[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 149 (2003), Part 16]
[Senate]
[Pages 21976-21977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      THE AL NEUHARTH MEDIA CENTER

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, today I would like to salute a great 
American

[[Page 21977]]

and South Dakotan, Mr. Al Neuharth. As the founder of USA Today, former 
chief executive officer of Gannett New Service, and founder of the 
Freedom Forum, he has made immeasurable contributions to our 
understanding of the world.
  Mr. Neuharth's commitment to free speech and the press began with a 
paper route in Eureka, SD, when he was 11 years old. Al continued to 
work in local media throughout his youth, later in the composing room 
at the weekly Alpena Journal in neighboring Alpena. Following his 
service in World War II, Al returned home to South Dakota, graduating 
from the University of South Dakota in 1950 with a degree in 
journalism.
  Upon graduation, Al Neuharth began what would be a historic career in 
print media. He began working for the Associated Press in Sioux Falls, 
SD, as a reporter and soon launched his first publication, a statewide 
weekly tabloid called SoDak Sports. While SoDak Sports would not prove 
to be his most successful venture, Mr. Neuharth pressed forward as a 
journalist. In 1954, he became a reporter at the Miami Herald, quickly 
ascending the ranks, and in 1960 he was named assistant executive 
editor of the Detroit Free Press. This remarkable success demonstrates 
that Al's talent for straight truth and love of communication was 
visible to all who worked with him. In 1963, Neuharth began his career 
with Gannett News Service as the general manager of its two Rochester, 
NY, newspapers. Only 7 years later he was named president and chief 
executive officer of Gannett News Service, a position he held until his 
retirement in 1989. Under Al's leadership, the company launched USA 
Today in 1980--the first national daily newspaper--and their reputation 
for quality journalism has grown each year since.
  Upon retiring from Gannett News Service, Al Neuharth founded the 
Freedom Forum in 1991 and has since dedicated his work to the pursuit 
of ``free press, free speech, and free spirit for all people.'' I have 
had the pleasure of working with Al on many occasions and have seen his 
genuine commitment to preserving free expression for all Americans.
  In addition to his ongoing efforts to preserve free speech, Al 
Neuharth has also dedicated both time and treasure to his hometown of 
Eureka, SD, and has never forgotten his South Dakota roots. Most 
notably, he contributed greatly to the Eureka Information Center. This 
center houses community nonprofits and civic organizations, providing a 
space for the involvement and dialogue that strengthens small towns.
  On September 25, 2003, Mr. Neu-
harth's alma mater, the University of South Dakota, will dedicate its 
Al Neuharth Media Center. This center, funded by the Freedom Foundation 
and the University Foundation, will house the Freedom Foundation's 
regional offices, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, the University's 
Department of Contemporary Media and Journalism, the Native American 
Journalists Association, the University's publication The Volante, 
campus radio station KAOR and television station KYOT.
  Freedom of the press is an essential component of America's 
experiment in democracy and one of the principal reasons the experiment 
has succeeded. By training future journalists and defenders of the 
first amendment, the Neuharth Media Center will convey Al's passion for 
free speech and help ensure that this great experiment in democracy 
will be preserved for generations to come.
  I am proud to honor Al Neuharth and the University of South Dakota 
Neuharth Media Center and proud to know Al Neuharth.

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