Deseret News CEO Clark Gilbert takes seat on Newspaper Association of America board

Deseret News president and CEO Clark Gilbert accepted a seat Saturday on the board of directors of the Newspaper Association of America, joining leaders of major news organizations like Dow Jones & Company, Hearst Newspapers and the New York Times.

Gilbert, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and other speakers shared success stories and innovative strategies for newspapers at the NAA's mediaXchange conference in Dallas, the annual gathering of the nonprofit organization that represents nearly 2,000 newspapers and their multiplatform businesses in the U.S. and Canada.

Outgoing NAA chairman Mark Contreras praised Gilbert's appointment to the board.

"I think he could make a lasting difference on our board discussions and on the perspective of our industry," said Contreras, senior vice president of E.W. Scripps Company and former vice president of Pulitzer Inc. "He will be a fresh and encouraging voice in the traditional newspaper business.

"I'm glad he could finally eat the cooking he has been prescribing for many years."

The Deseret News is Utah's longest running business and one of the nation's fastest growing newspapers, both in print and online. Gilbert published numerous award-winning articles on media innovation while a professor of entrepreneurial management at the Harvard Business School. Much of his work revolved around newspapers and their future.

"Clark is on fire," Contreras said, "I'm really excited that he is part of our industry now."

Gilbert spoke about the changes and strategies he has implemented since being at the Deseret News. A video of his speech is available at naa.org.

He said the paper's goals include reaching beyond Utah and Mormons to audiences everywhere who are seeking "a trusted voice of light and knowledge."

"He can show us how to expand business on the web," said Contreras, "he is on the path of expanding what was just a geographical business."

Gilbert explained changes made by the Deseret News within the last year, including the creation of new divisions and departments like Deseret Digital Media, which focuses on online productions.

Gilbert is also president and CEO of Deseret Digital Media, one of the largest targeted media networks in the country. It manages the commercial Web properties of the Deseret Media Companies: DeseretNews.com, KSL.com, DeseretBook.com, MormonTimes.com and LDSChurchNews.com.

Other new members of the board are Michael Fiorile, president and chief operating office of The Columbus Dispatch; Michael Klingensmith, publisher and CEO of the Star Tribune Media Company after 30-year career at Time Inc.; and Steven Swartz, president of Hearst Newspapers, which includes more than 6,500 employees, 15 dailies and 38 weeklies.

EMAIL: kcox@desnews.com