Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Robert Allbritton

Robert Lewis Allbritton is the founder of the news website NOTUS and the nonprofit Allbritton Journalism Institute. He is the founder and former owner of Capitol News Company, the parent company of Capitol Hill political newspaper and website Politico which in 2021 was acquired by Axel Springer SE, a German news publisher and media company, for over $1 billion.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 3 min
Length
732 w
Citations
18
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Robert Allbritton
Born (1969-02-16) February 16, 1969
Houston, Texas, U.S.
EducationWesleyan University (BA)
FatherJoe Allbritton

Robert Lewis Allbritton (born February 16, 19691) is the founder of the news website NOTUS and the nonprofit Allbritton Journalism Institute.2 He is the founder and former owner of Capitol News Company, the parent company of Capitol Hill political newspaper and website Politico34 which in 2021 was acquired by Axel Springer SE, a German news publisher and media company, for over $1 billion.5

Allbritton also served as the chairman and CEO of Allbritton Communications, which owned several ABC-affiliated television stations in Washington, D.C.6 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 amidst the money laundering scandal that involved the Allbritton family with the former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, which led him and his family to agree to pay US$1 million to a fund for victims of crimes against humanity during Pinochet's rule.789

Allbritton has been described by The New Republic as having "reshaped the way we follow politics."10 He is a trustee of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.11

In October 2011, Allbritton was included on The New Republic's list of Washington's most powerful, least famous people.10

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

Allbritton received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1992,12 and has served as a member of its board of trustees.1314 With his wife Elena, Allbritton donated funds for the establishment of the school's Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life.15

Allbritton Journalism Institute and NOTUS

In 2023, Allbritton established the Allbritton Journalism Institute (AJI) with a $20 million grant.16 The institute is a nonprofit educational organization based in Washington, D.C., dedicated to training the next generation of political journalists.17

References

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. Tani, Max (March 6, 2026). "Politico founder plots new Washington newspaper war". Semafor. Retrieved May 26, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. 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.
  4. Max Tani (May 1, 2023). "Politico's founder is spending $20 million to train aspiring journalists". Semafor Media.
  5. "German publisher Axel Springer to acquire U.S. news website Politico for over $1 billion". www.reuters.com. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original on April 25, 2023. Retrieved February 10, 2024.
  6. "Executive Profile, Robert L. Allbritton". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved May 12, 2012.
  7. 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.
  8. Associated Press (February 26, 2005). "Riggs to pay millions to Pinochet victims". Observer-Reporter. Observer-Reporter. Associated Press. pp. B7. Retrieved June 22, 2025. Riggs directors Joseph and Robert Allbritton would pay the remaining $1 million, Buffone said.
  9. Gordon, Marcy (September 3, 2005). "Riggs chairman and CEO Robert Allbritton announces resignation". Gettysburg Times. Gettysburg Times. Associated Press. pp. A7. Retrieved June 22, 2025. The surprise announcement by Robert L. Allbritton came 10 days after he and his family agreed to pay $1 million into a new $9 million fund for victims of former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet
  10. "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.
  11. "Board of Trustees". LBJ Foundation. LBJ Presidential Library. Archived from the original on May 20, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  12. "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.
  13. "Alumni-Elected Trustees". Wesleyan University. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2012.
  14. "Joe L. Allbritton, founder of Allbritton Communications, dies at 87". WJLA. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  15. "Allbritton Center". Wesleyan University. Archived from the original on May 5, 2019. Retrieved November 20, 2018.
  16. Institute, Press Release | Allbritton Journalism (June 8, 2026). "Allbritton Journalism Institute announces expanded class of fellows". Editor and Publisher. Retrieved July 2, 2026.
  17. "Politico's founder is spending $20 million to train aspiring journalists". Archived from the original on April 2, 2026. Retrieved July 2, 2026.