Rynni Henderson named publisher of The Gainesville Sun

Rynni Henderson

Read additional articles from this week's SNPA eBulletin

Rynni Henderson has been named publisher of The Gainesville (Fla.) Sun and The Ocala Star-Banner.

She will oversee operations for the newspapers and related publications.

James Doughton, who is retiring as regional publisher, announced her appointment to employees last week.

A veteran media executive, Henderson most recently was president of Las Cruces Sun-News and The Carlsbad Current-Argus, in New Mexico, along with several related weekly publications. She has held progressively more senior positions in news media throughout the past 25 years.

Earlier in her career, Henderson was publisher of Florida Keys magazine in Key West. She said she has always identified with Florida and her native New Orleans. Her husband, Larry, is a fifth-generation Floridian. The couple recently purchased a home near Micanopy.

"First and foremost, it's time to come home," Henderson said on Friday when asked what drew her to a new job in central Florida.

"I'm a food and wine geek. I've had the Cross Creek Cookery cookbook in my kitchen for many years," she said with a laugh.

Henderson said she also was drawn by the opportunity she sees with GateHouse, corporate owner of the daily newspapers in Gainesville, Ocala, and 10 other Florida cities, as well as more than 600 markets across the United States.

"I like the GateHouse culture very much," said. "Its aggressive mode in acquisitions creates lots of opportunity."

Doughton said he was delighted to have Henderson join the GateHouse family.

"She will be a great asset to the communities we serve and provide forward-thinking leadership for our company," Doughton said.

"Rynni is a proven community-focused leader with a wide range of revenue generation experience from both inside and outside our industry," said Patrick Dorsey, regional vice president, GateHouse Media.

"We are thrilled to have her lead our Gainesville and Ocala operations and welcome her back to Florida," Dorsey said.

Henderson said her initial focus will be getting acquainted with the communities served by her newspapers and getting to know the employees.

"I really want to immerse myself in all of this," she said.

With a bachelor's degree in journalism from Louisiana State University, Henderson's education was in reporting, but she moved quickly to the business side of the industry.

In addition to her time with newspapers in New Mexico, Henderson has magazine and digital media experience in advertising, marketing and publishing, including positions as publisher of The Daily Journal of Commerce in Portland, Ore., and The Times of Acadiana in Lafayette, La.

"I'll be looking for ways to engage and for us to be better community partners," she said.