Donald E. Newhouse, a prominent figure in the publishing industry and former board chairman of The Associated Press, has passed away at the age of 96. He was found at his home in New Jersey, according to his family.
Throughout his career, Newhouse held key positions, including president of the Star-Ledger in Newark, New Jersey, and head of Advance Publications’ newspaper group. His leadership helped transition the company into the digital era.
Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and chief content officer of Conde Nast, shared her memories of Newhouse. She highlighted his ability to uplift others and provide wise counsel when needed. “He was scrupulous about not interfering in editorial business, but if you turned to him for counsel, he invariably offered judicious advice,” she said in an obituary released by the Newhouse family.
Newhouse, who resided in New York, spent nearly five decades overseeing the 35 newspapers under Advance Publications, a media company founded by his late father, Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr., in 1922. His older brother, S.I. Newhouse Jr., served as chairman of the company and oversaw Conde Nast magazines until his passing in 2017.
Louis D. Boccardi, former president and CEO of the AP, praised Newhouse’s leadership. “His voice was never the loudest in the room, but it was often the wisest,” Boccardi noted. He described Newhouse as a private individual with a generous spirit, emphasizing that he was comfortable in any environment and curious about everything.
“He could come across as self-effacing and deferential, but in Don’s skilled hands those were qualities that made him an enormously strong and effective leader,” Boccardi added. “You don’t often see the adjective ‘warm’ attached to a titan of industry, but it applied to him.”
A man who avoided the spotlight
Newhouse, born in 1929, was known for his preference for staying out of the public eye. When asked about the biggest risks he took in his career, his response was simple: “Inviting your questions.” Despite his reserved nature, he occasionally stepped into the spotlight, serving as chairman of the Newspaper Association of America from 1993 to 1994 and then as chairman of the AP board of directors from 1997 to 2002.
Doug Clifton, editor of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland from 1999 to 2007, reflected on Newhouse’s character. “He was a smart and shrewd businessman but as thoughtful and kind a man as you’ll find. Being in his presence was always a joy,” Clifton said.
Newhouse attended Syracuse University but did not graduate, instead choosing to enter the family’s newspaper business. He regularly visited his newspapers but delegated the day-to-day operations to his publishers.
“Each of our newspapers operates independently, with publishers who are strong, who set policy for their individual organizations and who have the authority and responsibility of carrying out the policies they set,” he stated in 1993 when taking over as chairman of the newspaper association.
Newhouse was known for investing in quality journalism. Jim Willse, editor of The Star-Ledger in Newark from 1995 to 2010, recalled how Newhouse provided resources to make the paper exceptional. “He especially enjoyed it when we’d have a story about some politician caught with his hand in the cookie jar, or a spicy feature about stuffed shirts behaving badly,” Willse said.
Newhouse’s approach to spending money on quality coverage and a hands-off management style led to numerous achievements, including multiple Pulitzer Prizes. Many of these newspapers thrived due to their market dominance, but Newhouse was aware of the evolving media landscape.
“The 15th-century revolution was epitomized by the printing of the Gutenberg Bible; ours by Ted Turner’s cable news network and by web-based news sites — news in real time from anywhere to everywhere,” he said in 2004 at the rededication of a communications school named after his father at Syracuse University.
Three years later, he told one of his papers, The Post-Standard of Syracuse, N.Y., that newspapers could survive “by producing content that is relevant, interesting, accurate and entertaining for newspapers and the internet.”
Navigating financial challenges
Despite these efforts, the newspapers eventually faced financial difficulties. Advance Publications was known for its commitment to job security for non-union employees regardless of economic conditions or technological changes. However, this pledge was withdrawn in 2009.
The company also shifted away from daily publishing of several papers. In 2012, it announced that the Post-Standard; The Times-Picayune in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Patriot-News in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the Birmingham News, the Press-Register of Mobile and The Huntsville Times, all in Alabama, would cease daily publication and only offer print editions on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. These changes were accompanied by hundreds of layoffs.
“His conservative approach left both the papers and its employees somewhat unprepared for the realities of the internet,” said Thomas Maier, who wrote a 1994 biography of the family.
Newhouse’s eldest son, Steven, played a key role in advancing the company’s online and mobile presence. Steven Newhouse is currently co-president of Advance Publications.
“My dad spent his life in the newspaper business and was devoted to it, built it up and enjoyed many good years. When it became more challenging, he was first in line to work through, finding solutions to keep the local journalism franchise going,” he said.
Newhouse is survived by another son, Michael, daughter Katherine Mele, and grandchildren. His wife, Susan, passed away in 2015.
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