Former Tallahassee Democrat Publisher Skip Foster launches PR company
A man who made a career writing about newsmakers is now putting his knack for news into public relations and strategic planning.
Skip Foster, the Tallahassee Democrat's former president and publisher, is starting his own firm called Hammerhead Communications.
With "the intersection I have of being a CEO who ran a big company with over 100 employees, my background on the journalism side and my work on the marketing side when I became publisher, enough people told me that's a pretty rare combination," Foster said.
Foster's 30-year career in journalism includes being publisher of the Northwest Florida Daily News, along with four weeklies, and five years as the Democrat's publisher before he stepped down in December 2019.
More: Skip Foster stepping down as president and publisher of Tallahassee Democrat
He's since launched Skip Foster Consulting LLC and built a client base over the last year.
His "Hammerhead" company name was inspired by eye-catching headlines above the front page fold and other outlets and the state's marine life.
Foster said he's not concerned about entering Tallahassee's public relations arena, despite big players already there, saying, "there's plenty of fish in the ocean."
"I'm somebody who believes there's plenty to go around ... the people who are in this segment are some of my dearest friends and people I respect a lot," he said. "I don't think for a second there's not enough work to support everybody in this segment and then some."
His public relations firm will specialize in crisis management, lobbying and advocacy. While political season is in full swing, Foster said he has no interest in working for candidates.
"I won't be representing candidates; I can tell you that right now," Foster said. "Where I can really help is people in crisis, people who need a message ... people who need a plan."
Contact TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com or follow @TaMarynWaters on Twitter.
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This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former Tallahassee Democrat Publisher Skip Foster launches PR company
