OCALA, Florida ­ Special Publications announced today that Buddy Martin has been named Editor in Chief of its monthly magazine, Ocala Magazine.

Amy Mangan has been named Executive Editor for both Ocala Magazine and Ocala HOME Magazine, a quarterly special interest publication.

Both Ocala natives, Martin and Mangan bring extensive journalism experience to Ocala Magazine. Martin, an award winning journalist who began his career at the Ocala Star Banner, has served in numerous editorial positions nationwide including news features editor of the St. Petersburg Times, assisting managing editor of the Denver Post, and sports editor of the New York Daily News.

Martin has won over 160 state and national awards including an Emmy he was awarded for working with Terry Bradshaw on "The NFL Today" show at CBS Sports. Most recently, Buddy received first place for best editorial/commentary/opinion column of 2008 by the Society of Professional Journalism chapter of North Central Florida. He also won the Florida Magazine Association Charlie Award for best column in 2006.

Martin was schooled in the journalism department at the University of Florida. He currently serves in a voluntary capacity as co-creator of the Sports Journalism Summit at Poynter Media Institute in St. Petersburg.

"This is a dream job to be editor of the best publication in my home town, with a chance to work with such a talented team," says Martin, "I am deeply honored and privileged to have been given this opportunity by Linda Marks who, for 30 years, has led the way in North Central Florida magazine publishing."

Martin adds, "I'm especially gratified to work alongside one of my favorite people, Amy Mangan, a highly respected writer and columnist and one of the brightest young editors in the business."

Mangan has served in editorial positions for Ocala Style Magazine including editor of The Style Book, the magazine's first home and garden book. She has been published in Southern Living Magazine and Better Homes and Gardens' Creative Home Magazine. She has served as an editorial contributor for Southern Accents Magazine having assisted in developing their well-received "Sense of Place" editorial feature. She is currently a weekly columnist for the Ocala Star Banner.

Mangan holds a bachelors degree in journalism at the University of Central Florida and a masters degree in history at the University of West Florida.

"I'm excited to be a part of the magazine that helped launch my journalism career as a writer," says Mangan, "And to work with a respected journalist like Buddy Martin is a dream come true."

Linda Marks, publisher for Special Publications, says Martin and Mangan will bring a fresh new direction for the magazines.

"I am thrilled to have two highly qualified editors to take the helm of Ocala Magazine," says Marks, "I'm also proud of their collective history with our community. I conducted a national search and, in the words of our Chamber of Commerce, decided to 'buy local.'"

 Ocala Magazine will soon celebrate its 30th year of publication. For more information, please contact Buddy Martin at buddyshow@aol.com.