Dave Lougee
The Press Club of Southwest Florida is honored to welcome Dave Lougee, recently retired President and CEO of TEGNA Inc., as the featured newsmaker at the Club’s November 18 luncheon at the Hilton Naples. Click here for details about the event, including links to pre-purchase tickets or reserve a seat and pay at the door.
Lougee has requested that his appearance be conducted off the record. This means his remarks and the ensuing Q&A will not be recorded or reported, in keeping with professional newsroom standards. Still photographs are permitted.
Why Off the Record?
Although Lougee has retired, Nexstar Media Group’s pending acquisition of TEGNA remains under regulatory review. Out of respect for that process, and in recognition of the sensitivity surrounding the transition, he has chosen to speak candidly without public attribution or publication.
This approach will allow Press Club members and guests to gain rare, unguarded insight into how this acquisition could reshape America’s largest local television station group and what it means for the future of journalism, technology, and trust in media.
The Value of Off-the-Record Context
While transparency and openness are essential to journalism and to the Press Club’s mission, off-the-record discussions also serve a legitimate, time-honored purpose.
In newsrooms and editorial boardrooms, off-the-record briefings have long allowed journalists to explore complex issues, motivations, and background that help frame more accurate, balanced reporting. These sessions often yield critical context and understanding—information that deepens journalists’ work even when it doesn’t appear directly in print.
The same principle applies here. This luncheon is designed not to conceal information but to illuminate it, giving members a chance to understand one of the most significant corporate transformations in local broadcasting from someone who has lived it.
A Unique Opportunity
During his tenure at TEGNA, Lougee led one of the nation’s most respected media companies through a decade of digital transformation, innovation, and ethical challenge. His conversation will offer a firsthand perspective on the decisions shaping the news industry amid evolving audience habits and a growing crisis of public trust.
This off-the-record newsmaker luncheon continues the Press Club’s proud tradition of fostering informed, responsible journalism—providing members with access to the insight and candor that make for stronger, more contextual reporting.
We hope to see you there. Click here for details.