of investigations and special projects, Brown will now lead Poynter, the world-renowned center for journalism education and owner of the Times.

"From more than 100 candidates, Neil emerges clearly as a leader who will help Poynter build upon its success as a place that improves journalism and strengthens democracy, both across the United States and around the world," said Paul Tash, chairman of Poynter's board of trustees. "That purpose has never been more essential."

Brown begins full time at Poynter in mid-September. He will remain a member of the Times executive committee and continue as a director of Times Publishing Company. 

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