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Jacksonville reporter Lynn Jones is firing back at other media members who are critical of her comments towards Jags coach Liam Coen at a press conference.
On Sunday, Jones went viral after offering the rookie head coach words of encouragement following the Jags’ heartbreaking playoff loss to the Bills.
‘You hold your head up, all right? You guys have had a most magnificent season. And you did a great job out there today.’
‘So you just hold your head up, okay? Ladies and gentlemen, Duval, you the one, all right? Keep it going. We got another season, OK? Take care of much continued success to you and the entire team.’
This reporter’s message to Liam Coen following the Jags’ Wild Card loss 🥹 pic.twitter.com/wq4yhG317y
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) January 11, 2026
Some media members took offense at Jones’ attempt to uplift Coen during a press conference.
Nothing “awesome” about fans/fake media doing stuff like that. It should be embarrassing for the people who credentialed her and her organization, and it’s a waste of time for those of us actually working. https://t.co/sP2vAEJYj4
— Mark Long (@APMarkLong) January 11, 2026
Jones, who has worked in media for over 25 years in Jacksonville, responded to the backlash from other media members.
“Really? I don’t take no offense to it. Listen, I’ve been in this business more than 25 years. I’ve interviewed from Barack Obama, Terry Bradshaw, to—what’s my guy’s name—Tiger Woods. So he can say whatever he wants about fake news. I am a member of the Black press in NNPA, the National Newspaper Publishers Association, that has been around more than 100 years.”
“I’m the editor of Jacksonville Free Press, one in a more than 230 African American newspapers still printing in this country today. In Jacksonville, you had the Florida Star since 1955. We’ve been around since 1986. And Philadelphia Tribune—Philly Tribune has been printing since 1884. My hometown of Detroit, Michigan Chronicle has been printed since 1935. So support the Black press. He can call me fake all you want to, honey. I have been doing this a long time. People know me.”
Lynn Jones Turnpin responded to the critics in an interview today:
“Support the Black Press. You can call me fake all you want to, honey. I’ve been doing this a long time.” pic.twitter.com/qCqmdE5ozA
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 12, 2026