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Gannett paid $20K for CEO’s security detail after UnitedHealthcare shooting
The expense was “out of an abundance of caution.”
After the December killing of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, the nation’s largest newspaper chain disclosed Friday that it spent nearly $20,000 last year on security for its chief executive, Mike Reed.
Gannett’s headquarters are located a few blocks away from where a shooter murdered UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson on Dec. 4.
“Out of an abundance of caution, a security detail was provided to Mike Reed,” a Gannett spokesperson said.
Gannett did not comment further.
Reed has been the chairman of the board since May 2019 and has served as CEO and president since 2013. Previously, he was CEO of GateHouse Media, the predecessor since January 2006.
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In SEC filings, Gannett reported that Reed was compensated last year with a $4.49 million payment. Part of that compensation included $19,464 in costs related to personal security.
In the annual report to shareholders, the company said, “Due to increased security risks inherent in senior executive positions, in 2024, we provided our Chief Executive Officer with certain personal security as needed.”
Prior reports did not mention a security detail for the CEO.
Gannett operates USA TODAY and 10 Massachusetts newspapers, including the Cape Cod Times, Patriot Ledger, Worcester Telegram & Gazette, as well as the Providence Journal in Rhode Island.
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Gannett continued to decrease its headcount last year by 11% to 8,900. Of those employees, 3,100 are journalists.
The newspaper chain recently made headlines when several of Gannett’s news outlets published articles by an “AI-assisted reporter.”
Editor’s note (April 26, 2025): Boston.com removed the address of Gannett’s headquarters.
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