WASHINGTON (AP) – The chief executive of the Newseum and its parent organization the Freedom Forum is resigning from the museum of journalism and the First Amendment after three years at the helm of an institution struggling to cover its costs.
On Tuesday, James Duff announced plans to return to his previous post as chief administrative officer of the U.S. Courts under an appointment by Chief Justice John Roberts. When the chief justice calls, “it’s hard to say no,” he said. Duff had led the Newseum since 2011. He will stay on as a consultant through the end of 2014 to help raise funds for programs.
For many years the Newseum was led by former journalists from Gannett Co. and USA Today. It will now return to their care, at least for now. Former USA Today editor Peter Prichard has been named the Newseum’s CEO, pending a search for a new chief executive. Jan Neuharth, daughter of Newseum founder Allen Neuharth, will be the Freedom Forum CEO.
“My motto is preserve the best and improve the rest. That’s what we’re trying to do,” Prichard said in an interview Tuesday. “No one else in the country is doing what we’re doing, which is to try to champion the five freedoms of the First Amendment and make people better educated news consumers.”
Prichard said he is optimistic for the Newseum’s future because attendance and fundraising are on the rise. The museum had 800,000 visitors last year, notable in a city where most government-funded museums offer free admission, he said. The Newseum charges $23 for adults and $14 for youth.