12/05/05

Jim Baltzelle named AP's Miami chief of bureau

NEW YORK -- Jim Baltzelle, a veteran newspaper manager in Florida for most of his career, has been named chief of bureau for The Associated Press in Miami.

The appointment of Baltzelle, who is AP assistant bureau chief in Dallas, was announced Dec. 5 by John O. Lumpkin, AP's vice president/business operations for U.S. Newspaper Markets.

In addition to his Texas duties, Baltzelle is serving as interim chief of bureau for Louisiana and Mississippi through the end of the year.

In Miami, he will succeed Kevin Walsh, who has been appointed regional vice president of AP's Western region.

Baltzelle joined the AP in 2004 after working 17 years at Florida newspapers. He was editor of The St. Augustine Record, deputy metro editor of The Florida Times-Union, executive editor of the Palatka Daily News and local news editor of the Ocala Star-Banner, among other roles.

Baltzelle was born in Miami and graduated from the University of Florida.

Contact: Jack Stokes, AP Corporate Communications, 212.621.1720