Herald-Tribune Publisher Named Dean Of UF Journalism School

Herald-Tribune Media Group Publisher Diane McFarlin will leave the newspaper she worked for more than 30 years to become the dean of University of Florida College of Journalism and Communication.

The university's president Bernie Machen announced her appointment Monday. McFarlin will assume her role Jan. 1, according to the university.

Machin and McFarlin look forward to the new era at the college, the two stated in an University of Florida press release: 

“Diane has a comprehensive view of the rapidly changing media industry and the challenges it faces,” Machen said. “As the publisher of a major media operation, she understands not just journalism but also advertising, broadcast media, online media, public relations – everything represented in the College of Journalism and Communications. I’m confident that knowledge will translate into giving its graduates all the tools they need to compete with the best.” 

McFarlin said she’s thrilled to return to her alma mater to take the reins of one of the nation’s leading journalism and communications colleges.

“The college has distinguished itself on multiple fronts,” McFarlin said. “It is a leader in graduate education and research, its venues for innovation are unparalleled, and its emphasis on real-world experience enables students to graduate with the capacity to navigate all manner of media. At a time of such complexity and change, the best colleges of journalism and communications can serve as beacons. My goal as dean will be to help elevate that role.”

McFarlin is no stranger to University of Florida — she graduated from there in 1976 with a journalism degree. She was also an Alumna of Distinction from the journalism college in 1999.

She became managing editor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune at 31, became executive editor of The Gainesville Sun in 1987 and returned to the Herald-Tribune in 1990 in an executive editor role before becoming publisher in 1999.

Under her watch, the Herald-Tribune launched the SNN cable news channel on Comcast before selling it in 2009, moved operations to a modern building on Main Street where the newspaper and television station still operate today, and her paper earned a Pulitzer Prize for investigative journalism in 2011 when reporter Paige St. John received the award for a series on the state's insurance industry's reliability.

The Herald-Tribune  was sold with its sister papers from the , which was followed by layoffs and buyouts. 

A familiar face, former managing editor Allen Parsons, will become the interim publisher of the newspaper, reports the Herald-Tribune:

Parsons, 64, retired from the Ocala Star-Banner in April. He had been publisher of the Ocala news organization since May 2006.

He was previously publisher of the Florence (Alabama) TimesDaily; executive editor and associate publisher of the Wilmington (N.C.) Star-News; and publisher of the Santa Barbara (Calif.) News Press

Parsons was managing editor of the Herald-Tribune from 1990 to 1994.

The previous college dean, John Wright, will return to teaching next year, according to the university. Wright was on medical leave in the fall semester for radiation treatment to battle throat cancer, The Gainesville Sun reported.