Justin Barney To Lead WJXT Sports

Graham Media’s independent WJXT Jacksonville, Fla. (DMA 42) has hired Justin Barney as sports editor. He joins the station Feb. 11 and will lead its sports department and coverage on all News4JAX platforms. He was most recently sports editor for the Florida Times-Union.

“We have made significant changes to the way we approach sports over the last year, placing a much greater emphasis on covering local high school sports than ever before,” said WJXT News Director Kathryn Bonfield. “If you want to be the best at anything, rule No. 1 is to hire the best people. Justin Barney is in a league by himself as the unquestioned local high school sports authority in Jacksonville. We’re thrilled to have him on our team.”

As WJXT sports editor, Barney will be in charge of all sports content and coverage both on TV and online and will be a regular contributor with on-air and on-line stories focused on local Jacksonville sports.

Additionally he will handle daily assignments of sports reporters and photographers and future story planning.

Prior to working in various positions at the Florida Times-Union, Barney was the sports editor at the St. Augustine Record. He has also appeared on many local radio and television shows in Jacksonville as the expert on high school sports in Jacksonville. He also grew up in Jacksonville attending University Christian High School.

In the past year WJXT and sister station WCWJ have created and televised several high school games and events. The station has aired the Bold City Showdown high school football game, the Fortegra High School 9:12 Basketball Invitational and is in the planning stages to televise the High School 9:12 Classic, a high school baseball tournament. The station’s Football Friday high school football show will enter its 17^th season this fall.