Robert Allbritton

Robert Allbritton
Born	(1969-02-16) February 16, 1969 (age 56) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Education	Wesleyan University (BA)
Father	Joe Allbritton

Robert Allbritton (born February 16, 1969 ^[1] ) is the founder and former owner of Capitol News Company, the parent company of Capitol Hill political newspaper and website Politico . ^{[2] [3]} POLITICO has received over $8.2 million from various U.S. government agencies for subscriptions, primarily through its POLITICO Pro service.

Allbritton also served as the chairman and CEO of Allbritton Communications, which owned several ABC-affiliated television stations in Washington, D.C. ^[4] Allbritton was previously the final CEO of Riggs National Corporation, the parent of Riggs Bank, from 2001 to 2005, when PNC Bank acquired the bank. ^[5] Allbritton has been described by The New Republic as having "reshaped the way we follow politics." ^[6] He is a trustee of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. ^[7]

In October 2011, Allbritton was included on The New Republic's list of Washington's most powerful, least famous people. ^[8]

Allbritton (right) and his wife with Lloyd Nelson Hand and Ann Hand in 2019

Allbritton received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1992, ^[9] and has served as a member of its board of trustees. ^{[10] [11]} With his wife Elena, Allbritton donated funds for the establishment of the school's Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life. ^[12]

Allbritton is the son of the late banker and businessman Joe Allbritton.

Allbritton Journalism Institute and NOTUS

In 2023, Allbritton established the Allbritton Journalism Institute (AJI) with a $20 million grant. The institute is a nonprofit educational organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to training the next generation of political journalists. AJI offers a two-year fellowship program that provides early-career reporters with an annual salary of $60,000, health insurance, and paid time off. Fellows take classes with experienced journalists and contribute to AJI’s publication, NOTUS, which launched in January 2024. ^{[3] [13]}

References

1. Jaffe, Harry (July 22, 2009). "The Son Also Rises". Washingtonian . Archived from the original on November 22, 2018. Retrieved November 22, 2018.
2. Boliek, Brooks (July 24, 2014). "FCC approves $1B Allbritton TV sale to Sinclair". Politico . Archived from the original on July 28, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2014.
3. Max Tani (May 1, 2023). "Politico's founder is spending $20 million to train aspiring journalists". Semafor Media.
4. "Executive Profile, Robert L. Allbritton". Bloomberg Businessweek . Retrieved May 12, 2012.
5. O'Hara, Terence (March 8, 2005). "Robert Allbritton Resigns as CEO of Riggs Ahead of Merger". Washington Post . p. E01. Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved March 21, 2010.
6. "Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People". The New Republic . October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
7. "Board of Trustees". LBJ Foundation. LBJ Presidential Library. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
8. "Washington's Most Powerful, Least Famous People". The New Republic . October 12, 2011. Archived from the original on December 15, 2019. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
9. "Alumni Pledge $5M to Create New Center on Campus". The Wesleyan Connection. April 6, 2007. Archived from the original on January 5, 2011. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
10. "Alumni-Elected Trustees". Wesleyan University. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
11. "Joe L. Allbritton, founder of Allbritton Communications, dies at 87". WJLA . Archived from the original on July 16, 2015.
12. "Allbritton Center". Wesleyan University. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
13. "Allbritton Journalism Institute". AJI. Retrieved January 26, 2025.