Philadelphia, Pa.--Philadelphia Media Network Publisher and CEO Greg Osberg announced today that William K. Marimow, one of the most distinguished journalists in the company’s history, will return as editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Marimow, who earned two Pulitzer Prizes as an Inquirer reporter in 1978 and 1985 before returning to serve as the newspaper’s editor from 2006 to 2010, will return again to lead an expansion of the newspaper’s investigative journalism work--a central element in the company’s plan to produce ever-more compelling content to boost circulation and readership.
Marimow’s rehiring was announced just two days after the company’s new local ownership group pledged a policy of strict non-interference with news decisions.
“Bill Marimow is one of the most respected journalists in the nation, and his return reinforces the company’s commitment to aggressive investigative reporting,” said Osberg. “The message today is that we are going to devote even more time and resources to reporting the high-quality stories that our readers deserve and demand. And to be clear: When the facts warrant it, nobody will get a free pass.”
“Bill is the best in the business to lead this effort, and it is great news for our readers and for our journalists that he is back in the fold.”
Current Inquirer editor Stan Wischnowski will remain with the newspaper and continue working as part of the newspaper’s editorial leadership team, serving as one of Marimow’s top deputies. Marimow is expected to begin work on May 1.
“I'm also looking forward to continuing my close working relationship with Stan Wischnowski, who has led The Inquirer newsroom with skill and determination over the past 18 months,” Marimow said. “During my time as editor, I relied on Stan for his guidance, creativity and expertise, and I know I'll be doing so again in the months to come.”
Marimow has been teaching journalism at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Arizona State University since last year. Before that, he worked as an investigative reporter for the paper after stepping down as editor in 2010. Marimow was managing editor and vice president of news for National Public Radio from 2004 to 2006, and served as metropolitan editor, managing editor and editor of The Baltimore Sun from 1993 to 2004.
His journalism career in Philadelphia reaches back over four decades to April 1970, when he joined The Evening Bulletin as the assistant to syndicated economics columnist J.A. Livingston. He joined The Inquirer in July 1972 as a reporter covering business. For the next 15 years, he reported on a variety of issues, including economics, labor, city hall, and the courts.
Marimow and a partner, Jonathan Neumann, wrote a series of stories about criminal violence by Philadelphia police officers that earned The Inquirer the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 1978. Seven years later, he won the Pulitzer for Investigative Reporting for a series of stories about police K-9 officers whose dogs attacked and mauled innocent, unarmed citizens.
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