Joe L. Albritton, the founder of the television group that includes his name, has passed at the age of 87. In addition to Allbritton Communications, he was the head of Capitol Hill news publication Politico and former owner of Washington DC’s onetime afternoon newspaper The Washington Star.
In accordance with federal regulation, Allbritton eventually divested to Star in favor of his stake in Washington’s ABC affiliate that bears his initial in its call sign – WJLA.
His local cable news outlet, News Channel 8, was said to be the first of its kind.
He had been in the banking business, but his tenure with Riggs National Bank ended in a cloud of controversy.
