Youngman Named Knight Professor of Digital Media Strategy

EVANSTON, Ill. --- Long-time Chicago Tribune journalist and digital journalism innovator Owen Youngman has been appointed the Knight Professor of Digital Media Strategy at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He will begin at Northwestern in April.

A senior vice president at the Chicago Tribune, Youngman had an award-winning career as a journalist and later as a leader directing Tribune print and digital innovations. Among those innovations were Metromix.com; RedEye; TheMash (a weekly for Chicago public high school students); and using social networking as a tool for linking journalism to a broader audience.

Youngman has lectured widely both inside and outside the media industry. Under his direction, chicagotribune.com was the first newspaper Web site to concurrently be named the industry's best news site by Editor & Publisher magazine and the Newspaper Association of America.

Youngman, who began at the Chicago Tribune as a copy boy, became professionally involved in digital journalism when Tribune Co. invested in America Online in 1991. Throughout the interactive era he has advised universities, nonprofits, media companies and Internet startups on strategic approaches to the changing online environment.

As a member of the faculty, Youngman will teach, write and do research. In addition, he is expected to build networks of scholars, professionals and others working on digital journalism challenges.

Medill's Knight Professorship is made possible by The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.