Terry Horne to join Statesman Journal as new publisher

Terry Horne, president and publisher of the Pensacola News Journal in Florida, will succeed the Statesman Journal's outgoing publisher Steve Silberman in September, the Statesman Journal announced Thursday.

Horne will join the publication as president and publisher, and also will assume the role of regional president for the Statesman Journal's parent corporation, Gannett Company Inc. He will manage publications in Montana, Utah and northern California.

The decision comes nine days after Silberman revealed he had accepted a strategic planning and initiatives position with Gannett.

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Horne arrived at the News Journal, also a Gannett publication, in January. In his eight months at the publication, he oversaw several changes, among them the relocation of the newsroom to a new building that they completed just last weekend.

"We're obviously sorry to lose Terry from Pensacola," said Mei-Mei Chan, president of Gannett's southern region that includes Pensacola News Journal. "Terry has skillfully handled not one but two 'once in a lifetime' weather crises, supported building (their) advertising momentum, brought onboard a talented news leader, and just this weekend, orchestrated the move to (their) sparkling new home."

Lisa Nellessen-Lara, executive editor at the News Journal, shared that sentiment.

"Salem is getting an incredible gift in Terry. In his short time in Pensacola, he has had a profound impact on not just our employees, but the community," Nellessen-Lara said.

"There were a lot of tears in our newsroom today, which speaks to the impact one man can make," she added.

Prior to the News Journal, Horne worked as CEO and president of the Orange County Register from 2007 to 2011, the publisher of the East Valley Tribune and COO of Swift Newspapers, a publishing company based in Nevada.

Horne earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at Wichita State University and a master's degree in mass communication from Oklahoma State University.

Horne is set to begin as publisher of the Statesman Journal Sept. 15.