Press Room

Northwest Florida Newspaper Legend Carl Wernicke on WSRE’s Conversations with Jeff Weeks May 17

Pensacola, Fla. - On Thursday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m., WSRE’s “Conversations with Jeff Weeks” welcomes legendary Northwest Florida newspaper man Carl Wernicke.

Wernicke, who recently retired from the Pensacola News Journal, discusses how the newspaper industry has changed over his long and successful career and what the future of the business may hold. Carl also talks about some of the major news stories in Northwest Florida that occurred during his tenure at the PNJ. Over the years, Wernicke built a tremendous amount of trust with newsmakers and readers, and he reveals how he kept their trust while at the same time allowing the stories to be covered.

Carl Wernicke grew up in the Ferry Pass area of Pensacola, Florida; his childhood home was located where University Mall stands today. A Woodham High School graduate, he graduated from the University of Florida and began his news career at the Mobile Press Register in Mobile, Alabama and then Pensacola, Florida’s afternoon publication called the Pensacola News. When the Pensacola News and the News Journal merged in the mid-1980s, Carl worked as a reporter and editor, becoming the Editorial Page Editor for the last 15 years of his career. Pensacola News Journal Executive Editor Richard Schneider recently called Carl Wernicke the face of the newspaper in Pensacola.

“Conversations with Jeff Weeks” airs as part of WSRE’s all-local evening programming block, Explore More Thursdays. The Thursday night lineup airs 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and also features series “In Your Own Backyard” hosted by Sherri Hemminghaus Weeks, local documentaries and music program “StudioAmped.” For more information, visit www.wsre.org/ExploreMore.

About WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast
WSRE is a PBS member station that is locally owned and licensed to the Pensacola State College Board of Trustees operating as a service of Pensacola State College. The public broadcasting station has been serving the needs of the Gulf Coast community through programming, educational services and outreach since 1967. WSRE produces, acquires and distributes programs that address local interests and reflect the diverse cultural, political, geographic and demographic characteristics of its audience. The Educational Services unit for WSRE serves as the connection to teachers, parents, caregivers and children to extend the rich resources found in public television. For more information about WSRE, its services, programs or available resources, visit wsre.org.

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