Rick Outzen is the publisher, editor and co-owner of the Independent News in Pensacola. He created the alt-weekly newspaper in July 1999 to provide an independent voice on the issues facing Northwest Florida. Battling hurricanes, recessions and angry politicians, the IN has not only survived, but thrived, while helping drag the Florida Panhandle into the 21st century.

In 2005, Rick launched his influential political blog, aptly named “Rick’s Blog.” His coverage of the 2009 Billings’ murders landed him a profile in the New York Times and a position as a contributor to The Daily Beast. His relentless reporting on the 2010 BP oil spill won him international recognition for his insights on the environmental disaster.

Rick's background is in accounting; he was once the CFO for a regional oil company. But when he became publisher of IN, he discovered his passion for writing and shining a light.  

Rick grew up in the Mississippi Delta and transplanted to Florida in 1982. His heroes are Hodding Carter II, publisher/editor of the Delta Democrat Times, Noble Prize-winning author William Faulkner and his father.

From Carter, who won a Pulitzer for his editorials, Outzen learned that small newspapers can make a difference and their voice can be heard on a national level. Faulkner believed writers can only learn from their mistakes and should strive to be better than those before them. His father was a master storyteller who taught him how to capture the attention of a reader.

“From these men, I learned that words matter,” Rick says. “I strive to make mine count.”