Frank A. Blethen is publisher of The Seattle Times and President of Blethen Corporation. He chairs the board of the Seattle Times Company, the Walla Walla, Wa., Union-Bulletin, the Yakima Herald-Republic, and the Blethen Maine newspapers.

The Times is a 106-year-old, fourth and fifth generation private and independent newspaper and website company, and eight Blethen family members currently are actively involved with the newspaper, seven as full-time employees. Blethen underscores the Times' core values of independent ownership and independent journalism. The Times has won seven Pulitzer Prizes, three during Blethen's tenure.

Blethen takes pride in the newspaper's having what he says is one of the country's most diverse staffs, with one-quarter of its employees people of color. In October 2001, he won the Inland Press Association's Ralph D. Casey/Minnesota Award for distinguished public service in the newspaper industry, and he points to the Times' having been recognized for an editorial policy "that is not only respectful, but also celebratory, of human diversity." Among his numerous awards, Blethen points to a May 1999 award from the Church Council of Greater Seattle "in honor of individuals who have taken risks to challenge racism." He is a 1998 winner of the Washington State University's Murrow School of Communication Edward R. Murrow Award for "Exemplifying the Murrow Tradition in Print Journalism."

Blethen received a B.S. in business from Arizona State University, and in 2001 he was awarded a Doctor of Humane Letters honorary degree from the University of Maine, in Augusta. His civic and industry involvements have focused on higher education and health and human services. He is a member of the board of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education.