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Horton, 61, was elected chairman at a recent meeting of the Foundation board.

His involvement with the Foundation extends a life-long career in journalism that began while he was a student at Yale University in the 1960s. He has served as senior vice president of newspapers for Scripps since 1994.

The Foundation is the philanthropic arm of The E.W. Scripps Company.

“Alan Horton is a tremendous resource who adds depth to our board,” said Judith G. Clabes, president and chief executive officer of the Foundation. “Not only do we have the advantage of his wise counsel and experience, but we benefit from his deep roots – and heart – in journalism. Together, we’ll make a great team as our board works to position the Foundation for continued growth and success.”

Horton guided the Scripps daily and community newspapers through a period of unprecedented and rapid change in the media industry. He joined the company’s corporate staff in 1991 as vice president of newspaper operations.

Horton has spent all but five of his 40-year newspaper career with Scripps. His first job after graduating from Yale was as a reporter for The Cincinnati Post. From there, he went on to be a prize-winning reporter, Washington D.C. correspondent, editor, publisher, electronic publishing pioneer and newspaper management executive.

“We knew Alan couldn’t just walk away from a profession and industry that he dearly loves,” said Kenneth W. Lowe, Scripps president and chief executive officer. “In retirement – and as chairman of the Foundation board -- he will be able to direct his energies and skills toward advancing the cause of journalism education in America and giving back to the communities in which our company does business.” 

During the first 18 years of his career, Horton rose through the reporting ranks at Scripps, first as a reporter at The Post and The Cleveland Press, and later in Washington where he was correspondent for three Scripps newspapers and then a national correspondent for the Scripps Howard News Service.

In 1978, Horton left Scripps to accept his first newspaper management position as editor of The Shelbyville ( Ind. ) News, which was named the state’s Blue Ribbon paper during his tenure. He returned to Scripps in 1983 as managing editor of The Evansville ( Ind. ) Press. The next year he was appointed general manager of a Scripps and Knight Ridder joint venture in Pittsburgh that experimented with the electronic delivery of information via personal computer.

In 1986 Horton moved to Los Angeles as publisher of 24 non-daily newspapers, which Scripps sold the following year. In 1987 he was named editor of the Naples Daily News which was cited as one of the country’s best 10 newspapers under-50,000 circulation.