Former Poynter chairman and CEO of the Tampa Bay Times, Andrew Barnes, has passed away at the age of 86. During his career, Barnes led the Times to multiple Pulitzer Prizes and expanded the PoyNter Institute. His most significant contribution was steering the institute through an attempted hostile takeover of the Times, ensuring that the paper remained independently owned. Despite being told that selling the paper would make him very wealthy, Barnes stood firm against the idea. His efforts preserved the paper's independence and local control, and helped solidify the concept of non-profit ownership. The cause of his death was not disclosed.