George Riggs Named Publisher of 'Merc. News'

Posted Monday, December 6, 2004 12:00 am

By: E&P Staff Knight Ridder announced today the appointment of George Riggs as publisher of the San Jose Mercury News, effective at the end of the year.

He replaces Chip Visci, who has been publisher of the paper since January. According to a statement from Knight Ridder CEO Tony Ridder, Visci was offered another position within the company, ?which he is considering.?

Riggs is currently publisher and CEO of Contra Costa Newspapers elsewhere in the San Francisco Bay Area, a position he has held since 1991. Knight Ridder purchased Contra Costa Newspapers in 1995.

?George comes to this job with deep knowledge of newspaper operations and long experience in Contra Costa,? said Hilary Schneider, senior vice president of Knight Ridder, in a statement. ?During the most recent nine years of that tenure he has worked closely with our people in San Jose. Together, they have forged many advantageous relationships in both advertising and editorial matters -- with the result that he already knows much about the San Jose market.?

Riggs will have overall responsibility for Contra Costa Newspapers along with his new role.

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George Riggs Named Publisher of 'Merc. News'

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