By: E&P Staff Tampa Tribune Executive Editor Janet Coats is leaving the paper and the Florida Communications Group effective Dec. 18, the company said Monday.
In a statement, Coats said her resignation stemmed from her desire to be with her husband, Rusty Coats, a former Tribune general manager who more than a year ago was named vice president of interactive for the newspaper division of E. W. Scripps Co., based in Knoxville, Tenn.
"We've been commuting between Tampa and Knoxville for the last 20 months and we'd like the opportunity to live together in the same ZIP code," Coats said.
Coats is also vice president for news for the Florida Communications Group, which includes Media General Inc.-owed newspaper, broadcast and Internet properties in the Tampa area. The group said Tribune Publisher and President Denise Palmer will assume those responsibilities.
Coats said she does not plan to take on another full-time position immediately, but expects to continue in journalism: "Journalism is the only career I've ever known, and all I've ever wanted to do. I'll take a break to evaluate what I want to do next, but I expect to keep my hand in the business in some capacity. I once said journalism is worth fighting for, and I still believe that."
Coats, 46, joined the Tribune in 2004 as managing editor and became executive editor in January 2005. In 2008, she was given additional responsibilities as vice president for news, and directed the effort to combine the newsrooms of the Tribune, WFLA-TV and TBO.com into a single newsroom.
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