Robert Allbritton
Robert Lewis Allbritton | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 16, 1969 |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, media executive |
| Known for | Founder of Capitol News Company, former chairman and CEO of Allbritton Communications, former CEO of Riggs National Corporation |
Robert Lewis Allbritton (born February 16, 1969) is the entrepreneur who established and formerly owned Capitol News Company, the parent organization behind the political news outlet Politico. He also held the roles of chairman and CEO at Allbritton Communications, which operated multiple ABC-affiliated television stations in the Washington, D.C. area. Prior to these positions, Allbritton was the last chief executive officer of Riggs National Corporation, the holding company for Riggs Bank, from 2001 until 2005, when it was acquired by PNC Bank. This acquisition came after a money laundering controversy involving the Allbritton family and former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, resulting in a $1 million payment to a compensation fund for victims affected during Pinochet’s regime.
Recognized by The New Republic as having "transformed political news consumption," Allbritton serves as a trustee of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum. In October 2011, The New Republic identified him as one of Washington's most influential yet lesser-known figures.
Allbritton graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1992 and is currently a member of its board of trustees. Alongside his wife Elena, he supported the creation of Wesleyan’s Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life.
Allbritton Journalism Institute and NOTUS
In 2023, Allbritton initiated the Allbritton Journalism Institute (AJI) through a $20 million endowment. Located in Washington, D.C., AJI operates as a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating emerging political journalists. Its fellowship program spans two years, providing early-career reporters with an annual salary of $60,000, comprehensive health benefits, and paid leave. Participants receive mentorship from experienced journalists and contribute content to AJI’s publication, NOTUS, which launched in January 2024.