The Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s newsroom leader takes on an expanded role as president
The leader of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s newsroom is taking on a larger role in the company.
Steve Coffman, the Star-Telegram’s executive editor who arrived in Fort Worth in early 2018, will remain in that position while also taking on the role of company president.
“I’m delighted for Steve Coffman, who brings to his new role a long and impressive résumé as a leader and a champion for local journalism,” said Mike Fannin, Central Region editor for McClatchy, the Star-Telegram’s parent company. “Steve has skillfully reshaped the Star-Telegram newsroom, making it a stronger watchdog for the readers of Fort Worth and igniting award-winning journalism that holds the powerful to account.
“Steve has also established himself as a leader in the community, and this promotion will allow him to expand his influence,” Fannin said.
In the role as president, Coffman replaces publisher Ryan Mote, who is leaving the Star-Telegram this month. Mote has served in that role since 2018.
Before coming to Fort Worth, Mote served as the vice president of strategic advertising for The Sacramento Bee and McClatchy’s Western region, overseeing a sales territory across 10 media companies in California, Idaho and Washington state. Before his work with McClatchy, Mote held leadership positions at Freedom Communications and Gannett.
“Ryan Mote is one of the top executives in this business,” Fannin said, “and I can’t thank him enough for his partnership and years of service to McClatchy and the Star-Telegram.”
Coffman, who has an extensive news background and a reputation for watchdog and enterprise journalism, arrived in Fort Worth in April 2018. He previously served as editor of the Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com.
“Moving forward, my mission is to continue to explore new ways to preserve and expand essential local journalism, provide our readers with news and information that is relevant to their lives and to position the Fort Worth Star-Telegram as the focal point for discussion about the opportunities and challenges our community faces, through this COVID-19 pandemic and beyond,” Coffman said.
Prior to working in Wichita, Coffman was executive editor and director of content and audience development at the Jackson Sun, a Gannett property in Jackson, Tenn. He also worked in leadership roles at the Fayetteville Observer in North Carolina, and Finger Lakes Times in New York.
Coffman, who earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Lock Haven University in Pennsylvania, lives in southwest Fort Worth. He and his wife Jean, a public school teacher, have two grown sons.
During Coffman’s time in Fort Worth, the news organization has received multiple journalism honors, including 11 Texas Associated Press Managing Editors awards announced just last month. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram competes against the largest newspapers in the state for the APME awards.
Also during Coffman’s tenure, the Star-Telegram has pushed for intensified local news coverage to build loyal online readership. During the past nine months, digital subscriptions have increased 24%.
Coffman has also worked to expand the Star-Telegram’s breaking news and in-depth beat reporting, formed a three-person investigative news team and reopened its Austin bureau to cover state news through a North Texas-focused lens.
He has successfully explored new methods of funding and bolstering local journalism through programs such as Report for America and partnerships with local foundations, which will add three new reporters to the Star-Telegram’s staff.
“I am honored and humbled to be entrusted with this new responsibility and to work with such a fine team across all departments at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,” Coffman said.
