Acton Gorton
About Acton Gorton
Acton Gorton is a Lead Software Engineer at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK, with a diverse background in journalism and technology. He has held various roles in the media industry and the military, contributing to projects in digital storytelling and data visualization.
Work at Gannett
Acton Gorton has been employed at Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK as a Lead Software Engineer since 2021. His role is based in the Sacramento, California Area. In this position, he contributes to various software engineering projects, leveraging his extensive background in technology and journalism.
Previous Experience
Prior to his current role at Gannett, Acton Gorton worked at McClatchy in multiple capacities, including Senior Experience Designer and Technology Team Lead. He also served as a Data Visualization Journalist for a brief period. His earlier experience includes a journalism internship at Shop, Etc. Magazine and a civil liberties internship at the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.
Military Background
Acton Gorton served in the US Army from 1998 to 2004. He held two positions during his military career: Infantry Paratrooper from 1998 to 2001 at Ft. Bragg, NC, and Combat Medic from 2002 to 2004 in Paducah, KY. His military service provided him with unique skills and experiences that he applies in his professional endeavors.
Education and Expertise
Acton Gorton studied at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, News-Editorial from 2003 to 2007. He later achieved a Master of Science in School of Information Science from 2009 to 2011. His education has equipped him with a strong foundation in both journalism and information technology.
Achievements in Digital Media
Acton Gorton has made significant contributions to digital media and journalism. He created a long-term data library and archival solution for Tribune Publishing's newsrooms. He also led the development of a digital-first media enterprise for public notices, which scaled to over 300 news agencies across the United States. His work includes developing a platform for elections used in the 2018 General Elections and multiple Chicago municipal elections.