David Teeuwen

David Teeuwen was the managing editor of USA Today. He died of intestinal cancer at age 45. He helped pioneer digital news at USA TODAY.

Early life and Education

Teeuwen was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and grew up in the Mid West. He received a Bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism from Ohio State University and a master’s in mass communications at Miami University in Ohio.

Career

Teeuwen began his career in radio. He worked for Radio America in Washington, D.C., hosting a daily news program. He was hired by the USA TODAY, a Gannett-owned newspaper in 1999 as a multimedia producer, specializing in audio in the dotcom department that which at the time was separate from the print newsroom.

Teeuwen advanced his career at the dotcom department, and was promoted to senior producer of rich media. He later became deputy editor of the design department. In the early 2000s the department experimented with visual tools and interactive tools. He was viewed as open to new platforms and experimentation, and as one with a good sense of news and a no-nonsense approach.

In 2006 the print and dotcom news departments combined at USA TODAY. Unlike other employees with habits of the daily print cycle who struggled with embracing the digital mindset, Teeuwen who combined digital savvy with journalism seized the opportunity to advance. After the integration, he became website manager and oversaw the site’s presentation and functionality.