Lynn Jones
Lynn Jones-Turpin is a long-time American journalist, associate editor, and community media leader based in Jacksonville, Florida. She is best known for her work with the Jacksonville Free Press, one of the city’s historic Black-owned weekly newspapers, where she has built a career of more than 30 years covering local news, sports, culture, and issues affecting Jacksonville’s African American community. In her senior editorial and managerial roles, including associate editor and sales team manager, Jones-Turpin helps shape the paper’s coverage and supports its mission to inform and empower underrepresented audiences.
Her diverse career spans sports, television, and community media. During the Jacksonville Jaguars’ early years, she served on the organization’s scouting staff as an administrative assistant during its inaugural NFL season in 1995. She later became the host and producer of The Lynn & Friends Show, a locally produced program that featured interviews with local, national, and international dignitaries, celebrities, and community figures. Over its successful 10-year run, she produced and cataloged more than 100 episodes (www.lynnandfriends.com).
Lynn is the creator, host, and producer of “Lynn & Friends,” a locally rooted television show under Krystal Faye Productions that she has developed and marketed since 1997. In this role, she researches and reports news, prepares stories, and produces broadcast segments that highlight issues, leaders, and cultural moments across multiple levels. She has interviewed a wide range of influential figures—from President Barack Obama to sports icon Terry Bradshaw—offering viewers authentic, accessible conversations with decision-makers and change agents.
Beyond her newsroom responsibilities, Jones-Turpin has been active in community advisory work and health advocacy, including initiatives focused on increasing awareness of prostate cancer in the Black community. Her approach to storytelling centers on intentional, empathetic coverage that reflects the lived experiences of her audience and the legacy of the Black press.
Jones-Turpin’s profile gained national recognition in January 2026 when a moment from a Jacksonville Jaguars post-game press conference went viral. Rather than asking a conventional question following a playoff loss, she offered words of encouragement to the team’s head coach. The exchange, widely shared across social media and sports outlets, sparked debate about journalistic roles and professionalism, particularly how reporters balance objectivity with community-centered reporting. In response, Jones-Turpin defended her approach, citing her decades of experience, her deep roots in Black-owned media, and her commitment to empathetic storytelling—earning her the affectionate moniker “Auntie Lynn” among many supporters.
Reactions to the moment ranged from national sports journalists to civil rights leaders, highlighting broader conversations about media expectations and the historic role of Black journalism. Throughout her career, Jones-Turpin has demonstrated a commitment to both rigorous reporting and community engagement, distinguishing her voice in local media and contributing to ongoing discussions about representation, responsibility, and purpose in American journalism.
A mother, daughter, grandmother, sister, and wife, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and is a member of the Northeast Florida Association of Black Journalists and National Newspaper Publisher’s Association. A committed community influencer and brand ambassador. Lynn Jones-Turpin holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from the University of Phoenix and is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. (Beta Alpha Zeta Chapter) and Leadership Jacksonville, reflecting her ongoing commitment to service, leadership, and civic engagement.
