Lessons from Looking ‘Out the Window’ at Florida’s Best Small Newspaper

The Citrus County Chronicle was a small county-seat weekly when Gerry Mulligan joined it in the late 1970’s. Over the next 43 years, he led the charge to turn the newspaper into a seven-day daily in one of the state’s fastest growing markets. Along the way he was bitten by snakes, screamed at by sheriffs, maligned by politicians and ultimately had ‘poop in his shoe’ from his own dog. Over four decades, he never once missed writing his weekly column. For more than 2,200 consecutive weeks he told the stories of his community. Some were funny, some were sad and a few put Mulligan in the hospital. In Out the Window, you can enjoy some of the best.

Gerry Mulligan is a journalist who spent his life in the newspaper business. He came to the Chronicle in 1978 as editor and led the transition from a weekly to a 7-day daily. In 1990 Mulligan became publisher and helped expand the publishing company throughout west central Florida. He served on the Florida Press Association board for 30 years including a term as its president. As a community activist, he helped lead the effort to create the local United Way and raise the money to build the Citrus County YMCA. He retired in August of 2021 and still writes an occasional column for the paper. He continues to serve as the President of the Florida Press Foundation, an organization that sponsors internships and leadership training for working journalists. He and his wife Janet live in Crystal River. They have four children, eleven grandchildren and two dogs. One of those dogs - Hunter - continues to poop in his shoe.