It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of John Thornton, Senior Fellow at the Newmark J-School and founder of The Texas Tribune, who died on Saturday, March 29. He was 59.
John was a visionary leader who transformed the landscape of American journalism through his pioneering work in nonprofit news. As founder of The Texas Tribune in 2008, he created a model for sustainable, high-quality local journalism that has been replicated across the country. Under his leadership, the Tribune became a Pulitzer Prize finalist and set new standards for statewide, nonpartisan news coverage.
In 2018, John co-founded the American Journalism Project, the first venture philanthropy firm dedicated to investing in local news. Through this groundbreaking initiative, he helped direct $225 million into nonprofit news organizations nationwide, supporting vital journalism in underserved communities.
John’s impact extended to numerous other influential news organizations. He was a seed investor and inaugural board member for The City in New York and The 19th News, a nonprofit publication focused on gender, politics, and policy.
His recent appointment as the inaugural Senior Fellow at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY reflected his continued commitment to nurturing the next generation of journalists. Dean Graciela Mochkofsky described John’s contribution as “an incredible gift to our students and faculty.”
Before dedicating his career to journalism, John had a successful background in venture capital and private equity. He earned his MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and his bachelor’s degree from Trinity University, where he graduated first in his class and was later named a distinguished alumnus.
John’s brilliance, generosity, and unwavering belief in the essential role of journalism in democracy will be deeply missed. He leaves behind a transformative legacy that will continue to shape the future of news for generations to come.
Our thoughts are with John’s family, friends, and the countless journalists and news organizations whose lives and work he touched.