TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has hired a journalist to help the frequently embattled insurer with its image.

Citizens’ legislative affairs director Christine Ashburn announced the appointment Friday of Mike Peltier as the company’s media relations manager.

The 52-year-old Peltier started his newspaper career in Florida at The Ledger in Lakeland in 1988. He’s also worked as a stringer for The Associated Press, Reuters and Time magazine. He has been with the News of Service of Florida the last four years, specializing in coverage of the insurance industry.

A native of Litchfield, Minn., Peltier earned a journalism degree from the University of Minnesota.

Peltier begins his new job at Citizens on Feb. 25 at a starting salary of $82,500.

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