SCRANTON, LACKWANNA CO. (WOLF) — Edward J. Lynett Jr., who spent decades at the helm of The Scranton Times and The Times-Tribune and helped shape journalism across northeastern Pennsylvania, has died. Details about his passing have not been made public.
Lynett’s path into leadership came suddenly. At just 24 years old, he stepped in to run the newspaper in 1966 after his father, Edward J. Lynett Sr., died unexpectedly. It was a defining moment — one that set the course for both his career and the future of the family business.
Alongside his brothers, George and William, Lynett helped grow the paper into something much bigger. What started as a single newspaper became the backbone of Times-Shamrock Communications, a company that eventually expanded far beyond Scranton. At its peak, it included more than 40 newspapers — like The Citizens’ Voice in Wilkes-Barre, The Standard-Speaker in Hazleton, and the Republican Herald in Pottsville — along with 17 radio stations across the country.
That growth turned Times-Shamrock into a major regional media presence, reaching audiences in print and on the air.
Under the family’s leadership, the newsroom also earned national respect. The paper was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1959 for its reporting on corruption and organized crime — a moment that cemented its reputation as a watchdog willing to take on powerful interests.
Those who worked with Lynett often described him as someone who believed strongly in the role of a newspaper in its community. The editorial voice under his leadership was clear and often forceful, with a focus on digging into important issues and holding people accountable.
The Lynett family remained closely tied to the business for generations. Their sister, Cecelia Lynett Haggerty, was also a co-owner, though she chose to stay out of day-to-day operations. She passed away in 2024.
Together, the family built one of the longest-running family-owned media companies in the country.
Through his work, Lynett helped guide how stories were told in northeastern Pennsylvania — from labor struggles and political battles to the region’s shifting economy — leaving a lasting imprint on the community he served.
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