Little announces plan to leave as CEO of NAA

ARLINGTON, VA. — Newspaper Association of America President and CEO Caroline Little announced to the Board of Directors today that she is stepping down from her position effective Aug. 31.

Little was named president and CEO of the industry’s largest trade organization in 2011 during a period of significant change for the newspaper media industry. With her leadership, NAA refocused its strategic priorities. NAA lobbies on issues critical to the industry, advocating on behalf of the industry, and shares best practices, research and training among members. She led the highly successful merger of the American Press Institute with the NAA Foundation in 2012.

Under her direction, NAA worked closely with members of Congress and other government organizations to preserve the free flow of information to the public and legal protection for journalists. The association recently played a key role in Attorney General Eric Holder’s decision to revise the Department of Justice’s media guidelines and subpoenas.

“On behalf of the Board, we are grateful for Caroline’s leadership in a time of great change for the industry,” said Donna Barrett, Chairman of the Board and President and CEO of Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.  “I have had the great pleasure of working closely with Caroline and witnessing firsthand the role that NAA has played in the transformation of newspapers. Our members have a renewed sense of confidence in the value of their product and the future of the industry. Caroline is leaving the association in a strong financial and strategic position to continue executing on our mission. I am certain the confidence she instilled will continue to shape our business for years to come.”

Little has nearly 30 years of executive and legal experience, previously serving as CEO, North America of Guardian News and Media Ltd before her role at NAA. Prior to that, she was publisher and CEO of Washington Post Newsweek Interactive (WPNI), where she led the division to its first year of profitability.

“It’s been my pleasure to serve the members of the NAA, and I am grateful for the opportunity to work alongside such dedicated professionals within the organization and throughout the industry,” said Caroline Little. “This is a dynamic moment in the newspaper industry’s evolution and in the history of this association. I have no doubt that the industry and association have a bright future.”   

Little plans to join her family in Santa Fe, N.M.

About NAA

NAA is a nonprofit organization representing nearly 2,000 newspapers and their multiplatform businesses in the United States and Canada. NAA members include daily newspapers, as well as nondailies, other print publications and online products. Headquartered near Washington, D.C., in Arlington, Va., the association focuses on the major issues that affect today's newspaper industry: public policy/legal matters, advertising revenue growth and audience development across the medium's broad portfolio of products and digital platforms. Information about NAA and the industry also may be found at www.naa.org.