Thomas W. Newton is the general counsel and legislative advocate of the California Newspaper Publishers Association, a position he has held for more than 15 years. Newton oversees the association's three professional lobbyists and its diverse governmental affairs agenda, which includes issues relating to the First Amendment, freedom of information, taxes, recycling, circulation, workplace relations, hazardous substances, advertising and telecommunications.

As a principal spokesman for the California newspaper industry, Newton regularly presents testimony before legislative committees and other state boards and commissions. He trains member newspaper personnel and speaks to government organizations and citizen groups about freedom of information and other media law issues. On behalf of CNPA, Newton has pursued legislation to comprehensively reform California’s open meeting and public records laws, and has drafted and influenced hundreds of legislative bills to enact or amend California laws. Newton has directed the association’s participation in dozens of amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs on cases that affect the First Amendment and the public’s right to know.

Newton is an editor of The Reporter’s Handbook on Media Law, the CNPA Legislative Bulletin and has collaborated on various publications and articles, including Open and Public - A User’s Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act (Editions I, II and III) and Summary: California Public Records Act, Public Law Journal, an official Publication of the State Bar of California.

An eighth generation Californian, Newton is a graduate of McGeorge School of Law in Sacramento and received his bachelors of arts degree from California State University, Chico. Newton is married to Janice Ann Newton and has two children, Kyler Powell, 13, and Katharine Rae, 11.

He is a two-time winner of the James Madison Freedom of Information Award and a winner of the Bill Farr Freedom of Information Award.