Neuharth's vision still strong at 75
Commentary
By Charles L. Overby
Chairman and CEO, The Freedom Forum
04.15.99
Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle looked at Al Neuharth and delivered this zinger: "Al is at an awkward age — too old to run a major newspaper, too young to work for '60 Minutes.' "
Neuharth, founder of The Freedom Forum, turned 75 last month and got what he deserved: a good roasting and toasting from his friends in media, government and business.
The roast, co-hosted by The Freedom Forum and USA TODAY, gave Al a good razzing but also featured some serious comments about his contributions to journalism, to women and minorities and to society in general.
Neuharth has arrived at an awkward age only for those who want to categorize him chronologically.
With his decision to retire from the foundation's board of trustees after 34 years, it's hard to act as if nothing has happened.
Yet his commitment to travel to 31 cities in the United States during 1999 on behalf of The Freedom Forum and the Newseum makes it hard to eulogize him as if he has faded away.
Nobody knows better how to retire than Neuharth. He's done it at least three times.
He retired from Gannett and USA TODAY when he was 65. He voluntarily walked away from all his executive roles but began writing a weekly column for USA TODAY.
Neuharth turned his attention to the foundation, which was called the Gannett Foundation in 1989. As chairman, he led the way in focusing our efforts on big projects. His leadership provided bold, broad strokes that transformed the foundation from a Rochester, N.Y.-based grantmaker to an internationally focused programmatic foundation.
The trustees decided the small grants were good but the big programs would be better.
The Neuharth shift, supported by the trustees and implemented by the staff, resulted in changes that were both cosmetic and substantive:
Changing the name to The Freedom Forum.
Expanding the focus for the first time beyond the borders of the United States. Less than 10 years later, The Freedom Forum sponsors programs that affect about 75 countries annually.
Creating the Newseum, a state-of-the-art museum of news that has attracted more than 800,000 visitors in two years.
Establishing the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., to promote First Amendment values with journalists and non-journalists.
Creating a midtown presence in New York City, near the major national media companies, for the Media Studies Center and Newseum/NY.
Expanding Freedom Forum programs to the West Coast with the creation of the Pacific Coast Center in San Francisco.
Encouraging Newseum management to take the best of the museum on the road so people from all 50 states can enjoy and learn from it.
In 1997, Neuharth retired as chairman of The Freedom Forum to allow for an orderly transition of leadership. Last month, he took the last step of that transition by retiring from any policy-setting role as a trustee.
True to form, he said he wanted to stay active and volunteered to join the Newseum's road tour as an active participant. That gives us two traveling exhibits under one roof: the Newseum and Neuharth.
Neuharth has earned his place in the history books, figuratively and literally. He was profiled in Tom Brokaw's book, "The Greatest Generation," and he was cited in a recently published book, "1,000 Years, 1,000 People," as one of the top people of the millennium.
At No. 987, Neuharth ranked behind the likes of Gutenberg, Martin Luther and Mother Teresa. The Neuharth persona, brash and flamboyant, would object to being No. 987 in anything, including the millennium.
But the real Neuharth is happy at 75 to be on the road again, speaking out for freedom, encouraging people to look beyond the status quo.
Neuharth may be 75, and he may not be a trustee any more, but he's not going anywhere. He's going everywhere.