Nicholas F. Benton
Encyclopedia
Nicholas F. Benton is the founder, owner, and editor of the Falls Church News-Press
, a weekly newspaper circulated in Falls Church, Virginia
, and in parts of Fairfax County
, Arlington County
, and Washington D.C.
A native of California, Benton earned a degree in English from Westmont College
in 1966, where he had an athletic scholarship. After college he was a reporter and sports writer for the Santa Barbara News-Press
. He obtained a master of divinity degree in 1969 from the Pacific School of Religion
in Berkeley. He became a contributor to the alternative Berkeley Barb
, helped found the Berkeley Gay Liberation Front and wrote the first editorial for the newspaper Gay Sunshine.
Benton worked for the Lyndon LaRouche
organization from 1974 until the late 1980s, first as a political organizer, and later as the Washington D.C. bureau chief and White House Correspondent for LaRouche's Executive Intelligence Review
. In 2007, Benton wrote that he had left the LaRouche movement in the 1980s.
Benton founded the Falls Church News-Press in March 1991, and in July 2010 celebrated the paper's 1,000th edition. He has served twice as the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, been named Falls Church's “Pillar of the Community” twice and “Business Person of the Year” once, and had his newspaper named “Business of the Year” twice. He has authored a weekly national affairs column in his newspaper since 1997.
In 2005, Benton founded the “Nicholas F. Benton Diversity Affirmation Education Fund” for the Falls Church City Public Schools.
In 2007 Benton provided an extensive interview for a cover story in the Washington D.C. Metro Weekly
. In 2009, an essay he wrote, entitled, “Berkeley and the Fight for an Effeminist, Socially Transformative Gay Identity” was published in a paperback collection published by the City Lights Books to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
.
In November 2009, Benton was unsuccessful in a bid to acquire the Washington Blade in the wake of the bankruptcy of the Blade's parent company.
In October 2010, Benton launched a column series published on the Falls Church News-Press website and reprinted in the Metro Weekly entitled, “Nick Benton's Gay Science." In December 2010, he was elected to the newly-created Stonewall LGBT Caucus of the Virginia Democratic Party.
Falls Church News-Press
The Falls Church News-Press is a weekly newspaper publication based in Falls Church, Virginia. Founded in 1991 by Owner/Editor-in-Chief Nicholas F. Benton, the News-Press offers "Local News...
, a weekly newspaper circulated in Falls Church, Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, and in parts of Fairfax County
Fairfax County, Virginia
Fairfax County is a county in Virginia, in the United States. Per the 2010 Census, the population of the county is 1,081,726, making it the most populous jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Virginia, with 13.5% of Virginia's population...
, Arlington County
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, and Washington D.C.
A native of California, Benton earned a degree in English from Westmont College
Westmont College
Westmont offers 26 majors, including: alternative major, art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, computer science, economics and business, education program, engineering physics, English, history, European studies, kinesiology, liberal studies, mathematics, modern languages , music,...
in 1966, where he had an athletic scholarship. After college he was a reporter and sports writer for the Santa Barbara News-Press
Santa Barbara News-Press
The Santa Barbara News-Press is a broadsheet newspaper based in Santa Barbara, California.-History:The News-Press asserts it is the oldest daily newspaper in Southern California, publishing since 1855...
. He obtained a master of divinity degree in 1969 from the Pacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion
Pacific School of Religion is an ecumenical seminary located in Berkeley, California. It maintains covenantal relationships with the United Church of Christ, the United Methodist Church and the Disciples of Christ, providing all necessary expectations for candidates to their ordained ministries....
in Berkeley. He became a contributor to the alternative Berkeley Barb
Berkeley Barb
The Berkeley Barb was a weekly underground newspaper that was published in Berkeley, California, from 1965 to 1980. It was one of the first and most influential of the counterculture newspapers of the late 1960s, covering such subjects as the anti-war and civil-rights movements as well as the...
, helped found the Berkeley Gay Liberation Front and wrote the first editorial for the newspaper Gay Sunshine.
Benton worked for the Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon LaRouche
Lyndon Hermyle LaRouche, Jr. is an American political activist and founder of a network of political committees, parties, and publications known collectively as the LaRouche movement...
organization from 1974 until the late 1980s, first as a political organizer, and later as the Washington D.C. bureau chief and White House Correspondent for LaRouche's Executive Intelligence Review
Executive Intelligence Review
Executive Intelligence Review is a weekly newsmagazine founded in 1974 by the American political activist Lyndon LaRouche. Based in Leesburg, Virginia, it maintains offices in a number of countries, according to its masthead, including Wiesbaden, Berlin, Copenhagen, Paris, Melbourne, and Mexico City...
. In 2007, Benton wrote that he had left the LaRouche movement in the 1980s.
Benton founded the Falls Church News-Press in March 1991, and in July 2010 celebrated the paper's 1,000th edition. He has served twice as the president of the local Chamber of Commerce, been named Falls Church's “Pillar of the Community” twice and “Business Person of the Year” once, and had his newspaper named “Business of the Year” twice. He has authored a weekly national affairs column in his newspaper since 1997.
In 2005, Benton founded the “Nicholas F. Benton Diversity Affirmation Education Fund” for the Falls Church City Public Schools.
In 2007 Benton provided an extensive interview for a cover story in the Washington D.C. Metro Weekly
Metro Weekly
Metro Weekly is a free weekly magazine-style publication for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. It was first published on May 5, 1994. Metro Weekly includes local news, interviews with community leaders and politicians, community event calendars,...
. In 2009, an essay he wrote, entitled, “Berkeley and the Fight for an Effeminist, Socially Transformative Gay Identity” was published in a paperback collection published by the City Lights Books to mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
.
In November 2009, Benton was unsuccessful in a bid to acquire the Washington Blade in the wake of the bankruptcy of the Blade's parent company.
In October 2010, Benton launched a column series published on the Falls Church News-Press website and reprinted in the Metro Weekly entitled, “Nick Benton's Gay Science." In December 2010, he was elected to the newly-created Stonewall LGBT Caucus of the Virginia Democratic Party.