Timothy A. Franklin, editor of the Orlando Sentinel, today was named the new editor and senior vice president of The Sun, Publisher and CEO Denise E. Palmer said.
Franklin, 43, editor of the Florida newspaper for three years, replaces William K. Marimow, who will be leaving The Sun, Palmer said. Franklin also has served as editor of the Indianapolis Star and in a variety of roles at the Chicago Tribune.
Standing before a packed conference room at The Sun's headquarters on Calvert Street, Franklin introduced himself by expressing respect for The Sun and its staff.
"I must tell you what an honor it is to be the editor of a newspaper with a history of journalistic excellence that The Baltimore Sun has attained," Franklin said. "It is a real honor to be here."
Franklin then praised his predecessor, Marimow.
"I must tell you how much respect and admiration I have for Bill Marimow," Franklin said. "I have the highest regard for his journalistic ability. He has been a friend to me."
Marimow, 56, The Sun's editor since 2000, has been with the newspaper since 1993. Under his tenure, The Sun won three Pulitzer Prizes, including one while he was editor.
Both The Sun and the Sentinel are owned by Chicago-based Tribune Co.
Neither Palmer nor Marimow immediately returned telephone calls seeking comment.
"I know that Tim will bring great passion for producing excellent journalism and serving the readers of The Sun," Palmer said in a statement. "We are confident that Tim is the right person to lead our editorial staff as we continue our efforts to position The Sun to compete in the rapidly evolving world of news and information."
At today's meeting, Franklin reiterated his commitment to investigative journalism, citing the reports published by the Sentinel in the face of opposition from such organizations as NASCAR and the local real estate industry.
"I believe in the need for any newspaper to be an aggressive, public watchdog," he said.
On his goals for The Sun, Franklin said: "As good as this paper is, I sincerely think it can be better. I want this paper to be the best regional paper in America."
"I am not some apparatchik, I am not a bureaucrat, I am not an accountant, I am a journalist," he said.
While at the Sentinel, Franklin reorganized the publication's newsroom, redesigned the paper, expanded its bureaus in Washington and Puerto Rico and established a new investigative reporting team. He also led the introduction of El Sentinel, a weekly bilingual newspaper.
