Lucy Morgan

Biography

Lucy Morgan began her journalism career at the Ocala Star Banner in 1965 after completing a non-journalism degree at the University of South Florida. Three years later she joined the staff of the St. Petersburg Times covering general news and specializing in crime, government and politics.

In 1973 she was sentenced to eight months in jail after refusing twice to divulge the identity of a news source. Three years later the Florida Supreme Court overturned the sentence, granting reporters everywhere a limited right to protect confidential sources. This landmark case continues to provide protection for reporters who refuse to divulge the names of sources.

Morgan was runnerup for the 1982 Pulitzer Prize in local reporting for a series of stories on drug smuggling and public corruption in Dixie and Taylor counties. In 1985 she landed the prize for investigative reporting, along with fellow reporter Jack Reed, for a series that led to the ouster of the Pasco County Sheriff.

Morgan was named chief of the St. Petersburg Times Capitol Bureau in Tallahassee in 1986 and Associate Editor in 1993. She was elected to the board of directors of the Times Publishing Company in 1991, which governs the operations of the St. Petersburg Times, Congressional Quarterly, and Florida Trend and Governing magazines. She also appears regularly on the Sunshine Network's Capitol Reporters and does occasional commentaries for National Public Radio on Florida politics.