The Delaware Business Times has recently welcomed Jennifer Antonik as its associate editor.
Antonik, who most recently worked as the public relations coordinator at the Delaware Farm Bureau, will be leading the Delaware Business Times’ efforts to cover business, government and economic development matters in central and southern Delaware. She takes the position after previous associate editor, Katie Tabeling, was promoted to editor in late January.
Antonik may be a new name to Delaware’s northern business community, but she is no stranger to journalism or southern Delaware. Antonik started a career as a newspaper designer for the Delaware State News. After earning a degree in communications from Delaware Technical Community College, she worked as a freelance writer, eventually becoming the news editor for the Milford Chronicle and the Harrington Journal.
Delaware Business Times Editor Katie Tabeling said she was particularly excited about Antonik’s extensive experience in central Delaware, which is deeply rooted in agriculture but has also been growing in the manufacturing and distribution sectors.
“We are very fortunate to have found a team member that not only has watched Milford and beyond grow and change over the years, but with the experience of a news editor and the knowledge of what Sussex and Kent businesses and government officials care about,” Tabeling said.
Antonik has named journalism as one of her passions, noting that her interest started as early as working on her high school newspaper. She points to the lessons taught by Milford High School English teacher Czar Bloom as a major turning point in finding her future career path.
“He gave us college-level, industry standard training, much like the pathways programs do now,” Antonik said. “Shortly after high school, I had my first job in the media industry paginating newspapers in Delaware thanks to the skills I learned under his leadership.”
“I always think back to my high school years as the real catalyst of this amazing journey in journalism,” she added. “Delaware Tech built on that, helping me craft a sustainable career out of my lifelong passion for storytelling.”
Antonik is also a children’s author who has published at least four books. She has also founded a new nonprofit, DJ’s Alliance, that focuses on suicide loss, awareness and prevention.
Antonik started at the Delaware Business Times in late March, and has already written stories about Bayhealth’s planned child care center, the Dover Air Force Base commander’s presentation to southern Delaware business leaders, Delaware State University’s new financial literacy center and more.
“I’m excited to join the dynamic Today Media team through the Delaware Business Times. I believe everyone and every business has a unique story. I’m just grateful to have the chance to return to journalism and continue writing Delaware’s story,” Antonik said.
Antonik can be reached at jantonik@delawarebusinesstimes.com or 302-503-0339.
