UPI's de Borchgrave becoming editor at large

United Press International/December 29, 2000

Washington -- United Press International announced Friday that Arnaud de Borchgrave is leaving the position of chief executive officer and president at the end of this year to become the global news agency's editor-at-large.

"I am anxious to get back to writing and reporting, unencumbered by executive responsibilities," de Borchgrave said. For the time being, the responsibilities of CEO and president will be assumed by Douglas D.M. Joo, president of News World Communications, UPI's parent company.

"We deeply appreciate Arnaud's contribution to the management of UPI during the past three years as well as his invaluable contribution to the rebuilding of UPI's editorial strength," Joo said. "Due to his efforts, UPI has become a news service ready to meet the information needs of the consumer of the 21st century."

During his career spanning more than 50 years, Arnaud de Borchgrave has garnered a reputation as one of the world's legendary journalists. He began his career by succeeding Walter Cronkite as the bureau chief for United Press in Belgium in 1949.

Joining Newsweek magazine in 1950, de Borchgrave covered many of the world's major stories, including 17 wars, and interviewed the world's principal political and military leaders. His reporting as chief foreign correspondent of Newsweek earned 10 major international journalism awards.

Most recently, de Borchgrave obtained an exclusive interview with Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic in April 1999 during the crisis in the former Yugoslavia.

Resigning from Newsweek in 1980, de Borchgrave became a senior associate at the Georgetown University Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. In 1985, he was named editor-in-chief of the Washington Times. In 1991, while moving to editor-at-large of the Washington Times, he was appointed senior adviser at CSIS, where he directed the project on Global Organized Crime.

De Borchgrave, who has also co-authored two international best-selling books, was appointed CEO and president of UPI in late 1998, while continuing his affiliation with CSIS and the Washington Times.

"We are very happy to be able to have the benefit of his considerable talent and experience in his new capacity as editor-at-large," Joo said. "Arnaud is an acknowledged authority in issues relating to the new economy and will continue to be an invaluable journalistic resource to UPI and our clients and readers."

News World Communications, which also owns and operates publications established by Unification Church founder the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, purchased UPI from a group of Saudi investors last May.

Joo is chairman of the board of directors of UPI and president of the Washington Times. He is also president of Noticias Panamerica Corp., publishing the Tiempos del Mundo newspapers in 17 cities in 16 countries through the Americas. In addition, he serves as president of Crown Communications, owners of Potomac Television News and Pyramid News Port in the National Press Building in Washington.

United Press International was founded as United Press in 1907 by E.W. Scripps as a worldwide news service. It merged with International News Service in 1958 to form UPI.

The company provides news and analysis, and photographic content, primarily to clients on the Internet, with a particular focus on depth coverage of major issues in science and technology, politics, international affairs, business, and cultural trends.