ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism, today named award-winning Washington NPR digital editor, Seth Liss, as its new Digital Editor for Poynter.

Liss will lead the institute's successful media blog, which draws nearly 5 million unique visitors yearly.

In his role, Liss will expand and overhaul Poynter's digital presence and lead a conversation on today's relevant media issues for Poynter's digital audience, which includes journalists, media professionals, scholars and those who are interested in journalism. 

Liss is the online managing editor for NPR affiliate WAMU-88.5 in Washington, one of the nation's largest NPR affiliates and winner of a regional Edward R. Murrow award this year for its website, and was a digital editor at two metropolitan news organizations, the Sun Sentinel in South Florida and the San Jose Mercury News.

"Seth has led three major digital news operations on both coasts, and he has a proven track record of success," said Tim Franklin, president of The Poynter Institute.

"Just as important, Seth has a deep and abiding passion for Poynter, and making us a national innovator in digital media," Franklin added. "He's committed to generating high quality news and information that is useful, relevant and timely to readers who care about journalism and the media industry."

Commenting on his new position, Liss said, "This job marries my passion for improving digital journalism, serving as a newsroom leader and educator, and helping journalists engage in industry issues that affect them and in turn, the public at large."

In 2009, Liss was the recipient of the Pettijohn Award for top employee of the Sun Sentinel's Interactive Department. He received his Master of Arts from American University and completed his undergraduate training at the University of South Florida. 

Liss is married to Julie Patel, an investigative journalist at the Center for Public Integrity.  They have a two-year-old son.

About The Poynter Institute

The Poynter Institute is a school and media strategy center dedicated to teaching and inspiring journalists and leaders since 1978. Based in St. Petersburg, Florida, Poynter's reach extends around the globe: through Poynter's News University online with more than 195,000 registered users in 225 countries, to in-person courses now offered in India. The Poynter Institute trains journalism practitioners, media leaders, educators and citizens in the areas of online and multimedia, leadership and management, reporting, writing and editing, TV and radio, ethics and diversity, journalism education and visual journalism. Poynter's website, www.poynter.org, is the dominant provider of journalism news, with a focus on business analysis and the opportunities and implications of technology.

The institute also owns the Times Publishing Company, which publishes the Tampa Bay Times and Florida Trend magazine.

CONTACT
Kim Tobin
Marketing Communications Strategy Manager
The Poynter Institute
ktobin@poynter.org

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SOURCE The Poynter Institute